Coronavirus: IL Colleges Move Online, Extend Spring Break

ILLINOIS — The NBA has suspended the 2020 season, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is urging voters to consider voting by mail-in ballot and events like St. Patrick's Day parades and the Chicago Flower & Garden Show are being canceled as the coronavirus outbreak spreads in Illinois and across the U.S.

Coronavirus is taking its toll on the workforce as workers get sick or are forced to quarantine, on businesses as events are canceled and people stay home, and on the public psyche as anxiety rises about the illness. And college students across the nation are also being affected, forced to leave campus or told not to return home from spring break.

Coronavirus In IL: Here Are All The Cancellations, Closures

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Here's what's happening at Illinois colleges and universities:

University of Illinois is suspending in-person courses starting March 23 and "moving to alternative course delivery." Students were reminded, "Undergraduate students, remember that if you leave campus for break, take your computer, textbooks and other things you will need if you to choose study remotely in the coming days."

Illinois State University is extending spring break until Monday, March 23. "When instructional activities resume March 23, the University will transition from face-to-face teaching to online instruction and/or other instructional modalities through at least April 12. That timeframe may be subject to change depending on evolving circumstances."

Northern Illinois University will extend spring break through March 22 and conduct "modified courses" until April 4.

Northwestern University will extend spring break "by one week, and when classes resume on April 4, they will be conducted remotely for at least three weeks ... University leaders will reassess the situation by April 17 and decide then whether to continue remote teaching or to return to in-person instruction by April 27."

Southern Illinois University is extending spring break through March 22 and "moving to alternate instruction ... Effective Monday, March 23, classes will be offered in online or other alternative formats until further notice."

DePaul University is not holding any final exams for winter classes on campus: "Students will hear from their faculty about any changes to their final assignment." While classes will happen as planned March 12 and 13, all university-sponsored events both on and off campus are canceled. Campuses will remain open, but "whenever possible, classes will be delivered remotely during Spring Quarter and the remainder of Spring Semester for the College of Law." Students who live in residence halls are being told to prepare not to return from spring break.

University of Chicago will transition to "distance learning"for the rest of the spring quarter — through June — and students who live on campus must leave by March 22. "Students who cannot travel to their permanent addresses due to travel restrictions (all CDC level 3 countries) must register with Housing & Residence Life to receive permission to remain in Housing for the Spring Quarter," an email to students said. All university-sponsored events and gatherings over 100 people are suspended until April 15.

Loyola University is canceling two on-campus events, the Climate Conference on March 12-13 and the Palmer Research Symposium on March 13.

Wheaton College is extending spring break by one week and moving classes online as of March 23. Undergraduates are asked to return or remain at home for the rest of the semester. On-campus room and board will be provided to those who have no other option, including those from countries with travel restrictions and those with other extenuating circumstances.

Chicago State University has canceled all university-sponsored travel and spring break programs.

University of St. Francis is resuming school after spring break March 16 but is moving all classes online. In-person classes are scheduled to resume April 13. Residence halls will reopen March 15 for those who must stay on campus, and all students must notify the university of whether they intend to live on or off campus by noon Sunday. On-campus gatherings are limited to 25 people until further notice. " While the situation remains fluid, all USF intercollegiate athletic events and practices are suspended until such time as the guidance of the CCAC, the NAIA, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will permit their resumption."

College of DuPage is offering "alternative instruction" with no face to face meetings or classes from March 16 to 22. " Online and hybrid courses will be delivered only in an online format. Training in alternative delivery formats will be offered to full-time and adjunct faculty." Lab sessions will be held as scheduled March 23 to 29 but all other instruction will be online or through alternative delivery. Spring break is March 30 to April 5. The weeks of April 6 to 19: "No laboratory sessions will be held. All other instruction will be delivered online or through alternative delivery formats that do not involve face-to-face instruction." All events on campus are canceled for the remainder of the 2020 schedule, although commencement is expected to be held as scheduled on May 15.

Elmhurst College is moving classes online starting Monday. "This was a difficult decision to make, as it will impact every member of the college community. But we know that the best way to protect our community from the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is to limit large gatherings," school officials said.

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• Coronavirus In IL: Here Are All The Cancellations, Closures