FDU Going ‘Virtual’ for Classes in Coronavirus Reaction

By EQUINOX STAFF

Students are asked to stay home from spring break and those on campus are asked to go home as FDU today announced that classes will be taught virtually (online) after spring break ends, starting Monday, March 16. Additionally, events and meetings will be conducted as virtually as possible and most campus events will be postponed, with a possible exception for athletic events, President Christopher Capuano said in a letter distributed Tuesday.

No date for resumption of in-person classes was set as the university expanded travel restrictions.

“Anyone taking personal trips is advised to use caution during this time period and note that if they visit an area with high risk for exposure they may be required to remain off-campus or in self-isolation in accordance with earlier communications,” the university said.

Thus far, as the COVID-19 coronavirus is sweeping across the planet, no cases have been reported on any of the FDU campuses, the school said.

The Metro campus will be open and operational with employees reporting to work. Some work may be performed remotely, with approval.

Professors are asked to contact students to set up procedures for online classes.

Dining operations will continue to serve students who must remain in residence.

FDU’s action comes as the first death from the virus in the northeast was reported Tuesday. An unidentified 69-year-old man from Little Ferry, a neighboring community, died Tuesday. A total of 15 new cases in the state are suspected, including two new cases in Bergen County, which today declared a state of emergency, according to a report by InsiderNJ.com.

Nationally, some 900 cases and 30 deaths are attributed to the virus.

Earlier today, Rutgers announced classes will be delivered online after spring break, through April 3. New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark said it is closing its campus after spring break and will offer classes online starting March 23.

Previous Coverage

FDU News on COVID-19, Coronavirus [MARCH 9, 2020]

FDU Increases Coronavirus Travel Restrictions [MARCH 2, 2020]

Waiting on FDU Updates on Coronavirus [FEBRUARY 28, 2020]

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