USG to have temporary suspension of instruction due to novel Coronavirus

by aubellringer, posted in News
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Due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, USG institutions will be postponing instruction for two weeks. (photo by Ravyn Chatmon)

By Ravyn Chatmon|
Online editor

All University System of Georgia (USG) institutions will suspend instruction for two weeks, starting Monday, March 16.

According to an email sent by Augusta University President Brooks Keel, students are being asked to stay away from campus until March 29.

“Students who are currently on spring break are strongly encouraged not to return to campus. Students on campus are asked to depart campus by close of business Friday, March 13, 2020, and to remain away from campus until March 29, 2020. At this time, students are not being asked to move out of their dorms for the remainder of the semester. For students who are unable to leave campus, please establish a mechanism to safely accommodate those students on campus,” Keel stated in an email.

This suspension follows a cancellation of multiple study abroad trips. According to Director of Study Abroad Maria Darley, all USG European and Asia Council study abroad trips have been cancelled. This includes the Study Abroad (SA) to Ireland that USG sponsors during the summer semester. Several AU students had registered to attend, and it was to be led by AU Communication Professor Debra van Tuyll. While the students will receive refunds, they will now have to figure out other course offerings to enroll in, instead of the SA-related courses that were going to take. Augusta University’s business and film studies abroad trips to Italy had already been cancelled.

AU will host a town hall meeting to give updates and answer questions or concerns about the Coronavirus on Friday, March 13 at noon. This town hall will not be live streamed, but faculty, staff and students can go to University Hall 170 for the event.

*As of Friday, March 13 at 8 a.m., the scheduled COVID-19 town hall has been moved online. The meeting will be live streamed starting at 3 p.m. The event can watched by going to myaugusta.edu/stream. Questions can be submitted before or during the 3 p.m. meeting by emailing cepar@augusta.edu.

 

Contact Ravyn Chatmon at RCHATMON@augusta.edu.