As the World Health Organization officially labeled the novel coronavirus a global pandemic, Purdue Fort Wayne officials extended its spring break for one week, ending it on March 22.
Announced early Wednesday afternoon, the plan comes after Purdue University President Mitch Daniels announced plans to transition teaching to an online-only format beginning after Spring Break. That could continue until the end of the semester.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Indiana currently has 10 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 43 individuals having been tested.
Below is a list of regional institutions of higher education and what they have announced so far regarding the coronavirus.
- Indiana University announced Tuesday that all in-person instruction would end until April 3, beginning after the school’s spring break scheduled from March 15 to March 22. The campuses will not close, according to a letter from IU President Michael McRobbie.
- The University of Saint Francis has announced no changes to its plans since March 5.
On March 9, Manchester University officials announced the Fort Wayne campus would be undergoing a deep cleaning after a pharmacy student on a clinical rotation was in the same location as the confirmed Noble County case of the coronavirus. The student self-quarantined, according to the statement.
The school is continuing operations as normal, but are asking students to register their spring break travel with school officials. They are asking students to take their laptops and course materials home with them as well, in the event they are unable to return to campus.
- Taylor University has cancelled all spring break trips, and reserves the right to ask staff or students returning from areas where there are cancellations and closures or showing signs of the virus to self-quarantine off campus upon return from spring break.
- Huntington University cancelled international spring break trips, and officials are making preparations to conduct all instruction online, according to its website.
- According to their website, as of Wednesday afternoon Trine University is making no changes to practices and procedures at this time. However, the Northeastern Indiana Tri-State Regional Science Fair scheduled for Saturday will be conducted virtually.
- Indiana Wesleyan University has made no changes to its schedule or offerings, according to their website.
- The University of Notre Dame moved all classes online to April 13 at the earliest, according to reporting on Wednesday.
