These Kansas City area colleges are going online over concerns about coronavirus
University of Missouri-Kansas City, Johnson County Community College and Rockhurst University said Thursday they are converting to online-only instruction, the latest in a series of area colleges to announce drastic changes because of concerns over the new coronavirus.
In addition, Metropolitan Community College closed early on Thursday, four days before the start of spring break. The break was originally scheduled for March 16-22. Officials said a member of the college community said Thursday afternoon that they had been asked to self-quarantine due to potential exposure to the coronavirus. Kimberly Beatty, MCC chancellor, said the decision to close the campuses was made “in an abundance of caution.” The closure applies to students as well as employees. Future announcements will come by email, text messages and social media.
UMKC made its decision after students called on officials to follow the lead of other schools. The university said it would suspend in-person classes at the end of the day Thursday. Classes will move online March 16 at their usual times. Friday’s classes are canceled to give the campus time to prepare for online courses.
UMKC also canceled spring and summer study abroad programs and all university-related international travel. Also canceled is “all nonessential university events,” according to a campus memo.
The University of Missouri system announced Friday all classes would remain online through the end of the semester.
Rockhurst University, which is on spring break now, will conduct classes remotely beginning Monday, March 16, to mitigate the spread of the disease, known as COVID-19. Students will get direction about class schedules from their individual instructors. In-person classes are halted for a minimum of two weeks, through at least Saturday, March 28.
During spring break starting March 14, JCCC will be open only to essential personnel as officials transition to online-only classes. Classes will not resume for two weeks: On March 30, faculty and staff have been instructed to begin delivering all courses remotely.
JCCC officials said students are encouraged to stay home for the week following spring break. On Wednesday, the college suspended all college-related international travel. Domestic travel to identified high-risk areas, such as New York and Washington state, will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Earlier on Thursday, through social media, UMKC students urged officials to follow the lead of other colleges and suspend classes there.
“The health and well-being of all UMKC students is my top priority,” tweeted Justice Horn, UMKC student body president.
At first, UMKC only canceled its annual Urban Education Forum, scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday. Featured speaker Marilyn Cochran-Smith, an education professor at Boston College, told UMKC she was not able to make the trip because of the coronavirus’s effects on travel. The university announced that it is postponing the presentation of the 2020 Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education to former Mayor Sly James.
The University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg said it would wait to decide whether to go to online-only classes. But officials said that as of Monday, March 16, “all nonessential university-sponsored travel on public transport is suspended for the remainder of spring 2020 semester.”
“With spring break for us next week, we will have an opportunity to more fully evaluate numerous scenarios, including the significant impact on faculty and students should class structure be changed,” said UCM President Roger J Best.
Best did suggest that as students head off on break they pack textbooks, computer and other essentials. “In addition, individual circumstances may change, and if you find yourself staying at home or another location following spring break, it will be helpful to have your books and technology with you in case you need to participate remotely,” he said.
The World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on Wednesday. The U.S. has had more than 1,320 confirmed cases and 41 deaths.
In the Kansas City region had its first death from the disease, a Wyandotte County man in his 70s, Kansas officials announced Thursday. In addition, there are four confirmed cases in Johnson County and two in Missouri. Both Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared states of emergency o Thursday.
None of the colleges reported any confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students, faculty or staff. University of Missouri officials said several journalism students and faculty attended a conference in New Orleans where they came in contact with a person who tested positive for the virus. Those conference goers were not showing symptoms of the illness but were following the instructions of health-care officials.
Here are the latest announcements from other area colleges and universities:
▪ Avila University, which is on spring break is extending the break for its undergraduate students through March 22. When classes resume they will be delivered online only starting March 23.
▪ At Park University, beginning Monday, March 16, all face-to-face and blended classes at the flagship campus in Parkville and the Gilbert, Arizona, campus, will move online. During the first week, students will receive limited assignments as faculty convert classes to online. “While housing will remain open, we recommend that students in Parkville Campus housing remain at home, if possible,” a university statement said.
▪ The University of Kansas is on spring break this week. Officials announced that classes will not resume for another week after that as instructors prepare to deliver their courses, including lectures, online. Once classes start up again March 23, they will all be online.
▪ William Jewell College, will move to online classes for two weeks following its spring break. The campus goes on break March 14-22, and will conduct classes online from March 23-April 5.
▪ The University of Missouri suspended all classes through Sunday. On Monday, classes will resume, but they’ll be delivered online only. The university was scheduled to go on spring break the week of March 23. The University system announced Friday all classes would remain online through the end of the semester.
▪ Kansas State University, which is now on spring break, announced that classes are canceled March 16-20. They will resume remotely beginning March 23.
▪ Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, which is currently on spring break, announced it is transitioning to online instruction. It will suspend face-to-face classes when students return March 16, continuing at least through March 31. The campus itself will remain open and operational for faculty and staff.
▪ Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville is currently on spring break and announced it will suspend classes until March 23. The campus remains open and operational, and university employees were told to report to work as normal. Residence halls will open at 1 p.m. Sunday as planned for students who choose to return to campus. Campus dining will offer scaled-back services. The University system announced Friday all classes would remain online through the end of the semester.
In-person classes had been canceled or postponed at more than 100 universities across the country. In this region, St. Louis University, Webster University and Maryville University also took similar actions. Washington University in St. Louis suspended in-person classes until the end of April.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 1:44 PM.
