UT Arlington extends spring break, shifts to online courses over coronavirus concerns
UT Arlington students will get an extra week of spring break as the university makes plans to address concerns over coronavirus, according to a campuswide email sent Thursday morning.
When classes resume, they will be held online to facilitate social distancing, according to the email. Online-only courses will resume as scheduled.
The announcement comes after a petition to extend the break because of the COVID-19 virus reached 11,000 signatures.
UTA employees will return to work as scheduled March 16 and professors are expected announce plans for online classwork next week.
While the campus will not be closed, the university is cautioning students to stay away. All events, including campus tours, will be canceled until at least April 6. Student organizations are also being told to cancel their events.
Students who have a fever and respiratory problems are instructed to call the UTA Health Services Center before visiting.
The campus clinic and on-campus pharmacy will maintain regular hours and is working with Tarrant County Public Health to manage any possible coronavirus cases.
While the campus does not have coronavirus testing capabilities, a spokesperson for the university said the clinic will work with TCPH to facilitate any testing needed. The clinic is following TCPH and CDC guidelines for handling any potential cases of the virus.
The university recalled three students studying abroad in Korea earlier this month, requiring them to quarantine themselves for at least 14 days due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus in the country, the university confirmed March 4.
The university is also discouraging institution-sponsored domestic travel “in an abundance of caution” and students and employees are required by the university to report any international travel, including for personal reasons.
Campus dining and housing services will remain operational for students who cannot return home.
Other campus operations, like research activities, will continue as normal during the break and online-only period.
Campus officials have instructed the university community to report any contact with infected people and begin a 14-day self quarantine as soon as they are aware they may have been exposed.
Students and employees are encouraged to follow common practices to avoid spreading sickness: cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands regularly, don’t touch your face and stay home or go to a medical professional if you are feeling sick.
“We understand some of these measures will be an inconvenience to some members of our community, but we take the health and safety of our Maverick family seriously,” the university said in a statement.
TCU also extended spring break to March 20 and moved all classes online from March 23 to April 3.
Texas Wesleyan, Abilene Christian University, Rice University, Baylor University, Southwestern University, Texas A&M, Texas Tech University, Texas State University, University of Houston and University of Texas are among more than a dozen Texas colleges that have made changes to their schedule or moved classes online in response to the virus.
Star-Telegram reporter Jack Howland contributed to this report. This story is developing and will be updated.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 11:23 AM with the headline "UT Arlington extends spring break, shifts to online courses over coronavirus concerns."