Emporia State University is joining Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, suspending face-to-face classes starting this Monday, in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. ESU says: "These plans are designed to help our students, faculty and staff practice social distancing, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as "remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining distance (approximately six feet) from others when possible."
Emporia State says its plan involves:
*Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20 — all Emporia State University face-to-face classes are cancelled. This includes face-to-face classes taught at locations other than ESU's main campus. *Beginning Monday, March 23 and continuing until further notice, all ESU face-to-face classes will be offered through remote access rather than in classrooms. *All campus events and programming are cancelled until April 10, with monitoring to determine whether this date will be extended. This includes events scheduled by off-campus groups using university venues. With respect to internal campus meetings, social distancing practices will be used with gatherings limited to no more than six or eight individuals. Even with small groups, consider having telephone or virtual meetings. Watch for information about best practices for social distancing. In addition, all ESU Athletics events — track and field, baseball, softball, tennis — will be held without spectators. ESU strongly encourages students who live in the residence halls, sororities or fraternities to travel home or stay at home next week. For students who cannot go home, the residence halls and related services remain open.
The COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. Our Emergency Policy Group, with input from the Critical Incident Planning Group, Student Wellness and Emergency Management, will continue to meet daily to study the situation and discuss any additional actions.
ESU says it will provide one week's notice by e-mail before transitioning back to face-to-face classes.
