LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Colleges across the country are already making plans to have students complete coursework at home as a result of the spreading coronavirus.
Here in Kentucky, Berea College will end its semester on Friday. What about the state's other universities?
Students at the University of Louisville are on Spring Break this week, but UofL spokesman, John Karman tells Spectrum News 1 the school is monitoring the health situation in the state and the school is working on contingency plans. However, right now there are no plans to take action and classes will resume next week.
University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto issued a letter on the school's website. He addresses Spring Break travel and what students should be aware of if they are traveling.
Capilouto also addressed campus preparations. UK has created 15 team leaders from around campus to help assess and manage the everyday changes associated with coronavirus. The school is discussing contingency plans for all aspects of campus life. The president says the university is will do what is necessary and states they will be prepared as possible.
Like UofL, Eastern Kentucky University is also on Spring Break and is closely monitoring the situation. EKU says it is reviewing public health reports and making contingency instruction plans.
Classes remain in session for Bellarmine University. They too are monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and state health departments. Bellarmine says it is exploring various options that would allow the semester to continue if it becomes necessary to suspend campus classes.
Western Kentucky students are enjoying Spring Break and like the other universities, the school is monitoring health departments and guidelines and preparing in the event a decision must be made.
Murray State echoes the plans of the other schools. It says it will share any updates on its website.
Northern Kentucky University is planning for the possibility of moving to an alternative form of course delivery, including online classes.
The school also reports that a pair of "school-aged students" were attending a weekend camp at NKU and were told a relative was being tested out-of-state for "likely" coronavirus. Because the relative recently visited the family of the two students, they notified NKU. The pair is now in self-quarantine until the test results are known, which are due later this week.
The school says Landrum Hall and all affected areas have been cleaned and disinfected.