TOLEDO, Ohio — Both the University of Toledo and Bowling Green State University will not resume in-person classes this semester.
The University of Toledo has canceled classes for Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17. All academic courses will resume Wednesday, March 18 with remote delivery.
UToledo students are encouraged not to return to campus and residence halls will not reopen after spring break. Students will move out between March 14-22.
Leaders with the university are working with students individually who are safest at school. All individuals returning from a Level 3 country are required to isolate for 14 days.
"While there are no campus-related cases to-date, we are taking the following proactive actions (effective March 16, 2020) to ensure the health and safety of our campus community," a letter from the university read.
The university is providing regular updates to the campus community, including launching a dedicated website: utoledo.edu/coronavirus. For the past several weeks UToledo has had task forces working on plans as this issue emerges in Ohio.
"We continue to align our recommendations with the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and local, state and federal agencies," the university said.
BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
Bowling Green State University students are being urged to return to their permanent homes. However, for students who choose to forego their housing and meal plans prior to the conclusion of the spring semester, BGSU is developing an "appropriate model that is financially fair and equitable."
If BGSU students wish to stay in their residence halls, the Office of Residence Life will announce a housing process on Monday to arrange for those accommodations.
That same day, they will also share plans and a schedule for check-out and to remove student belongings.
Updates regarding COVID-19 and BGSU's plans of action can be found at the university's dedicated website: https://www.bgsu.edu/coronavirus
ALL INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
On Tuesday, DeWine made four recommendations for all Ohio institutions of higher learning.
Recommendations for both two year and four-year colleges are as follows. Each is in a different position s far as spring break - timing is different- but the students who are coming back from a foreign country should be screened by a campus clinic, DeWine said. This would also include any student coming back from a cruise ship. These students should be asked where were they and who have they been around.
Second recommendation, the schools should eliminate any international travel for students and faculty.
Third is the basic principle of minimizing gathering large groups together.
Fourth is colleges should go to remote learning.
All events at the University of Toledo through April 30 with an expected attendance of 100 or more have been canceled. This includes the March 28 Preview Day and the April 7 State of the University Address.
The University of Toledo also suspended all travel - domestic and international - for the remainder of the fiscal year.