Assumption, Clark latest Central Mass. colleges to change courses due to outbreak

Photo | Grant Welker Clark University's Robert Hutchings Goddard Library

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By Grant Welker

Worcester's Assumption College and Clark University are the latest colleges to delay classes or move them online as a safety precaution in reaction to the global spread of the coronavirus.

Clark said it will begin teaching classes online only starting March 23, and is canceling classes March 16-20 to facilitate a move toward holding classes online. Students are being asked to leave their residence halls for the remainder of the semester as soon as possible, and no later than March 22, with exemptions possible in some cases.

Assumption is extending its spring break until March 18, after which courses will be held online through at least March 29. The school hopes to resume on-campus courses by March 30.

All Assumption students are asked to leave campus during that time except for international students. Athletic events are suspended through April 13 but other campus events are suspended through the rest of the semester.

Other colleges in Central Massachusetts and elsewhere have taken more severe measures, in some cases keeping students off campus through the reminder of the spring semester.

UMass Medical School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross, Fitchburg State University and MCPHS University are among those who've moved to holding classes online for at least a temporary basis.

WPI, with more than 5,000 students, said it will delay the start of its fourth academic term — known as D-term — until March 25, and after that point would be holding classes only online for at least two weeks. The term is now set to run through May 13.

Residence halls at WPI will be closed from March 16 until at least April 4. Students who reside on campus and are currently away should not return to campus, the school said in a notice to the campus community Wednesday afternoon. The campus remains open to faculty and staff.

Holy Cross is ending classes after Friday and requiring students to move out of their dorms by Saturday at 5 p.m. The school, which returned from spring break Monday, said it will shift to online classes only starting March 23 and continuing through the end of the semester.

At UMass Medical School, courses will be online only through at least April 3. Fitchburg State said it has canceled classes for the week of March 16-20 and that students have been told not to return to the campus that week. Residence halls will be closed for the week. The campus will otherwise remain open and all faculty and staff.

MCPHS University is extending its break through March 22, and will hold classes online after that. Students at the Worcester campus will be given an option to stay in their housing.

Others are extending spring breaks to buy time to figure out best courses of action.

Worcester State University said it would extend its spring break through March 29, and is asking all students, if possible, to leave campus during break to allow for larger measures to guard against the outbreak. Framingham State University, which is holding spring break the week of March 16, has canceled all classes and student activities for the week of March 23-27. Faculty and staff should report as scheduled, the school said. Anna Maria College in Paxton is extending its break through March 22 to prepare for online courses if it becomes necessary.