Samford University announced that all on-campus course instructions will be suspended from March 16 until at least April 6 due to coronavirus concerns. Students will continue their courses online via Canvas. Students are not allowed to return to campus until classroom instruction resumes. International students will remain in campus housing and will be guided by the Global Engagement Office.
“Samford intends to maintain essential operations through the end of this semester, thereby allowing students to complete the academic work already begun for this term,” Samford University stated.
Students living on campus are allowed to retrieve laptops, books or other items in their dorm rooms until March 16 at 5 p.m.
The University stated that the World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, as cases continue to rise across the United States. At the time of press, there are no confirmed COVID-19 cases at Samford University or in Alabama.
“In making these decisions, as well as many others in the days ahead, our intent is to minimize for Samford students, faculty, employees and others their risk of exposure to COVID-19,” the university stated, “These actions by Samford are similar to those taken by many colleges and universities across the country.”
Colleges across the U.S. are closing campuses amid coronavirus concerns and cases. Vanderbilt University students have been advised to move out of their campus residences by March 15 for the remainder of the semester after a Vanderbilt Medical Center health care worker was tested positive for the coronavirus.
