TEXAS - A number of Texas universities announced that they would extend their spring breaks through March 22 to prepare for the new coronavirus and then make students take classes online for at least an extra week.
The universities are taking a number of precautions to slow the spread and reduce the impact of the disease.
List of Texas universities that are extending their spring break
- Austin Community College
- Baylor University
- Texas A&M at San Antonio
- Texas Christian University
- Texas State University
- Trinity University
- University of Houston
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Southwestern University
- UT Austin
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Baylor University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M at San Antonio, Trinity University, University of Houston, and Texas Christian University all announced Wednesday that they are extending spring break. When students return they'll be forced to take classes online at least temporarily.
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Classes for both Texas Christian University and Baylor University campuses will not resume for students until Monday, March 23. However, all classes through April 3 will only be held online. At that time, school officials will reassess and decide when face-to-face classes will resume.
TCU and Baylor faculty will still return to campus next week to prepare for online teaching.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has also announced that they will be extending their spring break. When classes resume on March 23, they will be conducted on an online platform rather than through in-person sessions. The school has ensured that instruction will continue through at least April 15.
Trinity University took their precautions a step further than other universities and announced that it has closed its residence halls for full-time occupancy for the rest of the spring semester.
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Southwestern University in Georgetown announced it will be extending its Spring Break for students to "better prepare the campus for any additional actions that need to be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19-CORONAVIRUS." Spring break for Southwestern students will now end on Sunday, March 29. On Monday March 30, Southwestern will deliver coursework to students through distance learning mechanisms for a period of at least two weeks, ending April 9 due to the Good Friday holiday.
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St. Edward's University announced that there will be no on-campus instruction in Austin from March 23 to April 4. All classes will be conducted online during this time period, which follows their normally scheduled spring break.
Here is a list of websites created by the universities where students and parents can get the latest information:
- Austin Community College
- Baylor University
- Texas A&M at San Antonio
- Texas Christian University
- Texas State University
- Trinity University
- University of Houston
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- UT Austin
- St. Edward's University
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