Mercer will use online classes for the rest of the semester. Here are the details
Mercer University will use online classes for the rest of the semester, university president William Underwood announced Friday.
Mercer will still provide services to students who need to remain on campus, and Underwood said faculty and staff are developing opportunities to celebrate the accomplishments of students graduating this semester.
“My hope was that we could provide those of you who are graduating at the end of this semester or term an opportunity to complete your time at Mercer physically on our campuses with your colleagues and faculty,” Underwood said. “We will have traditional commencement ceremonies to celebrate the accomplishments of all of our graduates, though whether we will be able to proceed as scheduled remains uncertain. We do not want to make this decision prematurely. Please look for updates by mid-April.”
Most Mercer students have returned home, the president said, and no student will be required to return to campus to move their belongings out of residence halls before the end of the semester.
“An e-mail communication to all residential students (including those of you living in the Lofts) will be immediately forthcoming with instructions on how to check out of housing for those who are leaving, how to retrieve personal belongings if you are not presently on campus, and how to notify that office if you have reasons to stay in University housing or the Lofts,” he said. “I have asked Residence Life to implement a process that promotes physical distancing, and that is flexible for students and families during this transition period.”
The university is also working on a plan to reimburse students for unused room and board.
“As a final reminder, regardless of where you are located, you continue to have access to Student Health through the Mercer Medicine Hotline at (478) 301-7425,” Underwood said. “We are in the process of deploying a telemedicine tool that you can load on your smartphone. This tool will allow you to access medical staff including physicians and infectious disease specialists, regardless of where you are located. Please call the Mercer Medicine Hotline to access this tool.”
On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all public primary and secondary schools closed through at least April 26. Mercer is a private university, and moved to virtual instruction on March 23.