Don’t want to go to class because of coronavirus? You now have options at Mercer.
Mercer University announced Friday it will allow students to choose whether to remain on campus or work remotely starting March 23 through at least April 3, according to a statement from university president William Underwood.
On-campus services, including residence halls, food service, recreational facilities, the Student Health Center and libraries will remain open. Students also have access to a 24/7 School of Medicine hotline. Students who call will be seen by the Mercer Medicine staff “immediately.”
“These health care services remain available to all students, regardless of whether they are studying on one of our campuses or remotely,” Underwood said. “ We are working toward developing protocols for regularly testing students remaining on our campuses.”
Undergraduate students need to fill out an online form by 5 p.m. Monday, indicating whether they’ll remain on campus or return home. But Underwood said students will have “maximum flexibility,” with the option to change their minds about on-campus or virtual instruction.
“A student’s chair in class, residence hall room, and dining option remain available,” he said.
The rest of the university is operating normally, according to the release.
“I recognize that additional demands are being placed on faculty and staff at a time when they are also dealing with possible coronavirus impacts in their families,” Underwood said. “Employees should work with their supervisors to ensure that their responsibilities are covered. I am deeply grateful for the spirit of cooperation and dedication that all of our faculty and staff are demonstrating in this stressful time.”
The University System of Georgia announced Thursday afternoon that its 26 institutions will suspend classes for two weeks starting March 26. That includes Middle Georgia State University, which has campuses in Macon, Cochran and other midstate cities. Wesleyan College said it was extending spring break until March 22 and is working on a decision about what to do after that.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 2:53 PM.