Colleges, universities respond to COVID-19; close campuses
BY KYLE VUILLE
Major Bronx learning institutions
are closing their doors
and fi nding ways to continue
operationing remotely in the
midst of the world-wide pandemic,
COVID-19,
As of March 16, all local
four-year colleges and universities
including Lehman,
Mercy, Metropolitan, Manhattan
College, Mount St. Vincent,
Fordham, and SUNYMaritime
have cancelled their normal
classes and have or are moving
towards online classes.
According to Maritime College’s
website, students have
been told to move out of their
dorms and wait further instruction.
Part of the President Michael
Alfultis’s announcement
read: “All students will move
out of the dorms, commencing
Tuesday, March 17 according
to the below schedule. All students
must properly check out
of the dorms with housing in
order to be eligible for any future
credit or refund. Further
details on a refund/credit policy
will be forthcoming.”
The president of Fordham
University, Joseph M. Mc-
Shane, suspended in-person
classes and also released this
statement: “Effective immediately,
all on-campus university
events are canceled at least
through March 29.
“This includes outside organizers
renting space at Fordham,
and Fordham events at
off-campus venues in New York
City. Some of these events may
be rescheduled; organizers
will reach out to the University
Community when they have
more information about their
specifi c event. The only exceptions
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number of intercollegiate athletic
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to the above are a limited
If funeral homes were all the same,
Ours wouldn’t be the family choice
The families of our community so often choose our funeral home. Some come to us to pre-plan
arrangements because we offer all the options and choices they desire. Others come to us at their
time of need seeking guidance, support and the certainty of a funeral service that is correct in
every way. Should your family fi nd itself in need of our services, we hope you’ll make the choice so
many in our community have.
events at which only the
athletes and coaches may be
present.”
Fordham’s president added
in the same announcement,
Fordham students studying
aboard in Europe are to return
home despite quarantine measures
of other countries.
Mercy College has also cancelled
classes, events, and activities
through March 29. According
to Mercy’s website, a
second individual on campus
has tested positive for the virus.
The College of Mount St.
Vincent is taking a similar approach
with President Charles
L. Flynn Jr. saying, “All lecture/
recitation sections of
classes will be meeting online
until further notice. Beginning
March 23 (immediately following
Spring break), all lecture/
recitation sections of all classes
will meet exclusively ... in synchronous
(real time) format, at
their regularly scheduled meeting
times.”
However, Flynn Jr., like
other college presidents, are
concerned with how faculty
and students will continue
in settings like clinical labs
where the hands-on experience
can not be duplicated or simulated
properly through an online
course.
According to Flynn Jr’s.
statement, students participating
in those classes may experience
an extended semester.
Metropolitan College of
New York has taken a similar
approack, switching over to
online classes this past week
and will continue to do so until
further notice. President
Joanne Passaro announced
the school will assess the situation
the week of March 23rd to
decide whether online classes
will continue through the semester.
Lehman College is no different,
classes were cancelled
for the past week with online
teaching commencing this past
Thursday. President Daniel
Lemons also announced in the
March 16 update, a student has
tested positive for COVID-19.
Lemons added the campus
will remain open with modifi
ed hours for services and resources
such as the cafeteria
and library.
All two-year community
colleges have also closed till
further notice.
Posters and notices at Hostos Community College warning about Coronavirus
and the preventative measures to take to stop the spread of
germs. Schneps Media / Kyle Vuille
/www.schuylerhill.com
/www.schuylerhill.com