**This post has been updated to include WKU-Owensboro.
WKU-OWENSBORO UPDATE:
The Owensboro campus we will follow the WKU’s plan: spring break will be extended one week through March 22. From March 23-April 5, professors in face-to-face courses will use alternative teaching methods, allowing students to continue learning from home. Online courses will continue as normal when classes resume March 23. The WKU Owensboro campus will be open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. March 16-20 and will resume regular hours of 8 a.m.-7 p.m. beginning March 23.
Students are welcome to work with advisors to plan their summer and fall 2020 schedule. Tutors will continue to be available, and computer labs will be open. For questions about proctored exams or other information, call 270-684-9797.
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KWC UPDATE 3/13/2020: Kentucky Wesleyan College announced Thursday night that beginning March 18 through the end of the spring 2020 semester, all classes shift to online delivery.
OTHER KWC UPDATES:
• In order to allow for faculty to expedite their preparations to move classroom instruction to remote delivery and learning, classes will be canceled on Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17.
• All student events will be canceled through the end of March and we will continue to evaluate these and other institution-sponsored activities during the days and weeks ahead.
• The Kentucky Wesleyan Campus will remain open, including student support services, academic services, residence halls and dining facilities. Students will have the option to check out of the residence halls, and if doing so, an express check-out form will be made available in Student Life beginning Friday (3/13). All residential students wishing to remain on campus will be emailed an online application similar to what they complete when remaining on campus for breaks.
• Fall 2020 housing selection, registration and advising will also be moving to an online format. More details will follow, and communication will be vital to ensuring as smooth a process as possible.
• There is no final decision on Commencement at this time. As with other events, we will continue to evaluate as circumstances allow.
All updates will be sent via email and posted on our microsite at www.kwc.edu/coronavirus when available.
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OCTC update 3/13/2020: Owensboro Community & Technical College is canceling classes on Monday and Tuesday to allow faculty time to prepare for remote/alternative delivery of instruction, which is scheduled for the March 18-April 5.
This time frame aligns with the regional partners and will be evaluated as the situation progresses.
Faculty and staff will report to work as normal providing they have no symptoms and encouraged to implement social distancing as recommended by the CDC.
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Brescia University announced Wednesday it will temporarily move classes online starting March 18 until April 14 when face-to-face courses will resume.
“We recognize that this is not ideal and some patience will be necessary but we want to do all we can to finish the semester to avoid delaying our students’ education,” said Larry Hostetter, president of Brescia. “We will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether we will be able to return to face-to-face on April 14. If not, then we would continue with online courses until the end of the semester.”
Classes are also canceled Monday and Tuesday, which will allow the faculty time to prepare for the transition.
The residence halls are open and students may remain on campus, Hostetter said, but this is subject to change depending on further developments. Brescia stays open for business and faculty and staff will continue regular office hours.
Hostetter said Brescia has had a pandemic plan in place for years and the institution recently updated the measure when news of a confirmed case of COVID-19 broke in Kentucky last week.
There are eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kentucky as of Tuesday, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
Kentucky Wesleyan College and Owensboro Community Technical College don’t intend on canceling classes on campus but may be looking at a similar path as Brescia.
“As of today, we’re operating as normal,” said OCTC’s president Scott Williams. “We’ll keep things posted.”
KWC echoed a similar message.
“The rapidly changing events associated with the COVID-19 virus necessitate that we plan for potential disruptions to on-ground classes,” said KWC’s vice president of advancement Eddie Kenny. “The campus community has been reminded to remain vigilant in practicing precautions to prevent the spread of disease.”
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Click here for all of our coronavirus coverage.
The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
