To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the University of Pittsburgh, which includes the Bradford campus, will move to online classes beginning March 23 for the remainder of the spring semester.
To prepare for the transition to online instruction, classes are canceled the week of March 16.
“The health and safety of everyone in the campus community, as well as our neighbors in the region, is our first priority,” said Pat Frantz Cercone, university spokeswoman. “Therefore, the university is taking precautions to avoid further spread of the virus.
“We have been preparing for this scenario for several days and are continuing to work out the details to make this transition to online classes as seamless as possible for our entire campus community and their families.”
In addition, all campus events have been canceled for the foreseeable future, and some have been postponed. A decision about Commencement will be made at a later time.
The Donor Scholarship Luncheon, which was scheduled for March 27, has been canceled. As of Monday, March 16, all athletic events have been canceled for the foreseeable future. The inauguration of Dr. Catherine Koverola, president, which had been scheduled for April 3, has been postponed.
In addition to moving classes online and canceling events, the university has canceled summer study abroad trips and all university travel, both domestic and international. The university also is discouraging all personal domestic and international travel.
Students attending Pitt-Bradford are discouraged from coming to campus to pick up their belongings. However, if they need to retrieve their belongings, they will receive information on how to do so.
Exceptions will be made to allow some students to remain on campus. Student services, such as dining, will be available to those remaining students.
“There are many logistical issues that need to be worked through,” Cercone explained. “As we have more information, we’ll share it on our website and our social media channels.”