York, Ryerson and the University of Toronto have all cancelled classes on campus amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Beginning Monday, York University president Rhonda Lenton said the school will be suspending all “face-to-face instruction” and will transition to online classes. They have also postponed or cancelled all “non-essential events” that are not part of an academic program.

“I know this is an anxious and upsetting time for everyone,” Lenton wrote in a press release Friday. “Let me say, without reservation, that York will be there to support every member of the community as we face this pandemic together.”

The University of Toronto also announced that classes will be cancelled at the St. George, Scarborough and Mississauga campuses, until April 3, and that teaching will be delivered through other means.

U of T president Meric Gertler said in a statement that libraries, residences, food services, health and wellness centres, athletics and recreation facilities will remain open.

Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi announced that the school will cancel in-person classes and transition to online courses, effective Friday. Ryerson will also conduct exams by “alternate methods.”

Lachemi said students can expect to hear from their departments next week regarding future plans.

“Staff across the university have been working extremely hard and have been in near constant contact with other universities and colleges, public health and public safety agencies,” Lachemi wrote in a press release Friday.

McMaster University in Hamilton cancelled in-person classes and exams as of the end of day Friday.

“There are unsettling times,” said university president David Farrar in a letter posted on the McMaster website Friday morning.

Undergraduate and graduate students are expected to hear by March 18 how the remainder of their courses will be managed and grades assessed so they can complete their credits on time. Online classes is one potential option suggested in the letter.

Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., confirmed that all undergraduate classes will be suspended for one week, after which they will communicate how the rest of the semester will move forward. The university said all operations and residences will remain open.

Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., announced it is suspending face-to-face classes and exams for the rest of the academic term. The statement suggested faculty members “consider re-distributing the assessment for a course based on the material and work already completed.”

Centennial College in Toronto suspended all classes next week. From March 23 to April 3 all courses will be delivered online and students will not have to attend campus. However, campuses will remain open during this time to allow students who require a computer to engage in online learning to utilize our open computer labs on campus.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

George Brown College in Toronto will also be suspending all in-person classes from Saturday to March 22, including daytime and Continuing Education classes at all their campuses. This is “to ensure the health and well-being of our community.”

Earlier this week, Western, Laurentian and Ontario Tech universities cancelled in-person classes.

With files from Tom Yun and Hamilton Spectator