Several Louisiana universities are moving to online-only instruction, with others preparing for that possibility in response to concerns about the novel coronavirus. But students can remain on campus if necessary, officials said.

Most higher education leaders making the decision to cancel face-to-face classes are in the New Orleans area, where the majority of Louisiana cases of COVID-19 have been reported. But as the number of cases across the state grew to 33 Friday, others followed suit, including the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

UL Lafayette will shift to remote classes next week to mitigate public health concerns related to COVID-19, or coronavirus, the college announced Friday.

There will be no classes Monday or Tuesday, but campus will remain open. Remote or online classes will start Wednesday.

South Louisiana Community College also will have no classes Monday. No employees are to report to work until Tuesday, when they will plan, test and implement alterations to instruction and operations, according to the school.

"If the K-12 closures will affect your ability to report to work on Tuesday, please contact your supervisor to discuss your situation and appropriate procedures under SLCC’s leave policy," the college advises students.

Online instruction is expected to begin Thursday.

SLCC is canceling credit and non-credit (Corporate College, WRU/ABE) classes on Tuesday and Wednesday to implement alterations to instruction and operations.

LSU System

Louisiana State University announced Thursday afternoon it would move all classes online beginning March 30, after two weeks without classes. The online classes will continue through the rest of the spring semester.

The decision was made in light of Gov. John Bel Edwards' declaration of a statewide public health emergency Wednesday, which sets into motion a number of precautionary steps being taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to LSU.

"Moving in-person courses to online will allow us to help slow the spread of the virus and protect all of us, as well as our friends, family, neighbors and colleagues, from exposure to the illness," reads the release.

Classes at all LSU campuses, with the exception of LSU Health Science Centers in Shreveport and New Orleans, are canceled the week of March 16 to allow faculty to finalize the online availability of course materials and "to develop solutions to unique situations that will no doubt arise."

More:US Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Gov. Jon Bel Edwards give COVID-19 update for Louisiana

Spring break follows the week of March 23, meaning there will be no classes for a two-week period.

But the university will remain open and operational during this time, and staff members are expected to work normal schedules.

Students living on campus are encouraged to return home if they can, LSU interim President Tom Galligan said in a release.

"We understand this isn’t possible for everyone, so our residential life housing will remain open and most services will be available, although in some cases we may temporarily relocate some residents to help with social distancing," Galligan said.

Southern University System

Southern University in Baton Rouge is taking similar actions to LSU, canceling classes March 16-21, observing spring break the next week and resuming classes remotely March 30.

Classes will continue remotely for the remainder of the spring semester, and students residing on campus are encouraged to return home.

At Southern University Shreveport there will be no in-person classes the week of March 16. However, alternative instruction will be made available for students.

Spring break will be March 23-27, classes will resume remotely March 30.

At Southern University at New Orleans, all in-person classes were suspended Thursday at noon through Friday.

Spring break has been rescheduled for the week of March 16. Classes will resume remotely March 23 and continue that way for the rest of the semester.

New Orleans area

In New Orleans, where 15 cases have been reported, Xavier University of Louisiana, Loyola University, Tulane University and the University of New Orleans are going to online-only instruction beginning Monday for the remainder of the semester.

Classes at Northshore Technical Community College in and around Hammond continued as scheduled Friday, but classes are cancelled Monday and Tuesday as faculty and staff finalize plans for online delivery of instruction and alternate training schedules for unique programs of study.

Classes will resume Wednesday.

"All efforts to modify instructional delivery and college operations are centered on ensuring quality learning environments for students as well as safe work environments for faculty and staff," according to an LCTCS release. "College personnel will continue to engage in all CDC recommended protocols."

Where applicable, faculty will move to an online delivery model for courses. For programs associated with occupational competencies and clinical experiences, instructional plans will be communicated to students by program Tuesday.

"Being sensitive to the lack of broadband in some areas of the greater Northshore region, the College will ensure those students in need will have access at all college locations to dedicated computer labs for online learning and assessment with proper precautions taken for the health and wellness of students per CDC recommendations," according to the system.

UL System

Similar measures are being considered and planned for at other schools across Louisiana should they become necessary, University of Louisiana System President Jim Henderson said.

"We're not closing our institutions," Henderson said.

That means dorms, cafeterias and health services will remain open for students.

"Some students rely on us for housing and sustenance, so we are making provisions for them to stay," Henderson said Thursday.

More:UL prohibits university travel to some areas amid concerns of COVID-19 spread

He is coordinating with presidents and leadership at all nine UL System institutions, which includes UNO.

"Each school is developing its own plan to meet its own needs, but it is doing so in concert with the system, so we can deliver the best solution for faculty, staff and students," Henderson said.

Northwestern State University in Natchitoches is suspending all in-person classes effective at the end of the day Friday and transitioning to online instruction and other remote learning alternatives beginning Thursday, President Chris Maggio said.

There will be no classes at the university Monday-Wednesday, as plans are finalized for the conversion from in-person classes to the online and remote delivery format. Online classes will begin Thursday. University offices will remain open all week.

"Northwestern will join other schools in the University of Louisiana System in moving from face-to-face instruction to online and other alternative learning in an effort to curtail the spread of the coronavirus," Maggion said.

The university will provide technical support to students and faculty who require that assistance and keep ancilliary services like dining and library access open.

UNO and NSU are the only schools in the system moving instruction online so far, but the rest are monitoring the situation around them and preparing.

Remote classroom instruction is among several scenarios the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is discussing should it become necessary for the campus to reduce operations, according to a release from President Joe Savoie on Thursday.

"University personnel continue to meet several times daily to work through many different options that assure continuity of instruction, business operations, residence hall functionality, dining, health services and other essentials."

As of Thursday, there are no cases of COVID-19 in Lafayette.

"Our highest priority is to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty staff and community," Henderson said. "The second is ensuring continuity of instruction, so educational paths aren't derailed. Everything stems from that."

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Henderson said universities and their students are equipped for a move to digital instruction. He said every institution leaders have discussed with faculty to ensure they are ready for such a change, and several have done a test run.

"The vast majority of our classes utilize technology in delivery," he said. "It is built in already and makes the transition easier."

Some classes are harder to translate to online-only than others, like nursing or subjects that require interaction that can be hard to replicate online, he said.

"It is not a long-term solution," Henderson said.

All efforts are being coordinated with federal and state authorities, he said.

"One of the challenges with an event like this is we can be accused of overreacting," he said. "That is far less damaging than not reacting at the appropriate level. We don't want to panic and make rash decisions, but react reasonably."

Much like K-12 schools, universities have been instructing students on good hygiene practices like hand-washing, social distancing and recognizing symptoms of the virus.

"We have had no reported cases amongst students," Henderson said Thursday. "It is an evolving situation and is subject to change."

LSU faculty members are encouraged to continue their research and scholarly activities remotely when possible.

LSU also is prohibiting all international travel and limiting domestic business travel to that which is essential to the fundamental academic and research functions at the university.

Leadership asks that all faculty, staff and students disclose travel plans, whether business or personal.

"It’s important for us to understand the risks of infection brought about by travel to certain areas — particularly with spring break on the horizon," Galligan said.

He said these actions might be burdensome, but are the right thing to do.

"I believe it gives us our best chances at keeping our LSU community as healthy as possible," Galligan said.

LCTCS

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System also is making preparations should a move to digital-only become necessary, system Chief External Affairs Officer Quintin Taylor said.

"All colleges, No. 1, are looking at their business continuity plans, and, No. 2, they have made arrangements to offer instruction online," Taylor said. "Plans are being worked out, so if we have to go to that model we will do so successfully."

Decisions to make that move were being made on a college-by-college basis, and Northshore in Hammond near New Orleans was the first to do so.

"All communities are not created equal," Taylor said. "What happens to those rural communities with less access to broadband (internet)? That's a challenge, and we're sensitive to that.

"We've got to think about how it will impact the folks who don't have the same kind of access."

Public health officials are asking the public to call their primary care provider before going to an emergency room or doctor's office. People without a primary care provider who have questions about COVID-19 or feel like they may be developing symptoms can contact 1-211 or text LACOVID to 898-211 for information.