Updated last at 3:30 p.m. on March 13.

Multiple universities have made the decision to go remote as confirmed cases of COVID-19, caused by novel coronavirus, inch closer to Alabama’s borders.

At this time, there are no confirmed cases in the state, but universities all over the state are considering emergency plans in case of campus illness and to head off spread of the highly transmissible virus.

Auburn and Samford were the first universities to make the move to digital, but other universities are watching closely as they prepare to make tough decisions.

So there you have it. @AuburnU has e-mailed faculty and announced that we will shift to online classes until April 10. All campus activities likewise are canceled until then. — John Carvalho (@John_P_Carvalho) March 12, 2020

Here’s what we know about Alabama’s higher education plans surrounding the pandemic:

University of Alabama System

UPDATED at 5:02 p.m. on March 12: The University of Alabama has suspended traditional classes and will move to online learning in the wake of COVID-19. This policy will be re-evaluated on or before Monday, April 6, 2020, according to a statement from the university.

“UA System students should not return to campus and will continue their course work via distance learning subject,” said the statement. The only instances in which students should return is students of international status who cannot return home, students who are unable to high-speed internet in their hometowns or “students with exceptional hardships, or academic, employment, clinical or research requirements that should be reviewed by the respective campuses on a case-by-case basis.”

Greg Bryne, director of athletics for the system, announced that the university will restrict attendance to on-campus athletic events through at least March 30.

Auburn University

Auburn is the first large institution in Alabama to switch from on-campus lessons to remote classes. Students will remain in online instruction, according to the university, through April 10.

The university has requested that students avoid returning to campus after spring break.

“The Auburn Family faces many unknowns about this virus,” said Auburn University President Jay Gogue in a statement on Thursday. “We are taking these unprecedented steps based on our utmost concern for the health and well-being of Auburn students, faculty and staff."

All university events, sporting events, domestic and international travel are suspended through April 10. Dining facilities, libraries and residence halls will also be closed. The university said it will be arrangements for international students and those who cannot return home.

Auburn Montgomery

Updated at 1:15 p.m. on March 13: Auburn Montgomery is currently on Spring Break and will transition from in-person teaching to remote learning through April 10. Student are encouraged, according to a statement from the university, to remain home through April 10 if possible.

“Our on-campus resident students – approximately 1,200 of our 5,200 total – will be able to remain in housing if needed and will have access to alternative dining options that will encouraging social distancing while meeting their meal needs,” according to the statement.

University of Montevallo

Updated at 12:45 p.m. on March 13: The University of Montevallo @Montevallo is moving up Spring break to March 16. Classes will resume online from March 30 - April 10. Students should not return to campus until April 6. “Arrangements will be made to ensure any students remaining on campus have access to essential services,” according to an email sent out to students.

University of North Alabama

Updated at 2:30 p.m. on March 13: Students at the University of North Alabama will not return to campus after their Spring Break (March 22-28). Instead, students will shift to online learning from March 29 through April 4. Until then, according to a statement from the university, all campus events and gatherings of 100 or more individuals will be suspended.

For more information, click here.

Birmingham Southern

Updated at 3:30 p.m. on March 13: Birmingham Southern will extend Spring Break, March 20 - April 3. Students are not to return to campus after but will continue studies online for the remainder of the semester starting April 6, according to a statement from the university. The campus will remain open.

Spring Hill College

Updated at 12:45 p.m. on March 13: Spring Hill College is suspending all on-campus classes starting Friday, March 13. Spring Break will be extended from March 16 to the later date of March 27. Virtual classes, according to a statement from the university, will begin on March 30 and will go through April 9.

On-campus classes will resume on April 14. “Students are expected to move out of their residence halls and return home beginning Saturday, March 14 through Monday, March 16. Students who may have hardships about returning home will work with Residence Life,” according to the statement.

All "unnecessary College-related travel has been suspended for the time being, according to the release. A cohort of students was taken out of study abroad classes in Italy earlier this month after the outbreak there. Spring Hill has announced it will pay the co-pay of students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or respiratory issues.

University of South Alabama

Updated at 9:25 a.m. on March 13: The University of South Alabama has canceled on-campus courses for March 16-22 for all classes except for those offered by the College of Medicine. Students should not return to campus during this time, according to a statement from the university. The switch to online or remote education will begin March 23- April 19.

“If conditions permit, these classes will resume on-campus on April 20. If conditions are not improved by that time, these classes will finish the semester in an on-line format,” according to the statement. “The decision to resume classes on campus, or continue on-line, will be made at a later time.”

has released a detailed pandemic preparedness plan that lists the possibility of remote classes, but at this moment the only restrictions enacted have been travel-related.

The university is recommending students self-quarantine for a period of 14 days if they travel to an area impacted by COVID-19.

The University of South Alabama @UofSouthAlabama has canceled classes for all classes except the School of Medicine from March 16-22. The switch to online courses will begin March 26 and last until April 19, tentatively. #CoronaVirusUpdate #aledchat — Lily Jackson (@lilygjack) March 13, 2020

University of Mobile

The University of Mobile has extended its Spring Break for students and faculty through March 20 instead of students returning on March 16, according to a statement from the university. On March 18, “the administration will announce plans for the possibility of alternate modes of course delivery that would, if implemented, begin on Monday, March 23," according to the announcement.

The university will provide housing and resources to students who need to stay on campus.

All university-sponsored international travel has been suspended at the University of Mobile, according to the website, and all university-related domestic travel must be approved by the vice president.

Samford University

Samford University, a private school in Homewood, was the first university in the state to move its courses online starting Monday, March 16. Auburn followed days later.

“Samford intends to maintain essential operations through the end of this semester, thereby allowing students to complete the academic work already begun for this term," the Birmingham-based university said Wednesday in a notice on its website. How that will be accomplished, at least until April 6, will change from our normal practice.”

Samford announced it hopes to have students return to campus for classes on April 6. Students will be allowed to retrieve belongings from their dorms until 5 p.m. on Monday. And international students in campus housing will receive “guidance” from the global engagement office, according to previous AL.com reporting.

Troy University

UPDATED at 5:02 p.m. on March 12: Troy University has switched to online courses. In-person classes are currently scheduled to resume Monday, April 6, according to a statement from the university.

“Students are encouraged to stay home, but residence halls will remain operational for students who need housing. The campuses will remain open, and faculty and staff will continue normal operations. Campus services, including dining, will also operate as normal.”

In addition to class changes, the university has suspended all study abroad and international travel for faculty until further notice, according to a statement on March 3. Since then, Troy has urged students to “be mindful” of the virus as they travel during spring break.

Alabama State University

Alabama State in Montgomery has suspended all international travel and limed domestic travel, according to the website. The university has not canceled classes at this time, and they do not “anticipate” closing, but “if operations cannot be maintained on campus, essential support functions will continue and staff may be directed to work from home,” according to the statement.

All campus events that involve those who might have traveled internationally, according to university president Quinton Ross, Jr., are canceled. Events are under a case-by-case basis, according to a release from March 11.

University of West Alabama

Updated at 12:45 p.m. on March 13: The University of West Alabama will transition to online classes fully on April 6. To prepare for the move, according to a statement from the university, on-campus classes will be suspended from March 30 to April 3. The university will close for its planned Spring Break.

Students should not return to campus until April 6, and those who cannot return home should contact university housing.

UWA’s Spring Break is March 23-27.

Please visit included link to learn more about our response to #COVID19 . https://t.co/5SvmAO72hW — University of West Alabama (@univwestalabama) March 7, 2020

Miles College

Updated at 3:15 p.m. on March 13: Miles College will begin transition to online courses on March 30. This change will go through the remainder of the semester. Beginning March 16, students will be able to access online instruction if they wish to stay home and not return to campus, according to a statement from the university.

All athletic and extra-curricular events are canceled for the rest of the semester.

A message from the President concerning the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).



Read More Here: https://t.co/jMgvcYY85h pic.twitter.com/KfpXSWSpdQ — MilesCollege (@MilesCollege) March 11, 2020

Alabama A&M

Updated at 9:25 a.m. on March 13: Alabama A&M University has announced that classes will move to electronic platforms starting on March 16 until the end of the spring semester, according to a statement from the university.

Spring break will continue as planned the week of March 30, 2020, through April 2, 2020.

All students must vacate the residence halls by Friday, March 20, 2020, by 5:00 p.m. And international students must, according to the university, contact their host families to vacate the campus. Students will not be returning for the rest of the semester, and campus facilities will be closed.

From original publish on Thursday: Alabama A&M University in Huntsville practiced going digital today, March 12, as a way to test what works in case of emergency. These precautions come after “four individuals attended a national conference with more than 14,000 attendees from institutions across the nation, including several representatives from colleges and universities within the state," according to a statement from the university.

An attendee from another state tested positive for the virus, but “no Alabama A&M attendee had direct contact with this individual.” No students from Alabama have presented symptoms since returning.

Classes will resume to normal operations on Friday, March 13. Next week, some units will be implementing similar tests.

The university is asking students to update the administration on future travel plans through this self-monitoring form.

For more updates, click here.

Tuskegee University

Updated at 9:25 a.m. on March 13: Tuskegee University announced late Thursday that Spring Break would be extended through March 22, and the university would switch to online instruction starting on March 23 for the remainder of the semester.

“Students can choose to remain on campus or go home for the semester but must meet the demands of academic coursework,” according to an announcement from the university.

Jacksonville State University

UPDATED at 5:15 p.m. on March 12: Jacksonville State announced late Thursday that it would be switching to online or distance learning starting Friday. Students will not meet face-to-face for classes starting tomorrow, according to a statement from the university.