"Graduating and the ceremony I just don't see how that would work," Lizeth Martinez says

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WAVERLE MONROE SPOKE WITH STUDENTS WHO COULD BE IMPACTED. WAVERLE: THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA IS PREPPARING -- IS PREPARING TO CLOSE DOWN CAMPUS AMID THE CORONAVIRUS THREAT, BUT STUDENTS SAY THAT COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. NOTHING’S SET IN STONE, BUT THE SENIOR VICE CHANCELLOR FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, SACHA COPP, SAYS THEY’LL WORK WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO KEEP CLASSES IN SESSION. >> ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS IS TO MOVE TOWARD DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY TO DO OUR INSTRUCTION AND CONTINUE STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY WITHOUT INTERUPTION. WAVERLE: THE UNIVERSITY REPORTS 15,000 STUDENTS ATTEND UNO. LIZETH MARTINEZ COMPLETED MOST HER CLASSES ONLINE, BUT HER CONCERN IS GRADUATION. >> LIKE ME GRADUATING AND THE CEREMONY, I JUST DON’T SEE HOW THAT WOULD WORK. WAVERLE: MARTINEZ LIVES ON-CAMPUS. SHE WONDERS IF STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO STAY IF CAMPUS CLOSE >> I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AND HO THAT ALSO AFFECTS THEM AND STUFF LIKE THAT. IT PLAYS A HUGE ROLE IN THAT, TOO. >> WE’RE STILL LOOKING AT A LOT OF OPTIONS FOR HOW WE WOULD HANDLE STUDENTS WHO LIVE ON CAMPUS. WAVERLE: UNO FOLLOWS GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY HEALTH OFFICIALS BEFORE THEY WOULD CLOSE DOORS. THEY’VE GOT DIGITAL PLATFORMS IN PLACE FOR FACULTY TO USE. WE’VE BEEN ASKED TO PREPARE, AND THAT’S WHAT WERE DOING TO BE AHEAD OF THE CURVE. WAVERLE: FOR CLASSES THAT REQUIRE TO MEET IN PERSON, COPP SAYS THEY’RE WORKING ON A PLAN TO ACCOMADATE THOSE STUDENTS. >> LABRATORY EXPERIENCES ARE A LOT MORE COMPLICATED BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TOUCH EQUIPEMNT, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON OPTIONS WHERE STUDENTS CAN GET ACCESS TO THE DATA. WAVERLE: FOR NOW, CAMPUS IS RUNNING PER USUAL, WITHOUT INTERRUPTIONS. THE UNIVERSITY WILL PROVIDE UPDATES AT UNOMAHA.EDU/CORONAVIRUS. REPORTING IN OMAHA, I’M WAVERLE MONROE FOR KETV NEWSWATC

Advertisement UNO prepares for possibility of closing campus due to coronavirus "Graduating and the ceremony I just don't see how that would work," Lizeth Martinez says Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The University of Nebraska, Omaha is preparing the possibility of closing campus to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The university said nothing is set in stone, but vice chancellor for academic affairs Sacha Kopp said they'll work with the university and public health officials to keep classes in session. "One of those options is to move toward digital technology to do our instruction and continue students on their academic journey without interruption," Kopp said. UNO reports 15,000 students are enrolled. Liz Martinez completed most of her classes online, but her concern is graduation. "Graduating and the ceremony I just don't see how that would work," Martinez said. Martinez lives on campus and she wonders if students will be able to stay if campus closes. "I know there's a lot of international students and how that affects them and stuff like that. It plays a huge role in that to," Martinez said. "We're still looking at a lot of options for how we would handle students who live on campus," Kopp said.UNO will follow guidelines provided by health officials before they would close doors. The school has several digital platforms in place for faculty to use to keep classes running. "We've been asked to prepare and that's what were doing to stay ahead of the curve," Kopp said.Kopp said, for those classes that require students to meet in person, officials are preparing a system to accommodate those students."Labratory experiences are a lot more complicated because you have to touch equipment but were working on options where students can get access to the data," Kopp said. On Tuesday, campus is still running per usual without any interruptions. Find more information visit unomaha.edu/coronavirus.