Students at Rowan University will start spring break on Monday but are being told to take an extra week off so the university can develop plans to teach courses remotely if coronavirus prompts a closure, university officials said.

No one in the Rowan University community tested positive for coronavirus, or COVID-19, but college officials said plans needed to be put in place. As of Tuesday, five additional cases of coronavirus were confirmed in New Jersey, bringing the total to 11 confirmed cases. The only case reported in South Jersey so far is that of a man in his 60s who is hospitalized in Cherry Hill.

“All faculty should immediately begin developing a course-continuity plan that will allow you to instruct students online should you be unable to meet in person for an indefinite period of time,” a memo to faculty from Provost Tony Lowman and University Senate President Bill Friend said on Monday.

The decision to extend Rowan University’s spring break through March 27 comes shortly after Princeton University announced it was instructing students not to return to class in person after its spring break and that it’d be moving classes online through at least April 5. Rutgers University had not announced any change in scheduling as of Monday afternoon.

If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, enter your email address below.

Several school districts in New Jersey announced closures and delayed openings for Monday and additional days this week and next to strategize for online classes after the state Department of Education has announced “home instruction” may count toward the required 180-day school year.

“While at this time no decision has been made to move all courses online following the extended spring break, we must be prepared for that possibility,” the letter to faculty said.

The semester itself would not be extended and the university will remain open during the two-week spring break, officials said.

Additional guidance is expected to be announced later this week about upcoming events at the university, which could include canceling them or offering best practices on “social distancing.”

“There will be individuals who are anxious about attending classes for personal and medical reasons and we must be ready to accommodate these students, including providing distance-learning opportunities and the ability to make up work from missed in-class meetings,” the provost and senate president said. “We ask that you accommodate your students accordingly.”

A total of 20 students at Rowan University were studying abroad this semester and at leas six who were studying in Italy have returned and were already given the option of finishing online, the university reported last week.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.