EAST LANSING (WWJ) - College coursework is moving online amid a coronavirus pandemic.

Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Oakland University, Central Michigan University and Michigan Technological University are all canceling all in-person classes due to concerns about COVID-19. Wayne State University also said it will extend spring break and then limit face-to-face instruction.



The flurry of announcements began with an alert sent by MSU Wednesday stating that the school would suspend all lectures, seminars, and classes and will move to an online only format beginning at noon.

As of noon March 11, MSU is suspending face-to-face instruction and moving coursework to virtual instruction. This suspension will last until April 20. https://t.co/QcjDiZQrHh — MSU (@michiganstateu) March 11, 2020

Things were calm in East Lansing, but the same announcement in Dayton led to a riot. See Details Here. The father of a Michigan State sophomore, however, says MSU students are alarmed to say the least.

"She said right now on campus the kids are just kind of in almost a mass hysteria," Bob Piggott of Waterford told WWJ Newsradio 950's Rob St. Mary. "Everybody's just kind of in a panic. Not so much a panic mode are they going to get the virus, but more of a panic mode of, gosh, what do we do?" he said. "This is unprecedented. We don't know how to react, what to do. Do we go home? Do we stay here? What do we do?"

Students in fact are being urged to go home, according to MSU President Samuel Stanley, Jr.

"During this time period, students doing purely remote work can return to their permanent place of residence and we strongly encourage this because there are advantages for social distancing." Stanley said, in a statement. "But for those not able to go home, we will continue to fully support students in our residence halls and dining facilities. Regardless of where our students are, we encourage them to practice appropriate social distancing and enhanced preventative public health measures."

The MSU announcement comes after two confirmed cases of the virus in the state announced Tuesday night; both of whom are in people in metro Detroit. Also Wednesday morning, officials said the university learned one person linked to the East Lansing campus is under investigation and being monitored by the Ingham County Health Department for possible COVID-19. There are no confirmed cases in East Lansing at this time.

"We are continuing to work with faculty and staff on laboratory and performance classes, and the university will provide additional guidance in the coming week. This will be an evolving process and I ask for everyone’s patience," Stanley said.

In-person classes are not expected to resume again at least until April 20; and the school is also suspending non-essential domestic university travel until that time.

Meanwhile, Stanley said officials will reevaluate the decision on an ongoing basis, sharing updates or modifications as more information becomes available. "We know there are many logistical questions related to these decisions, and we are working to address them. Our priority remains the health and safety of our campus and community members. Your cooperation helps to ensure an appropriate response across our institution to this rapidly changing situation," Stanley said.

The MSU community is urged to visit www.msu.edu/coronavirus for updated information. MSU has also set up at toll-free hotline to help address questions from our students, faculty, staff and parents at 888-353-1294.

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After earlier indicating it may not following suit, the University of Michigan made a similar announcement Wednesday.

U-M said it is canceling all classes Thursday and Friday. Classes will resume Monday, March 16, delivered remotely in alternative formats – and not meeting in person – through April 21, the last day of classes this semester.

U-M faculty and instructors should let students know how this transition will be handled for each of their classes. The two days of cancellations give faculty time to transition to alternative formats. The provost’s offices on each of our campuses have been making arrangements in our schools and colleges to facilitate these transitions.

U-M is also canceling events and events organized by others on our campuses that would convene 100 people or more from Thursday, March 12 until at least April 21.

This cancellation includes Honors Convocation on March 15. Organizers of other large events may seek to conduct their event virtually. We ask organizers to inform their audiences and participants of changes as soon as possible. The University will endeavor to reschedule any affected third-party events as practical. Individual units may change smaller events at their discretion, and all may consider virtual options.

Get more University of Michigan information here.

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Oakland University said in-person instruction will be suspended starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday and will be replaced by remote learning, effective on Monday, March 16. Remote learning will continue through the end of the semester on April 25.

"The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is a serious and growing public health concern here in the U.S. and across the globe, and epidemiologists advise that this concern is not likely to wane anytime soon. Oakland University is committed to taking all measures within its power to protect those on our campus from this public health threat," reads a message posted on O-U's official website. "Several teams of academic and administrative leaders from across campus are closely monitoring, responding to and planning in light of this developing situation."

Get more Oakland University information here.

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Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant on Wednesday told its students not to return to campus after spring break as the school moves classes online through March 20. This applies to all of CMU's satellite campuses throughout the U.S., with the exception of classes on military bases. A decision regarding classes for the following week will be made March 19, the university said in a statement.

Get more information on CMU here.

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Wayne State University in Detroit said it will extend spring break for students and cancel all classes until March 23.

After that, the school said it plans to move classes online, limiting face-to-face instruction when possible. "There remain a number of issues under consideration, including training of faculty and working to accommodate the unique needs of students who have limited access to technology off campus," WSU said, in a statement. "We will be sharing instructions with the campus within the next 24-48 hours.

Wayne State campus housing remains open, although students who don't need to be on campus are strongly encouraged to return to their permanent residences, if possible. For those unable to go home to an off-campus location, WSU said it will continue to fully support students in our campus housing and dining facilities.

Get more WSU information here.

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Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti has canceled all face-to-face classes Thursday and Friday, and will move to remote learning on Monday, March 16. That will last through March 31, with on campus/in person classes tentatively set to resume on April 1. This decision and timing will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis and may be modified as more information becomes available, the school said.

Instructors will contact their students with the online class plan, and current classes that are presented in an online format will continue as scheduled.

Get more EMU information here.

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Western Michigan University said effective March 12, the schools is suspending face-to-face instruction in lectures, seminars and other similar classroom settings. The suspension of on campus/in person classes will last through Tuesday, March 31 -- with on campus/in person classes tentatively set to resume on April 1. This decision and timing will be reevaluated on an ongoing basis and may be modified as more information becomes available.

Instructors will contact their students with the online class plan, and current classes that are presented in an online format will continue as scheduled.

Get more WSU information here.

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Michigan Technological University announced it also will suspend all face-to-face instruction and move classes to a virtual instruction environment until April 17. The university, located in in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula, will decide by April 10 whether to extend the time period.

Get more information from Michigan Tech here.