Rutgers University will hold classes online for the rest of the semester, suspend its commencement ceremonies and give students prorated refunds for room and board, the university announced Tuesday.

The announcement, the latest in a string of unprecedented responses to the coronavirus pandemic, brings an abrupt end to campus life this spring for most of the university’s 70,000 students. Only Rutgers’ clinical classes at the medical, pharmacy and health science schools will continue in person.

“These are the right actions to take for the health of our community,” President Robert Barchi wrote in a letter to the campus community. “But I know I speak for all faculty and staff when I say how deeply we will miss the vibrancy that students bring to our campuses each spring, and how incomplete this year will feel without our commencement ceremonies.”

The university will also cancel its annual Rutgers Day celebration. Commencement events could possibly be rescheduled for later in the year, Barchi wrote. The lack of ceremonies will have no effect on Rutgers’ ability to confer degrees.

“To our seniors, I offer our community’s heartfelt appreciation for all you have contributed and my sincere regret that the global situation has required this unfortunate decision,” Barchi wrote.

Rutgers last week canceled two days of classes and announced all instruction would shift online for two weeks after spring break ends March 23. It also asked all students to leave campus until April 3.

About 3,000 students, mostly international students and those in clinical courses, have been allowed to remain in the residence halls and can continue to live there for the rest of the semester, Barchi wrote.

Other students will receive notification telling them when they should return to remove their belongings from dorm rooms, Barchi wrote.

The university will provide more information about prorated room and board refunds in the future. The estimated cost of room and board for an undergraduate student is $13,512 a year, according to the university.

Barchi made the decisions based on state and federal guidance to cancel or postpone large events, he wrote. New Jersey has reported 267 cases of the coronavirus, including one Rutgers professor. Three people in the state have died from the COVID-19 virus.

“I want to thank every member of our community for the grace and flexibility with which you have responded to this historic crisis,” Barchi wrote. "You have shown resolve, toughness, and an incredible determination to make it work.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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