The same day a University of Redlands student was tested for the novel coronavirus, the college announced most classes would transition to “online” by March 23.

The Redlands campus student was evaluated at the Student Health Center on Wednesday, March 11, and transported to a hospital for evaluation for COVID-19, the university said in a memo to the community.

The student will self-isolate “until deemed no longer at risk for having the virus,” officials wrote. The university could not immediately say how long that would be.

The student’s roommates are self-isolating in their residence, per advice from the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health and out of an abundance of caution.

While as of Thursday there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in the county, on any of the school’s campuses, nor in any of its study-away programs, the university is transitioning to online instruction to minimize in-person meetings.

Starting March 23, most College of Arts and Sciences courses should be online or technology-enhanced to deliver classes from a distance. The School of Education is also moving in that direction. The changes will be in place for the remainder of the spring semester. The School of Continuing Studies will do the same through June 1.

Changes to other departments, such as the university’s school of business, were not immediately available.

Some exceptions that may require face-to-face interactions could include graduate work, science labs, fieldwork, classes at regional campuses, art studios, and music coursework.

Other policy updates shared Wednesday include the cancellation of May Term classes involving travel, and the limiting of non-essential events to 100 people or less beginning Friday. The changes will be reassessed on March 30 when officials will decide how to handle graduation events currently scheduled for April 16-18.

Classes with larger enrollment are a priority for the transition, and where possible final exams will be converted to “distanced formats.”

“Our goal is to enable students to complete their classes while practicing social distancing if possible and to support students who request to complete their courses and degrees in this format,” officials said in the memo. “Some immunosuppressed students already need this accommodation.”

On-campus residences remain open, but guests will be limited to enrolled students. On-campus dining will also remain open, but modified to limit health risks.

On Tuesday, the university’s Marin campus, the San Francisco Theological Seminary of the Graduate School of Theology, moved to online classes to maintain integration with the Graduate Theological Union and UC Berkeley. The practice will also be reassessed on March 30.

Last week the university recalled five students studying abroad in Italy, and it is reevaluating the situation of students in other European countries.

“We know there are many issues still to be resolved,” university officials said in the memo, “and we appreciate your patience as we, as a community, work through this period of uncertainty, carefully weighing options for the best ways to serve our students.”