Students will stay on the virtual learning format through the semester, including final exams

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Students at Maryville University will be learning from home for the rest of the semester due to concerns about the coronavirus.

According to an update from the university on Monday, March 16, the school will stay on its virtual learning format for classes after students return from spring break on March 16 and continuing through the semester, including final exams.

Residence halls will close the week of March 16. Students with extreme circumstances can request to stay on campus. Otherwise. access to campus will be limited.

The school said it does not have any known coronavirus cases among its campus community.

"In consideration of restrictions recently announced from both St. Charles County and St. Louis County as well as guidance from the CDC limiting gatherings to 50 people for the next 8 weeks and to adequately protect our graduates, faculty and staff, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person commencement and related activities for the spring semester," Maryville wrote in its announcement.

Maryville's student body is made up of about 6,000 online students and 4,000 on-campus students, the release said.

Maryville said it has already canceled all study abroad programs and restricted university-sponsored travel.

For more information about the school's coronavirus response, you can go to maryville.edu/coronavirus.