Both Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida are transitioning to all-online instruction following spring break due to concerns about the coronavirus outbreak.
JU is on spring break right now, so students will start taking all classes online Monday until April 4. The school says that gives students the option to stay home for another three weeks if they want to.
All other operations on campus will continue for now, and the campus will remain open until further notice. JU says students who live on campus have the option to return to their on-campus living space if they want to.
JU says the only exception is for students who have been to China, Iran, Italy or South Korea during spring break or any students who have come in contact with some with COVID-19. Those students are being told to self-quarantine at home for at least 14 days.
Staff members will keep working on campus to help students who choose to stay.
Spring Break starts next week at UNF.
The school is planning to transition all classes online for the two weeks following spring break with similar guidance for students as JU. For now, the online instruction is scheduled to last through April 5, with in-person classes set to resume the following day. UNF says that could change depending on the virus.
UNF will keep the campus open during the two weeks of online instruction. That includes residence halls, dining services, the library, student health services and the counseling center.
Although those facilities will remain open, UNF is strongly encouraging students to go home and stay away from campus if they can.
The guidance from JU and UNF comes just hours after the State University System of Florida released a statement that all universities under the umbrella, including UNF, will make plans to transition to remote instruction as soon as possible.
Other area colleges, like Flagler College and Florida State College at Jacksonville, have told students they are closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak. Students at those schools will receive information from their institutions once decisions are made regarding coronavirus.