The University of Lynchburg announced today that classes will be taught online throughout the spring semester. Commencement exercises, scheduled for May 15, will take place at a later date.
Below is President Garren’s March 18 email to the campus community.
Dear members of the University of Lynchburg community,
After much deliberation, we have decided that classes will be conducted online for the remainder of the spring semester — there will be no resumption of in-person instruction on campus. Commencement exercises, scheduled for May 15, will be rescheduled at a later date.
Online classes will begin this Monday, March 23.
These difficult decisions are our only options as the rapid spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) poses such a tremendous risk to our students, faculty, and staff.
It is clear that the virus will not have abated by the end of the semester, and we want to allow our community to prepare for the longer term. Thus, we are announcing our plans today, rather than waiting until the first week of April, as previously announced.
Discussions are ongoing regarding our eventual return to campus. Alternative plans for celebrating the Class of 2020’s commencement will be developed in consultation with the senior class officers. Commencement will likely occur at a dedicated time in early fall.
I know that this is a terribly difficult time for all of us. Please be assured that faculty and staff are doing everything we can to ensure our students’ successful completion of classes. Likewise, we are doing all that we can to support our dedicated staff and faculty in this trying time.
As you can clearly see, the situation here on campus and nationwide is very fluid. We will be reaching out regularly with updates. Please be sure to reference our COVID-19 web page for updated information.
Please know that we are all in this together. Be safe.
Sincerely,
Kenneth R. Garren
President of the University