Press Release from State University System of Florida

3.11.2020

Tallahassee Florida – First and foremost, the health and safety of students within the State University System is our top priority. As we have continued to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 virus it has become clear that to protect the students and the residents of our state, proactive rather than reactive guidance to universities is necessary. To be clear, campuses will remain open, and operations will continue, although some adjustments may be made as determined by each university.

We are directing the state universities to take the following steps to minimize the health and safety risks to students, faculty, staff and their communities:

REMOTE INSTRUCTION

Effective immediately, all universities will make plans to transition to remote instruction as soon as possible.

UNIVERSITIES WITH STUDENTS CURRENTLY ON CAMPUS

State universities with students who have returned from spring break, which includes Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida, should implement a process to transition to remote instruction immediately and encourage students to return home for at least 2 weeks. Each university will provide detailed information to their students, faculty, and staff at the earliest possible time regarding this transition.

UNIVERSITIES WITH STUDENTS ON OR GOING ON SPRING BREAK

State universities with students who are currently on spring break or about to be on break should direct their students to NOT return to campus for at least 2 weeks following the conclusion of spring break. This includes students at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University, New College of Florida, the University of North Florida, the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of West Florida. Each university will provide detailed information to their students, faculty, and staff at the earliest possible time regarding this transition.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES

All universities will continue to provide essential services, such as dining, counseling, health services, library services, etc., potentially on a limited basis or remotely. Each university with clinical and other non-classroom based programs will communicate directly with those students.

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING

While students are encouraged to remain off-campus, each university should develop a plan for providing residential accommodations for students who need assistance or must remain in place.

The State University System of Florida will continue to monitor guidelines issued by the Center for Disease Control and will provide expanded guidance should it be deemed necessary. This directive will be reevaluated as the situation continues to develop. University information about COVID-19 is available on the Board of Governor’s website at www.flbog.edu.