GAINESVILLE, Fla. — (WTXL) — The University of Florida sent a memo Monday evening to its professors telling them to move their classes online, effective immediately.
MORE: Latest news of coronavirus
UF posted the following statement online Monday:
In response to the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., Provost Joe Glover sent a memo to academic deans today recommending that instructors move their courses from face-to-face delivery to an electronic delivery mode effective immediately, wherever possible.
While this is not a requirement at this time, there is a strong probability that it will become a requirement before the end of the spring semester, and so instructors are encouraged to transition now.
Instructors should continue to follow their syllabus, assignment and exam schedules, and office hours schedule. Instructors are responsible for notifying their students in advance about the shift to the online format and to communicate regularly to them expectations surrounding assignments, exams, etc.
Help is available to assist faculty with transitioning at https://elearning.ufl.edu/keep-teaching/
The university will make every effort to be considerate of instructor and student concerns during this unprecedented situation. Instructors are strongly encouraged to be similarly considerate of student concerns.
As of now, the university is planning to deliver the usual summer sessions. However, it is possible that circumstances may require all courses to be delivered online.
State of emergency declared in Florida
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis declared a state of emergency Monday to better marshal resources and get outside help against a new strain of coronavirus that has killed two people in his state.
The governor urged Floridians to take common-sense precautions and stressed that normally healthy individuals remain at low risk of contracting the virus.
Portions of this article courtesy of the Associated Press
