Coronavirus Forces Northwestern To Remain Remote Through Spring

EVANSTON, IL — Northwestern University will not return to in-class instruction for the rest of the spring quarter, school officials announced Monday. Administrators have yet to make a decision about how to handle graduation, scheduled to take place in just over 10 weeks.

Early indications suggest the transition to remote instruction has gone as well as possible, President Morton Shapiro, Interim Provost Kathleen Hagerty and Vice President for Student Affairs Julie Payne-Kirchmeier said in a letter to the university community.

"We had intended to wait until April 17 to determine whether we could return to in-class instruction for a portion of the quarter. The latest guidance from local, state and federal officials makes clear this will not be feasible," they said. "Therefore, with heavy hearts, we are announcing that we will maintain the current, remote format for the entirety of Spring Quarter."

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Northwestern students were originally due to return from spring break this week. But early last month, the university began cancelling events due to the spread of the new coronavirus. On March 11, the university announced classes would be conducted remotely through April at a minimum. On March 31, in preparation for remote learning, the university announced undergraduate students would receive pass/no pass grading for the quarter and warned students against unauthorized recording of instructional material.

"We know that many students who lived in campus housing left their belongings behind," the university officials said. "Please know that Student Affairs has a plan in place and will send information to you early next week about the process of returning these items to you."

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According to the university's website, there have been eight cases of staff or students with confirmed cases of COVID-19 that could have presented a risk of exposure to other members of the community. The most recent, an off-campus community member, was reported Monday.

Shapiro and the other university officials have not made a decision on how to handle commencement, which is currently scheduled for June 19, according to the joint statement.

"Our great wish is for these events to occur as planned," they said, "but only if we are able to provide students, families, faculty and staff a safe environment in which to gather together to celebrate."