This is how American Universities are tackling coronavirus
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA in a press release pointed out that there are no confirmed cases at this time.
The University said it will suspend in-person classes wherever possible and transition to online platforms through April 10, which is the end of the second week of Spring Quarter.
Winter Quarter final exams will be offered remotely. Instructors are asked to communicate with students how final exams, if applicable, will be offered without the need to assemble in person (for example, take home, online or other alternative formats), it added.
"Students are encouraged to start the Spring Quarter remotely from home. University housing will remain open through Spring Break and beyond for those who need it."
"We’re transitioning over the next few days to cancel nonessential gatherings of more than 100 people," the University said.
The University added that it would revisit its order "before April 10 as facts change".
Duke University
The university has suspended all in-person classes. The university situated in Durham, North Carolina has also extended the spring break for the undergraduates so that the students can prepare for online classes.
Purdue University
The university will begin the online classes from March 23 and could stay in the same format till the end of semester. The students that have left for spring break are not allowed to come back.
Harvard University
Ahead of the start of spring break at the end of this week, Harvard on Tuesday announced it would transition to having all classes online by Monday 23 March.
The university, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, asked its 36,000 graduate and undergraduate students not to return to campus after the spring recess and to continue studying remotely "until further notice."
"The goal of these changes is to minimize the need to gather in large groups," Harvard president Lawrence Bacow said in a statement posted on the university's website.
Without going quite so far, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), also based in Cambridge, cancelled all gatherings likely to attract at least 150 people until May 15.
Classes with 150 or more students will move online, starting this week, it added.
University of California, Berkeley
On the other side of the country, in California, at least five universities, including Berkeley and Stanford, have suspended all or most of their in-person classes.
Columbia University
In New York, Columbia, New York University and Fordham have all announced that they are switching to remote learning.
Barnard College
The women's liberal arts college which is affiliated with Columbia will start online classes from Thursday, 12 March.
Princeton University
Princeton University in New Jersey
University of Southern California
A spokesperson for the American Council of Education (ACE) said it was "impossible to say" how many schools and students had been affected because "the situation changes all the time."
Stanford University
Stanford University
University of Washington
ACE president Ted Mitchell told the Los Angeles Times the coronavirus was "probably the greatest short-term challenge facing higher education in a generation."
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