FIle photo
Amid concerns over possible spreading of the coronavirus, two of Florida's biggest universities are taking the drastic step of recommending professors keep classrooms empty.
In a statement released Monday, the University of Florida's provost said a letter was sent to deans asking instructors to move courses from face-to-face settings to electronic, online courses.
“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,” the statement read in part.
The school added that it plans as of now to hold summer classes as scheduled before adding that circumstances could change that.
On Tuesday, the provost at Florida State University issued a statement encouraging faculty and staff to be ready for a similar move at their school.
The school did a similar move in October 2018 after their Panama City campus was damaged by Hurricane Michael.
As of Tuesday, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in either Alachua County or Leon County, where both schools reside.
