by GABRIELLA DEPINHO, Editor-in-Chief
Manhattan College has made the decision to move to online classes for the remainder of the spring semester. The announcement came to students on Tuesday, March 17, at 4:35 p.m. as students were in the middle of their regularly scheduled spring break.
The decision to move online for the remainder of the semester comes following a number of other area colleges and universities, such as Fordham University, New York University, and Columbia University, made the same decision.
The email from O’Donnell opened with expressions of gratitude to everyone who had been practicing social distancing and to faculty, who have been working to adapt classes to an online format. The email became serious in a matter of one sentence. O’Donnell wrote, “I write today to provide updates and especially to inform you of several important—and difficult—decisions.”
The first decision O’Donnell shared with the community is the college’s decision to move to an online format for the remainder of the semester.
“In light of our responsibilities to our students, employees, and community, and in compliance with the strict guidelines and requirements being set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and New York City and New York State health departments, it is clear that we will not be able to bring our faculty and students back together for face-to-face instruction this semester,” O’Donnell wrote. “Therefore, we will continue all courses in an online format for the remainder of the semester.”
The email also stated that all employees should work remotely whenever possible and that all in-person events at Manhattan College are suspended until further notice.
Manhattan College plans to minimize the number of students on campus, requiring all, except students with extenuating circumstances, to vacate the campus.
As the college plans to promote social distancing, students will only be able to retrieve their stuff by appointment. Students should expect correspondence from the Office of Residence Life with more information about this process.
In addition to this information, O’Donnell also shared that “the MAAC commissioner notified all presidents of MAAC institutions that two officials who worked at last week’s MAAC Basketball Tournament have tested positive for coronavirus. We are closely monitoring the situation and attending to the needs and concerns of students who may have had contact with the official.”
Though a brief mention, this may raise some concern as the men’s and women’s basketball teams, the pep band, the Jasper dancers, the cheerleading squad, members of the student government executive board, members of the Office of Student Engagement, members of the sports production unit, two writers for The Quadrangle and other members of the Jasper community were all at the MAAC tournament. The email made no mention of a suspected or confirmed case within the Jasper community.
Manhattan College officials are able to be reached with questions and concerns at their emergency response team email, covid-19info@manhattan.edu.