WWU delays start of spring quarter and keeps classes online in response to COVID-19
Western Washington University announced Friday that it will delay the start of its spring quarter by nearly a week and will continue to utilize remote teaching through April 24 in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The school, which has already canceled its Winter Commencement and moved the final weeks of the winter quarter online, outlined its plans for the spring quarter in a letter from President Sabah Randhawa emailed March 13.
Whatcom Community College, meanwhile, announced in a Facebook post that it will move all classes and instruction online for the duration of the spring quarter on June 19. The quarter will make a delayed start April 15 to allow faculty, staff and students to prepare for the change.
According to Randhawa’s email, WWU’s plan includes:
▪ The start of the spring quarter being delayed from Tuesday, March 31, to April 6. The quarter is still scheduled to end on June 12.
▪ Moving all spring quarter courses, labs, exams online between April 6 and April 24. On-campus classes will resume on April 27.
▪ Prohibiting all non-essential WWU-sponsored events of more than 50 attendees. All essential events more than 50 attendees will be held with social distancing.
“We will continue to assess the COVID-19 situation and the status of these new measures on a weekly basis, and we will give students at least one week’s notice if there is a change in plans for the spring term,” Randhawa wrote. “Our primary focus is on taking care of our people and continued university operations.”
Randhawa’s letter also announced the school would begin the following actions would being Friday:
▪ All WWU facilities and operations statewide will remain open.
▪ Winter quarter final exams and activities will be delivered remotely where possible, and when not possible, social distancing measures will be used.
▪ Remote meeting tools, such as Canvas, Office 365 and Zoom, will be utilized to minimize in-person meetings.
▪ All non-essential university travel is suspended.
▪ Western employees are encouraged to work remotely when their duties allow.
▪ All students, faculty and staff and encouraged to avoid personal travel over spring break.
▪ University residence and dining halls will remain open, and Wilson Library will operate on a modified schedule.
▪ All WWU athletic events are suspended until further notice.
“As we close the winter term, please know that Western Washington University is committed to the global effort to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19, while appropriately continuing the essential activities of teaching, learning, research and supporting our campus residents,” Randhawa’s letter read.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 1:10 PM.
