All St. Thomas classes will move online beginning Monday, March 16 until Tuesday, April 14, according to an email announcement from university President Julie Sullivan on Thursday.
Sullivan said there are no confirmed cases within the St. Thomas community.
“We know from watching events unfold in other countries and regions, however, that this illness can spread rapidly,” Sullivan wrote. “We also know that social distancing – limiting gatherings of people – can help to slow the spread of COVID-19.”
Students will hear from professors about specific online learning steps. The situation will continue to be assessed and the online period may be extended, Sullivan wrote.
Residence halls and dining will remain open. Faculty and staff are expected to come to work. Students who have to stay on campus may continue work, while students who leave campus should not plan to return for work until after April 14.
St. Thomas Public Safety believes that a robbery and attempted robbery that both occurred within minutes of one another near the north edge of campus Wednesday were committed by the same people.
In both cases, Public Safety says suspects were driving a red Ford pickup.
The St. Paul Police Department is investigating both incidents.
The St. Paul teachers union and Minnesota’s second-largest school district reached a tentative contract agreement early Friday, ending a strike that began Tuesday and canceled classes for some 36,000 students.
The union, which represents about 3,600 teachers and support staff, said it was in the best interest of all involved to settle the contract, given the uncertainty of possible school closures due to the coronavirus.
“Only an unprecedented pandemic and concern over the health and safety of our students and staff stopped St. Paul educators from fighting harder and longer for more resources for our children,” said St. Paul Federation of Educators President Nick Faber. “Still, this strike demonstrated the power educators have when they use their collective voice.”
Students will return to class Monday. A vote by union members has not been scheduled on the tentative agreement, which was reached about 3:30 a.m. Friday after more than 19 hours of mediation that began early Thursday.
Kat Barrett can be reached at barr1289@stthomas.edu.