NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Belmont University is keeping students off campus by extending Spring break through March 22 and will begin classes in an online-only form for at least two weeks amid Tennessee's COVID-19 outbreak.
University officials made the announcement Tuesday - one day after Vanderbilt University officials directed that all classes would be conducted online.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “There are currently no confirmed cases on Belmont’s campus, but several cases have been confirmed in Middle Tennessee. Moreover, 75 percent of the Belmont student body consists of students from out of state, and large numbers of students and faculty are currently engaged in personal travel to a number of domestic and international locations for Spring Break. Given the potential for exposure and CDC recommendations for social distancing, we believed it was necessary to make these decisions for the safety of our community and to do our part to mitigate the growing impact of COVID-19.”
Belmont plans to begin in person instruction again on Monday, April 6. Students will receive information from their respective colleges and faculty for details on how course work will be conducted, and the University is working with impacted students regarding housing options if they are unable to travel home.
In addition, all University-sponsored student and employee travel, both international and domestic, scheduled for March 16 through April 3 will be canceled unless approved by senior administrators.
At this point, plans for on campus commencement exercises scheduled for Saturday, May 2 are not impacted.
