All UNC System schools to end in-person classes by March 20

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN/ WECT) – All schools within the University of North Carolina System, including UNCW, NC State, UNC and ECU will end in-person classes by March 20 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Our goal is to return to in-person instruction as soon as reasonably possible. Each institution will communicate the specific details to its students and faculty,” the system said in a release.

The online courses will begin on March 23, and will continue indefinitely. According to the press release, university leadership will determine if classes, such as those with labs, will continue to require students show up for in-person instruction.

All outside events and gatherings of 100 or more people will be canceled or postponed unless otherwise authorized by a chancellor. University-sponsored in-state travel to gatherings of 100 or more people are also suspended, and all travel outside the state is suspended, unless otherwise authorized by a chancellor or provost.

In an email to students, UNCW leaders assured families they would share as many updates as possible over the next 24 hours.

Spring break has been extended through next week for UNCW students and instruction is scheduled to resume March 23.

“Very few courses, if any, will be held face-to-face. Instructors of classes that will resume in person will notify students as soon as possible. Again, this will be a very small number of classes,” an email to UNCW students says.

Residence halls that were closed for spring break will reopen Sunday, March 15, at 10 a.m., but the university encourages students to wait until the following weekend (March 21-22) to return to residence halls.

In the email. UNCW says the university is still determining the potential impact of this situation on campus services like the library and campus dining.

All institutions within the UNC system will remain open.

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