With other schools across the nation closing completely and making decisions based on coronavirus contingencies, Florida State University faculty and officials are also making plans on how to deal with the outbreak.

FSU professors and instructors have been told to prepare to shift campus-based in-person classes to online and other methods for the remainder of the semester after the student’s spring break.

Spring break at Florida State, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College is scheduled for March 16-20. Classes will resume Monday, March 23. FSU professors and instructors are being prepared to transfer to online teaching by March 23.

The University of Florida released the same decision Monday asking professors and faculty to move their class curriculum to be fully online. Students of the University of Florida have already had their spring break last week of March 2-6. 

While there are no confirmed Coronavirus cases in Leon county yet, FSU university officials say they have been working for several weeks to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 while also preparing for the possibility of a case within the campus community. 

According to WTXL Tallahassee, Florida State University Provost Sally McRorie directed the university’s faculty and academic instructors to be ready to shift their courses from traditional campus-based, face-to-face classes to online and other alternate methods of delivery for the remainder of the semester following spring break, if it becomes necessary. 

McRorie stressed that even if courses are moved online, the university would remain open for business and all employees would continue to report to work.

However, students are encouraged to take all academic course materials with them when they leave for spring break, just in case they need to finish their spring courses remotely.

In addition, McRorie also announced the cancellation of the university’s International Programs spring break study abroad trips. “While the possible move to distance learning midterm would be a historic first at Florida State, it would not be unprecedented,” the press release read. “The university successfully moved all academic courses offered at the FSU Panama City campus to online delivery after Hurricane Michael’s devastating impact on Bay County in October 2018.” FSU says the campus community will be notified with specific instructions via email if the university decides to move classes online. The guidance for online instruction includes the FSU Panama City campus. At this time, no changes are planned for the College of Medicine regional campuses.