According to information provided by Kutztown University on March 13 from Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, president of Kutztown University, the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities, including Kutztown University, just received direction from our chancellor to suspend face-to-face classes for the next two weeks.

KU will convert to online instruction from March 23 through March 29. It is our expectation that KU residence halls will now reopen 1 p.m. March 29.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will adjust our plans as needed based on the most up-to-date directives we receive from the state government and State System. Please be prepared for these changes to occur.

Our plan for next week remains the same: administrative offices will remain open; professors should prepare to put their classes online and be available to answer inquiries from their students.

The following is Chancellor Daniel Greenstein’s announcement to suspend in-person instruction at Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education institutions March 16-29.

“The governor has announced that all kindergarten through 12 grade schools in Pennsylvania will close starting March 16 through March 29, in order to limit social interactions to help control the spread of the coronavirus.

“In keeping with that strategy, and in the interest of the health and safety of all Pennsylvanians, I am directing that no in-person instruction occur at our 14 universities during that same two-week period.

“We encourage students, faculty, and staff to be in contact with their home universities-their best source of direct information.

“In the days and weeks ahead, it’s important for us to come together, exercise patience, and collaborate with one another as we confront our collective challenges. This is going to take everybody doing their part for the sake of our students.”