Pierce County university to move to online classes Tuesday due to coronavirus
Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland is moving to a distance-learning format Tuesday due to coronavirus concerns.
Classes will occur remotely through March 30, school officials said.
Classes are canceled on Monday as to “allow faculty to finish developing materials appropriate for remote learning,” school officials said on the school website. “Should we receive guidance from public-health officials to extend distance learning beyond March 30, we will make announcements accordingly.”
There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at PLU, which serves about 3,000 students. PLU leaders made the decision out of an abundance of caution, they said.
The continuation of experiential classes such as internships, student teaching and clinical placements will be determined in consultation with the dean or chair of the programs.
“PLU leaders have spent the last few weeks learning about the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and preparing for how it might affect our campus,” PLU said on its website. “...We continue to receive guidance from local, state and national health organizations that the risks of contracting the virus for healthy individuals remains low.”
University of Washington campuses announced last week that classes would transition to a remote format through the rest of the quarter.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said Saturday evening that there are now three cases presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in Pierce County.
This story was originally published March 8, 2020 at 11:14 AM.
