Classes to to go online until mid-April due to coronavirus

All Augustana classes will be held online until April 10 following the extended spring break, according to an email sent by university president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. In-person classes will resume on April 14, following the Easter holiday.

The decision follows significant developments over the past 48 hours concerning the coronavirus, including nine confirmed cases in South Dakota with one resulting in death. Governor Kristi Noem declared a state of emergency for South Dakota on Thursday.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are 1,629 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, with 41 of those cases resulting in death.

“I have every confidence that our faculty will provide the high-quality curriculum our students expect, and our students will achieve the learning outcomes our faculty expect,” Herseth Sandlin said in the email. “Our online learning will be relational because that is what drives the teaching excellence of our faculty.”

There are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Augustana University.

Coronavirus has also caused the university to extend spring break a full week, with its conclusion set for Mar. 20. This means classes will be held online for three full weeks.

Students who traveled home or elsewhere for break are advised to stay or return home to limit potential exposure to illness, according to the email. Students who stayed on campus during the break are also being encouraged to return home, if feasible.

More details on how to retrieve books and laptops from campus housing will be available soon.

All business travel outside of Sioux Falls for university business and activities is also suspended, effective immediately through April 14.