EVANSVILLE, Ind. — During a press conference Tuesday, school officials announced that the University of Southern Indiana, University of Evansville and Ivy Tech Community College will go solely to online instruction through the end of the school year as the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise across the state and nation.

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. and Evansville Diocese Schools announced their buildings will be closed an additional two weeks with classes not scheduled to resume in person until April 13. That date may change as more information is known.

The three universities will resume classes online Monday and run the remainder of their school year virtually.

The announcement comes after schools extended their Spring Break periods and suspended in-class instruction last week to prevent potential exposure to coronavirus. Initially, students were expected to return within the next two-to-three weeks.

However, after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases have risen statewide and throughout the country, the school leaders said this was the correct move.

University of Evansville

After extending students' return to campus beyond March 27, UE President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz said there would have been few days left in the academic year, which prompted the school's decision.

He said they wanted to be sure they were not only protecting the university students, faculty and staff but also the Evansville community with students returning from spring break.

He said they will continue to give students the experience they can expect from in-person class instruction, it just may have to be done differently.

University of Southern Indiana

USI is closing its buildings to everyone but authorized personnel immediately. The dorms are closed effective immediately. Details about the moving-out procedures will be posted on the university's website.

USI President Ronald Rochon said this experience is "unprecedented" and that they are facing "unchartered water."

The goal with the moving out procedures, Rochon said, is to have students move off campus by Sunday evening. And for international students unable to travel back home, Rochon said the university will "remain sensitive" and ensure they are fed daily and safe from potential coronavirus exposure.

Throughout the remaining semester, USI will also be working to reimburse students for their housing expenses.

"We owe them some money, and we're going to provide them with a refund," Rochon said. "We're going to look at each student and determine by how many days (they lived) on campus, as well as look at their meal plan."

Both USI and UE said they are not canceling commencement but postponing it to an undetermined date.

Ivy Tech

Ivy Tech Chancellor Daniela Vidal said the school is still discussing related terms, but the building will remain open for students in need of computers to complete online tasks.

Ivy Tech advising, financial aid and faculty offices will also be available for student assistance. But in accordance with state health guidelines, Vidal said, the school will limit public gatherings to 10 people or less.

More: Evansville Diocese cancels mass, other programs due to coronavirus

EVSC

Along with school facilities being closed, all EVSC extracurricular activities — games, practices and other events — will be canceled through April 12.

During the two-week break extension, EVSC Superintendent David Smith said the school district will continue to communicate with government and health professionals and follow guidelines by the CDC to determine if school closures should be extended.

"Grab and go" lunches will continue to be provided between March 30 and April 10. And throughout the extended closure, EVSC will use state-approved waiver days to ensure no virtual assignments will be required during the time period.

Teachers are being paid during the break. None of EVSC’s support staff – bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and others – are going without pay, Smith said. He said those who can be put to work performing other functions are doing that now. Some are working from home.

“We don’t want our employees to be concerned about that. There’s enough, I think, to be concerned about instead of that. And we do say great people matter, and we live by that – and I think this is tangible proof of that,” Smith said.

Smith said some transportation staff members “are deep-cleaning buses and facilities, sanitizing. They’re utilizing this as an opportunity.”

“We’re making due with the situation that we have,” he said.

Following the meeting, Smith said the school corporation is prepared to suspend in-class instruction until the end of the semester, but he's hopeful students will be able to return back to school.

— Courier & Press