Bryan College classes to move online for week following spring break

Written by: Mathaüs Schwarzen, staff writer

DAYTON, Tenn.—Bryan College announced on March 12 that classes for the week after spring break will take place in the form of online instruction, with the following weeks pending developments on the COVID-19 outbreak. Classes are planned to resume as normal March 30.

Bryan College announced that it would hold all classes online during the week as the next step of its COVID-19 precautions.

Dean of Students Bruce Morgan has advised that students with questions about academics should inquire at the office of academics.

The official statement was sent from Bryan President Stephen Livesay to all students by email, announcing the intent to avoid the spread of COVID-19–the virus which has infected over 130,000 worldwide. 

“My concern is for you to stay healthy and be able to return to safely participate in all that our college offers,” Livesay said. “With that in mind, I and the members of my cabinet believe it is best to take some precautions regarding the next few weeks until we can see where this virus is headed.”

All co-curricular trips scheduled during spring break have been cancelled—some of which, such as international Break for Change trips, were already announced as cancelled in a chapel service the previous day. The school will announce to students by March 20 whether such trips will be resumed. 

All residence halls will be closed starting Sunday, March 15 until further notice. Livesay encouraged students to bring what they needed for an extended stay of several weeks over spring break, as the college is unsure when residence halls might be reopened.

The cafeteria will be closed, beginning Friday, March 13 until further notice. 

The school will inform students of the plan for the rest of the semester during the week of March 23-27. Until then, faculty are encouraged to check in with their deans for more instructions. 

“It is my prayer that these special precautions will enable this virus to pass quickly and that students will be able to return soon to school and resume life on campus,” Livesay said. “Thank you for your understanding and patience during these unprecedented times.”

There are currently eighteen cases of COVID-19 in Tennessee, prompting Governor Bill Lee to declare a state of emergency. Students who experience symptoms similar to those of the virus are advised to remain home and contact their health provider. 

Mathaus Schwarzen is a staff writer for the Bryan Triangle who specializes in campus news. He is a junior at Bryan College, majoring in creative writing. He spends his free time writing, drawing and listening to music.