This timeline was first published on March 24 as a cumulation of previous reporting.
Owen Fahy, Maeve Reilly, Madeleine Romance, Julia Kiersznowski, Rachel Phelan, Nadine Akkawi, and Eric Shea contributed to the creation of this timeline. It will be updated daily.
May 12
As Semester Ends, Students Required to Move Off Campus
Today is the last day of finals. Students remaining on campus must be moved out of the residence halls by 5 p.m. today.
May 7
Summer Session 2 to Be Exclusively Online
The University has announced that all Summer Session 2 courses will be offered exclusively online, after announcing the same for Summer Session 1 at the beginning of April. Summer Session 1 will last from May 13 to June 26, and Summer Session 2 will last from June 22 to Aug. 14.
Summer courses will be held asynchronously, and all science labs have been canceled.
The University has noted that all courses are subject to availability, and requesting a course will not guarantee a spot in that course.
May 6
259 Students Remaining on Campus
The number of students remaining on campus is 259, according to a University update. One student on campus is in isolation.
State Mask Order Goes Into Effect
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s order requiring individuals to wear a mask or cloth face covering when they are in public and cannot maintain six feet of distance from other people went into effect today. Individuals over the age of 2 must wear a mask or other covering while they are inside of stores, using any sort of driving service, or taking public transit. The order says that businesses may decline entry to those who refuse to wear a mask or face covering.
Some individuals may be exempted from wearing a mask due to medical conditions. The governor discouraged people from using medical-grade masks, which he said should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.
May 4
Students Remaining on Campus Must Move Out by May 12
The Office of Residential Life sent an email to students remaining on campus today reminding them they must move out of their residence halls by May 12 at 5 p.m. For students who need to find last-minute housing due to canceled flights or other circumstances, the email said that BC has worked with the A/C Marriott Cleveland Circle Hotel to provide them with a discounted fare of $99 per night.
May 1
Summer High School Program Canceled, Replaced With Online Course Offerings
BC has canceled this summer’s Boston College Experience Residential Program, an annual group of sessions designed to provide high schoolers with a preview of the “college experience” and introduce them to potential majors. Participants normally stay overnight on campus for two, three, or six weeks. During that time, they take classes and participate “in a variety of co-curricular and social programs.”
BC will instead be offering four online courses, which will each last two weeks. Students will learn similar material and be taught by the same faculty as they would have if the courses had proceeded on campus, according to the University’s announcement.
April 30
Classes End for Spring Semester
Classes for the spring semester ended today, in accordance with the original academic calendar. Study days will take place from May 1 through 4, and exams will be May 5 through 9 and May 11 through 12.
April 29
267 Students Remaining on Campus
The number of students remaining on campus is 267, according to a University update. One student on campus is in isolation, and one student is in quarantine.
April 28
Nonessential Business Closure Extended to May 18, Stay-at-Home Advisory Continues
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has extended his order requiring the closure of all nonessential organizations and businesses until May 18. The state government has encouraged nonessential businesses and organizations to continue operating in ways that do not require people to appear at their closed physical premises. The order was previously set to last until May 4.
Baker has also announced that gatherings of 10 or more people will continue to be banned until May 18 and that the stay-at-home advisory remains in effect.
April 24
Residence Halls Closed for Summer Session 1
All residence halls will be closed for Summer Session 1, which lasts from May 13 to June 19, according to BC’s website. Students who are working or participating in internships near or on campus will not be able to stay on BC’s campus.
The Office of Residential Life is not currently accepting housing applications for Summer Session 2, which lasts from June 21 to Aug. 19. If the University reopens housing for this session, applications will be made available.
ResLife has suggested that students who are planning to be in Boston over the summer and need help finding a place to live visit the Off-Campus Student Living portal or contact offcampus@bc.edu.
April 23
278 Students Remaining on Campus
The number of students remaining on campus is 278, according to a University update. No students on campus are in isolation, and one student is in quarantine as a precaution.
April 15
University Takes Steps to Respond to Economic Strain Caused by COVID-19
University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. Leahy explained in a letter to the student body that due to the financial strain the university is under, certain changes for the upcoming school year will be implemented.
Merit pay increases will be suspended, saving the University about $8 million, and a hiring freeze will be put in place, aside from any essential roles that need to be filled. Travel through the University for events or conferences will have to be approved by the president, executive vice president, or provost.
The purchasing of goods and the use of procurement cards by the administration will also be restricted, with additional information on this change expected from the financial vice president and treasurer.
“[Boston College] has sufficient financial reserves and liquidity to withstand the recent refund of board and room payments, loss of revenue from various campus events, and fluctuations in the value of its endowment,” Leahy said.
“But these developments have put a significant strain on finances, and the University also must have the capacity to respond effectively to possible continued effects of COVID-19 and economic decline on enrollment, staffing needs, intercollegiate athletics, and philanthropic support in the coming months.”
Construction and renovation projects on the Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, The Pete Frates Center, Bapst Library, Rubenstein Hall will be completed, Leahy said. But other projects, projected to cost the University $45 million, are being delayed.
Leahy’s email also stated that Alumni Reunion Weekend has been canceled, but the University has a plan to invite alumni to events during the next year in place.
291 Students on Campus
The number of students remaining on campus is 291, according to a University update. One student is in isolation, and no students are in quarantine.
April 13
Number of Remaining Students Remaining on Campus Falls Below 300
There are approximately 297 students remaining on campus, according to a University update. One of these students is in isolation, and no students are in quarantine.
April 8
May Commencement Canceled, Could Be Moved to October
Commencement will not take place on May 18, as it was initially scheduled, though diplomas will be awarded on that date, according to a letter University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. sent to seniors today. BC is looking into holding an in-person graduation weekend in the fall, specifically from Oct. 9 through 11, though it cannot set a definitive date yet due to the uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus. Of the 1,900 seniors who responded to the survey BC sent out to the senior class, this weekend was the “overwhelming favorite,” Leahy wrote. The other date option listed on the survey was the weekend of Oct. 23.
Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore will be working toward plans for Senior Toast, Commencement Ball, and school diploma conferrals, among other senior traditions. Other BC leaders will be looking into ways to celebrate the graduate and professional students who will earn degrees this year, Leahy said.
BC Prepares for Unconventional Easter Break
As originally scheduled, there will be no classes on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or before 4 p.m. on Easter Monday. For students on campus, McElroy Commons will only be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, with breakfast items available throughout the day or evening before these holidays. BC will be livestreaming Holy Week Masses on its website.
There are currently two students in isolation and one student in quarantine in 2150 Commonwealth Ave, according to a University update. Isolation rooms are designated for students who have tested positive for COVID-19, while quarantine rooms are designated for students who are awaiting results, according to a student who tested positive while living on campus. There are approximately 306 students remaining on campus.
BC discouraged out-of-state travel for students remaining on campus, as the state government has instructed anyone arriving or returning to Massachusetts to self-quarantine for 14 days.
April 6
Two Students in Quarantine in 2150 Commonwealth Ave.
Two students are quarantined, with two others in isolation, in 2150 Commonwealth Ave., according to an update posted to the University website. Isolation rooms are designated for students who have tested positive for COVID-19, while quarantine rooms are designated for students who are awaiting results, according to a student who tested positive while living on campus.
There are 310 students remaining on campus, and the Office of Student Affairs will be conducting residence hall meetings over Zoom this week. Mayor Marty Walsh’s recommended curfew for the City of Boston began today and will last until at least May 4. BC asked off-campus students living in Boston to comply with the curfew, which lasts from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
April 3
University Assessing Alternate Dates for Commencement
Seniors received an email today asking their availability the weekends of Oct. 9 to 11 or Oct. 23 to 25 for a potential on-campus graduation gathering. The questionnaire also asked the Class of 2020 about their interest in a virtual Commencement and which events they would attend during an on-campus graduation weekend.
Orientation Moves Online
BC’s 2020 Student Orientation program has been changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Orientation has been broken up into two online phases and one phase of on-campus programming that will take place a week before fall classes start, according to a University update on the First Year Experience page.
Phase 1, which will take place in June, will give incoming freshmen the opportunity to connect virtually with pre-assigned orientation groups and Orientation Leaders. The leaders will meet virtually with their groups at a set time each week for four weeks. Additionally, incoming students will meet virtually with their faculty advisers to plan for their fall semester.
Phase 2 will take place in July and August. The incoming class will be required to complete modules and view webinars featuring BC students, faculty, and administrators. In Phase 2, students will not meet weekly with their Orientation Group—rather, they will complete the modules and webinars on their own time.
Phase 3 will take place in person a week before fall classes start. Orientation groups will meet during BC’s Welcome Week, which is scheduled to take place from Aug. 27 to Aug. 30.
For parents of incoming students, BC will be providing virtual content over the summer, which will feature information to help them with the transition. There will be on-campus programming for parents on the evening of and day after First Year Move-in.
Transfer Student Orientation will also take place virtually in July and August, although more information will be made available in June, the update said.
Orientation Leaders were also informed that while they would still be offered a spot as a virtual leader, on-campus housing would not be provided for them in the summer. BC sent an email to the leaders with a timeline for the virtual summer sessions and said that more logistical details would be sent out soon.
April 1
Summer Session I Moved Online, Four Students in Quarantine on Lower Campus
Summer Session 1, which is slated to run from May 13 to June 19, will be offered exclusively online to students due to the novel coronavirus, according to a University update. Although there are no students in isolation with confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus, four students are in quarantine in 2150 Commonwealth Ave.
The number of students remaining on campus decreased to approximately 312. Governor Charlie Baker extended the remote work requirement for nonessential employees in the state to May 4. All people traveling to the state are still instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
March 30
Student Population on Campus Continues to Drop
BC announced that one student on campus is recovering from COVID-19 and currently in isolation on Lower Campus in 2150 Commonwealth Ave. The number of students at BC has also dropped again, according to an update on the University website. Around 320 students remain in dorms on campus. The university’s dining service is continuing to serve all food to go from McElroy Commons.
BC’s update also advised all students, staff, and faculty within Massachusetts to follow Governor Charlie Baker’s travel advisory—all visitors or returning residents entering Massachusetts should self-quarantine for 14 days.
March 26
Coronavirus Total Hits 34
Thirty-four graduate and undergraduate students who are off campus have now tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to an update posted to the University website. The number of students still living on campus has dropped to 350.
The University also announced that there will be no changes to the academic calendar for the remainder of the semester—meaning that online classes will not take place during Easter Break or on Patriot’s Day.
Packages that students are not able to pick up from the mailroom will be rerouted to their houses.
March 25
Second Student Living On-Campus Tests Positive for COVID-19
Another BC student living on campus has tested positive for COVID-19. The student, who spoke with The Heights under the condition of anonymity, has notified anyone they came into contact with recently about the positive result. Currently, two students have tested positive and are in quarantine in 2150 Commonwealth Ave.
An employee, who has been off campus since March 5, has also tested positive—the employee has not been in contact with anyone from the BC community, according to an update on BC’s Coronavirus Updates webpage.
Thirty-one graduate and undergraduate students who are off campus have now self-reported testing positive for COVID-19, according to the update. The majority of these students studied abroad and returned directly home, but the rest of them are students who lived on campus this semester or who are currently living off campus.
March 24
Stay-At-Home Order Goes Into Effect
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s order for the closure of all nonessential businesses went into effect today at noon and will last until noon on April 7. The governor has also issued a stay-at-home advisory, which went into effect today.
Commencement Petition Reaches 2,500 Signatures
The petition calling for BC to hold an in-person graduation ceremony, even if it must be postponed to a later date, has received 2,500 signatures.
March 23
Lochhead, Quigley Notify Employees of Stay-At-Home Advisory
Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead and Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley sent a letter to all employees notifying them of the new stay-at-home advisory enacted by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, which will go into effect Tuesday, March 24 at noon.
The letter instructed employees to work remotely wherever possible, but said that any employees who provide services essential for the function of Boston College would be permitted to come to campus.
“Area vice presidents, vice provosts, deans and directors are responsible for developing appropriate work plans to sustain these critical services and to identify individuals who will be coming to campus to fulfill these duties,” the letter said.
Director of Emergency Management John Tommaney will be creating a master list of individuals who must still come to campus, which will be used to create credentials for them should the state begin to require it.
Student Living on Campus Tests Positive for COVID-19
A BC student currently living on campus has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified Boston College of the case on Sunday night, the statement said, and it is the only confirmed case among students, faculty, or staff on campus.
The student was placed in quarantine before all students remaining on campus moved to Upper Campus housing, the statement said. Approximately 375 undergraduate students remain on campus as of Monday, according to a later update from University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. that was sent to the BC community.
Petition for In-Person Graduation Ceremony Circulates
University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. stated in an email to the student body that the University has not yet made a decision about whether it will hold Commencement.
A petition calling for the administration to preserve the in-person graduation ceremony, even if it must be moved to a later date, has been circulating on social media.
Quenton Koch, CSOM ’20, created the petition after he learned that the University of Pennsylvania announced it would have an online ceremony, as he became concerned that BC might make a similar decision.
“Even if graduation is postponed to the distant future, we will not settle for an online graduation ceremony,” the petition reads. “We have worked too hard for the past 4 years to have commencement taken away from us.”
Margot Connell Recreation Center Closes
In accordance with the shelter-in-place order in Boston, the University will be closing the recreation center on March 24 until further notice.
March 21
12 BC Students Self-Report COVID-19
The University announced that 12 BC students have self-reported positive results for COVID-19. Students who reported as positive include students who went abroad in Europe, students who live off campus, and students who studied on campus at BC this semester. The 12 students are currently receiving care at home.
Earlier in the day, BC’s Coronavirus Updates webpage reported that there had been 10 positive cases self-reported by BC students. The page was later updated to include two additional cases and a statement from Director of University Health Services Tom Nary.
“Most of the cases involve students who studied in Europe and returned home while bypassing BC,” the statement said. “The 12 are self-reported cases from conscientious students who informed BC Health Services of their positive test findings.”
There are more than 400 students remaining on campus, and there are no reported cases among them.
March 20
Room Selection Process Updates Announced
The on-campus room selection process for Boston College students will continue on Wednesday, according to a Friday email from the Office of Residential Life to students who had not participated in room selection before campus was closed.
The process was suspended after the University’s announcement of a move to online classes in order to better facilitate the move-out process, representatives from the Office of Residential Life said in an email to the student body.
Selection for two- and three-person apartments will take place on Wednesday, March 25, with six-person suites being selected on Thursday. The following week, selection for eight-, four-, six-, and nine-person suites, as well as traditional-style housing, will take place. Registration for room selection will last from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST with pick times beginning at 4 p.m.
Boston College Issues Refunds for Room and Board
The University announced in an email on March 20 that prorated refunds for student housing had been administered and that students would be refunded any unused money on their meal plans.
March 18
BC Extends Pass/Fail Policy
BC has amended its academic policy by expanding the option to take courses pass/fail and extending the pass/fail designation deadline, as well as extending the deadlines for dropping and withdrawing from classes.
Students can now designate classes as pass/fail as late as April 30, the last day of classes. In the past, only general electives could be designated as pass/fail, but the new policy allows core, major, minor, and language proficiency classes to be declared pass/fail.
The one-course limit on courses that may be taken pass/fail per semester has also been lifted, and classes taken pass/fail this semester won’t count toward the six-course limit per student.
While freshmen are usually prohibited from taking pass/fail classes, the new policy allows all undergraduates to designate classes pass/fail. The changes apply to all undergraduate classes with exceptions for several nursing classes, one biology class, one palliative care class, and one math class.
The University also extended the course drop date to April 9, and the date for withdrawal from a course has been pushed back to April 30.
Remaining Students to be Moved to Upper Campus
The remaining students on campus will be moved to single rooms on Upper Campus, according to an update on the University’s coronavirus webpage. A previous update stated that they would be housed in residence halls on Upper Campus and College Road.
“This location was selected for the remainder of the semester because it provides the best accommodations to maintain the recommended social-distancing measures,” read an email sent to students who had been granted housing extensions.
The housekeeping staff will clean restrooms and common rooms several times a day, according to the email sent to exempted students. Another email stated that students, regardless of age, are prohibited from possessing alcohol in the residence halls or being under the influence of drugs or alcohol on campus.
McElroy Commons will be open for students who are still on campus, while Cafe 129 on the Brighton Campus will remain open for BC employees.
Libraries Close Indefinitely
After remaining open in the week following the University’s suspension of all in-person classes, all Boston College libraries have now closed until further notice.
March 17
BC Study Abroad Students Test Positive for Coronavirus
Two BC students who were studying abroad have confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, according to an email sent to BC study abroad students from Office of International Programs Director Nick Gozik. One student had been studying in the United Kingdom, and the other in Ireland. The students returned directly home, started self-isolating, and are receiving care. The email also stated that local departments of public health will notify those who were in close contact with the two confirmed cases.
There are also two “presumptive cases” of BC students who studied abroad in Madrid. It is unclear whether these two students returned to campus after coming back from abroad.
The email also urged all students to practice social distancing, and for those who studied in countries with a Level 3 Health Warning to self-quarantine for two weeks.
“You were uprooted from an exciting and joyful study-abroad experience and have returned home to a nation that is experiencing its greatest public health challenge in a century. I am thinking of you, and am here to support you,” Gozik said in the email.
OIP Suspends All International Summer Programs
BC suspended all summer international faculty-led programs and internships because of the novel coronavirus update, according to an email from Office of International Programs Director Nick Gozik sent to summer abroad students.
The decision to suspend summer programs and internships abroad came before students were advised to book flights, according to the email. OIP will not be charging deposits on students’ accounts, even if they had already submitted a final confirmation form.
ACC Cancels Athletics Until End of School Year
After announcing an indefinite suspension of all ACC athletic activity due to the coronavirus, the ACC amended that announcement to say that all ACC athletics will now be canceled until the end of the 2019-20 school year. This cancellation includes the suspension of games, practices, and in-person recruiting processes. “Our top priority remains the health and safety of our student-athletes as well as our fans, communities and the overall well-being of others during these uncharted times,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement on theACC.com. “We are particularly disappointed for our student-athletes and will continue to work with our membership to assess what is appropriate in the future.”
No Decisions on BC Summer Session, BC Experience
Dean of BC Summer Session Karen Muncaster said in an email to The Heights that no decision has been made on the status of summer session classes. BC’s website states that as the situation with the coronavirus outbreak remains fluid, the University has not determined whether the Boston College Experience summer program for high school students will be disrupted either.
Advanced Study Grants Suspended
The Advanced Study Grant program was suspended in light of the novel coronavirus outbreak and the move to online classes, according to an email from University Fellowships Committee Interim Director Jason Cavallari.
March 16
Quigley Pens Letter to Faculty
Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley sent a letter to BC faculty and staff thanking them for the work they have done to move classes online. Quigley urged faculty and staff to continue forward with flexibility and understanding, and he promised that the administration is working on making decisions on remaining questions about academic and administrative policies.
“Our students are looking for us to help model a way of working through this crisis, and I am confident that we as Boston College faculty are well suited for the demands of this semester,” Quigley said.
Campus Update Released
Five hundred students remain on campus and will be moved to single rooms on Upper Campus and College Road residence halls, according to an update on the University’s coronavirus webpage. BC Dining will be serving food to go and keeping the number of customers in dining locations within the state limit of 25 people. O’Neill Library and the Margot Connell Recreation Center remain open, but students are required to follow social distancing guidelines in the facilities.
Reports of Vandalism Emerge After Announcement of Campus Closure
In the five days days that followed the announcement of the move to online classes and the close of campus, 14 reports of malicious destruction of property over $1,200—including one at Gasson Hall, where two stained glass windows were broken—were reported.
There were 63 reports in total, with 14 reports of underage intoxicated persons and one report of an intoxicated person of the legal age. There were five reports of medical incidents, one report of a drug law violation, five reports of activated fire alarms, two reports of minors in possession of alcohol, and one report of trespassing at Conte Forum. BCPD also reported one incident of assault and battery on a police officer occuring at 11:37 p.m. on March 11 on Lower Campus.
Director of Student Conduct Corey Kelly and Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore sent an email to students on March 12, the day after the University announced it was moving to online classes, warning that students will be punished for conduct violations.
BC Webinar Provides Updates on Coronavirus
Boston College hosted a virtual panel to update the BC community with information regarding the origin, spread, and response to the novel coronavirus. The 90-minute-long webinar was hosted on Zoom and featured expert panelists in epidemiology and public health from BC and Boston University.
Philip Landrigan, a professor of biology and director of BC’s global public health and the common good program, said that it is “very likely” that the novel coronavirus was on BC’s campus while students were present.
Experts agreed on the importance of health care workers and the public’s obligation to flatten the epidemic curve. Landrigan specifically discussed preventive measures such as handwashing as well as the importance of workplace preparations in case of an outbreak. He said the best policy for prevention is to assume that everyone has the virus.
March 14
BC Suspends Religious Services
Boston College Campus Ministry announced that the University, in accordance with the Archbishop of Boston Cardinal O’Malley and Archdiocese of Boston, will suspend all Masses and religious services from 4 p.m on March 14 until further notice.
March 13
VP for Human Resources Sends Letter to Faculty, Staff
David Trainor, Vice President for Human Resources, issued a statement regarding the employment status of full-time employees and part-time University employees.
“The University is committed to ensuring that all full-time, benefits-eligible employees remain in full pay status throughout this situation,” Trainor said. “In addition, we will be working to provide the same protection to part-time employees.”
Fully funded graduate students will keep their stipends and benefits, while hourly paid graduate students will continue to be paid if they continue to fulfill their “regular responsibilities and work on campus.”
Undergraduate student employees will be able to keep their jobs if they have been granted on-campus housing or live near campus, and if there is continued need for their position, according to Trainor.
The statement announced that University employees, barring any special permission by the President’s Office, executive vice president, or provost and dean of faculties, will no longer be allowed to travel domestically or internationally on University business.
The statement mandated that an employee should self-quarantine for 14 days if they or a family member have traveled to a location of high concern as determined by the Centers for Disease Control or come into direct contact with an individual who has contracted the novel coronavirus.
Office of University Advancement Cancels All Events Through April
In response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Office of University Advancement has cancelled all events through April, according to an email sent by Senior Vice President for University Advancement Jim Husson.
March 12
Faculty Help Students Amid Uncertainty
A Google Form where students could sign up to receive help from faculty members is circulating after the University’s announcement that students must vacate campus by Sunday, March 15.
The form was created by BC Law professor Hiba Hafiz in conjunction with Faculty for Justice. 114 faculty members have signed up to help students, offering storage, transportation, and housing.
Lochhead, Quigley, Moore Address Community
Executive Vice President Michael Lochhead, Provost and Dean of Faculties David Quigley, and Vice President for Student Affairs Joy Moore released a letter addressing BC students and parents. They acknowledged the confusion members of the community had expressed after Leahy’s initial announcement.
“We realize that the COVID-19 pandemic, and Boston College’s decision to transition to online teaching beginning March 19, has caused stress and anxiety for many members of the BC community,” they said.
The letter included a list of answers to frequently asked questions. The answers said that students will be receiving prorated refunds for room charges and mandatory meal plans, but they will not receive tuition refunds. Students will receive credit for their academic coursework, and no decision has been made on whether Commencement has been canceled.
UGBC and CAB Provide Free Transportation to Airport, Train Station
The University announced that the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and Boston College Campus Activities Board (CAB) would provide free shuttles to Boston Logan International Airport through Sunday, March 15. Additionally, the Office of Residential Life will have professional movers to assist students with moving out of their residence halls.
OIP Suspends All Spring Study Abroad Programs
The Office of International Programs (OIP) canceled all spring semester study abroad programs across the globe due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to an email sent to Boston College and students and parents.
“Given the rapid spread of this virus, it can only be assumed that it will continue to reach places where there have been relatively few cases to date, and at a speed that is becoming increasingly difficult to predict,” Nick Gozik, director of OIP, said in the email.
The CDC’s recommendation that American students who were studying abroad return home, the World Health Organization’s designation of the novel coronavirus as a pandemic, and the United States Department of State’s recommendation that citizens avoid travel were cited as reasons for the cancellation.
Series of Athletic Decisions End Winter Seasons Early
Shortly after Boston College announced they would be playing all athletic events without fans, the Athletic Coast Conference (ACC) announced all post-season winter tournaments were cancelled. This was followed shortly by a nationwide ban from the NCAA on all post-season tournaments.
March 11
Boston College Moves All Classes Online, Requires Students to Leave Campus
University President William P. Leahy, S.J. announced that in-person classes would be canceled for the remainder of the semester and that Boston College would begin remote instruction on Thursday, March 19.
Students will have until Sunday, March 15 to move out of all on-campus residences, unless they can demonstrate “serious personal reasons,” international travel restrictions, or university obligations that would require them to continue living in their residence halls.
“I realize that these decisions will bring challenges to many at Boston College, particularly members of the Class of 2020,” Leahy said in the email. “But knowing the abundant spirit, generosity, and commitment of our University community, I am confident that we will resolve any issues we face, and I ask that you join me in praying for those affected throughout the world by COVID-19.”
Featured Image by Éamon Laughlin/Heights Editor
