COVID-19 Affects Concordia Community
Students will not see much of Weller Hall again until the fall semester. Photo by Sonja Brandt.
By Elisha Meyer
Concordia University Nebraska’s administration announced that it extended spring break by one week and will deliver all courses online for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester.
Interim President Russ Sommerfeld said that while the decision was difficult to make, safety continues to be the most important factor. He said the decision complies with recommendations made by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Students were originally scheduled to start classes March 16. The university then decided to teach using an online platform for a two-week time period from March 23 to April 3. Re-evaluation of the pandemic was scheduled for the second week of that time period. The university announced their decision March 17 that classes would be online for the entirety of the semester.
The university asked students to move out of their dorms by Sunday, March 22 at 4 p.m. Students unable to return home or move out were allowed to apply for continued on-campus housing. Students who were accepted to return and reside on campus are living in the Jonathan dorm.
No cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Seward, but Sommerfeld and Director of Student Development Rebekah Freed both have encouraged students to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of themselves and their families.
Attendance policy was changed when the campus first postponed operations due to the pandemic, for students either sick or placed in quarantine, or for those with difficulties attending regular class times from off campus. That policy will remain in place for the 2020 semester.
For more information and answers to further questions, please visit Concordia’s website at cune.edu/covid19.
