Iowa Colleges Moving Towards Online Schooling

As cases of COVID-19 spread in Iowa, the Cedar Rapids Gazette is reporting that the Iowa State Board of Regents has ordered its three public universities to move quickly to deliver instructions to students online.

The regents did not say what that might possibly mean for the thousands of students, faculty, and staff at the schools, including if they'll be told to leave campus locations and vacate residency halls before the spring semester ends. Will they be allowed back for finals week? Graduation? More details on how each school will respond must be presented by no later than 8 p.m. on Thursday.

The regents also announced on Tuesday that they have extended the ban on university-sponsored international travel until further notice. For domestic university-related travel, the board is leaving that up to each school.

At least one Iowa college has already sent all it's students home. Private college Grinnell College sent all of its students home and told them to make plans to finish the semester there.