HILBERT COLLEGE TO SUSPEND RESIDENTIAL INSTRUCTION; TRANSITION TO ONLINE LEARNING
- Residential students instructed to move off campus; athletic activities will be suspended -
HAMBURG, N.Y. – Hilbert College announced today that it will suspend all residential academic and student life programs, effective at the end of the academic day on Saturday, March 14. The College will transition to online courses for two weeks beginning March 15. All residential students are instructed to move off campus no later than March 14 at 5 p.m.
Hilbert plans to resume traditional residential classes and campus activities on Monday, March 30. Further instructions will be provided to students prior to that date.
“This was not an easy decision,” Hilbert President Dr. Michael Brophy said. “We realize this will create some challenges for our Hilbert campus community. However, we are taking this action in a proactive effort to safeguard the health and wellness of our students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Western New York community.”
Specifically, these are the actions Hilbert is taking:
- Beginning on Sunday, March 15 and through at least March 30, Hilbert College will transition from residential to online instruction.
- While residential instruction will be suspended, the College will otherwise remain open for normal business operations until further notice.
- Residential students will be instructed to move off campus by March 14 at 5 p.m. Students leaving campus will be instructed:
- to take with them any devices, textbooks and other critical materials to be able to continue their coursework remotely; and
- to bring with them any personal effects, valuables or other items they may need for a potential extended period of time away from campus.
- All athletic programs will be suspended during this period.
- Effective immediately, the College will implement on-campus social distancing protocols:
- Organizations and groups will cancel, postpone, or conduct virtually any planned events.
- Organizations and groups with plans to host a speaker or external group (for student life or learning) on campus between March 10 and March 30 should cancel, postpone or virtually conduct those events.
- Guidance for appropriate work-from-home and other policy accommodations for staff will be forthcoming.
Hilbert will continue to closely monitor and evaluate information and guidance provided by state and federal agencies in order to inform future decisions concerning residential instruction and on-campus activities. Please visit https://www.hilbert.edu/about/coronavirus-update regularly as the College will continue to update it with real-time information and news.
“As a Franciscan institution, we appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we navigate this quickly evolving and extraordinary situation,” Dr. Brophy said.