Universities cancel face-to-face classes

St Andrews University has cancelled classes for the remainder of the the semester to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Students have been told there will be no face-to-face teaching after the spring break.

They were warned before they broke off for the holiday on Friday to prepare for a possible shift to remote learning before their return on March 30.

But advice issued to students and staff yesterday stated: “By its nature, this is a quickly evolving situation.

“The university will deliver all of its teaching and assessment exclusively in online formats from the resumption of the semester after spring break.

“There will be no classes or face-toface teaching in St Andrews for the rest of this semester.”

One student has already been diagnosed with Covid-19, having recently returned from Switzerland.

Fife College said there were no restrictions yet on its classes but it was drawing up contingency plans so it is prepared for an escalation of the situation.

Dundee University has also confirmed its suspension of face-to-face teaching from today.

The move will cover all undergraduate and taught postgraduate programmes, with students told they should not attend any classes – lectures, tutorials, laboratory classes and seminars – until notified otherwise.

In a joint statement, interimprincipal Professor David Maguire and university CEO Dr Jim McGeorge said schools will be in contact with students this week on continuing studies.

“The university is not closing and our other activities, including the provision of student support, will continue across our three campuses.”

Abertay University said it expects to make a decision today in relation to remote teaching.

“There will be no classes or face-to-face teaching in St Andrews for the rest of the semester