Augusta University moves to online instruction for remainder of semester

On Monday evening, the University System of Georgia announced that, in light of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, all institutions will move to online instruction for the remainder of the semester. Some limited exemptions will be made to allow on campus instruction for a few courses.

This decision raises a number of questions that our campus leaders will be working through in the next few days. Our mission as the state’s designated health sciences university will create some unique challenges that we must address. Students in health professions programs will continue the instructional plan previously communicated by their deans.

The decision to move courses online also means that students will need to move out of the residence halls. We will develop and communicate a plan for students to move out of the residence halls in a structured and orderly fashion that is consistent with the concept of maintaining an appropriate level of social distance. Students will not be able to return to the residence hall to move out without specific permission from our Division of Student Affairs. We will share information about the plan as soon as it is complete.

The University System of Georgia is also developing a plan to handle refunds for housing, dining and other services. It will take a few days for them to complete this plan. We appreciate your patience as they work through these details.

Augusta University will remain open with minimal staff physically on-site to ensure business continuity of certain services during this time. We are asking all supervisors to continue working with employees, using telework and flexible scheduling, to ensure appropriate social distancing while maintaining business continuity. 

Our faculty and staff are committed to helping our students make progress toward the completion of their degree, even under these challenging circumstances. By working together and keeping our focus on our mission, we will still be able to finish this semester strong.