Coronavirus Prompts Distance Learning at SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College

Due to the coronavirus outbreak in New York State, SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College will be switching to a distance learning operation. This comes as Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that beginning March 19, all campuses of the State University of New York and the City University of New York will implement plans to maximize distance learning and reduce in-person classes by utilizing online instruction.

SUNY Oneonta President Barbara Jean Morris released a statement to the campus community:

“So that we may prepare to meet the governor’s directive, I have decided to extend students’ spring break for a week. During that time, we will work with our faculty to implement this academic transition. Classes will resume on Monday, March 23.

While our campus will remain open and we will welcome students back, we also recognize that some students may choose not to return to their residence halls following spring break, but rather complete the spring semester from home. The college supports this decision and is discussing with SUNY whether this would trigger any refund. This is one of many issues that we already have begun to consider.

All of us at the college recognize the uncertainty and anxiety that COVID-19 brings and understand that today’s announcement raises many questions for students and their families. We are moving as quickly as we can to address these, ensure the continuity of instruction, and be ready to work alongside the Department of Health, should there be a case of COVID-19 at SUNY Oneonta.

We will share updates as they become available via email to the campus community and on our Coronavirus Information webpage. Again, I must ask for your patience. We are hard at work, and there is much to do in the coming days and weeks.”

Hartwick College's President, Margaret L. Drugovich also posted a statement on Hartwick College's website regarding the coronavirus:

Classes for the remainder of this week (March 11-13) will continue as planned. All events will be conducted except as noted in our communication of March 9.

Hartwick faculty will continue spring 2020 instruction through remote instruction only beginning March 23. Faculty will make the determination on the remote instruction approach for each class. Faculty will communicate with students in each class before March 23 with details about how courses will be conducted. Until further notice, there will be no in-person instruction.

Effective March 20 at 5PM, all campus-based activities, including athletic competitions and training, are suspended until further notice.

SUNY Oneonta now has a coronavirus information sheet posted at its website along with related information. Hartwick College provides more information about the college's move to distance learning on its website at Hartwick.edu.