CUNY, SUNY cancel in-person classes for rest of spring semester

Queens College. Photo by Katie Finkowski

By Victoria Merlino and David Brand

New York’s public university system will cancel in-person classes and shift to online “distance learning” courses amid coronavirus uncertainty, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday.

The State University of New York and City University of New York system includes more than 60 schools serving more than 700,000 students across the state. There are five CUNY schools in Queens.

“While the risk to New Yorkers remains low, we are taking a number of steps out of an abundance of caution to protect public health including asking SUNY and CUNY to implement strategies to reduce density on campuses for the remainder of the semester," Cuomo said.

The system will institute a five-day “educational recess” from March 12 to March 18 to allow professors and students time to make accommodations. Dorms, libraries and essential on-campus services will remain open, CUNY tweeted. 

Over the past week, pressure has mounted to close CUNY schools as reports of coronavirus in New York City began to climb. More than 140,000 people have signed an online petition to close all New York City schools.

At least one CUNY community member, a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has contracted coronavirus, prompting the campus to close on Wednesday.

The unprecedented decision to cancel in-person classes is a serious test of the SUNY and CUNY’s digital infrastructure, but CUNY Chancellor Félix Matos Rodriguez said the system is up for the challenge.  

“The transition to distance learning protects our students and all of our campus communities, while enabling the University to ensure academic continuity, safeguarding students’ ability to finish the semester and protecting their financial aid,” Rodríguez said.