Limestone To Temporarily Move To Remote Instruction Due To COVID-19 Concerns

March 13, 2020: 

After consulting with state health experts amid new developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, Limestone College officials announced today that it will activate its academic continuity plan to offer alternative student instruction.

While there are no known cases of coronavirus on the Limestone campus, officials have made the decision to transition to virtual learning for at least the next three weeks. Students will be contacted by professors regarding the specifics of each course’s remote operation. All online classes already scheduled will continue as normal.

The College will stay open and employees will operate on a normal schedule, although students will have the option to stay on campus or return home to receive their remote instruction.

While there will be no face-to-face classes during that time period, the Limestone campus will remain open for students who do not wish to leave or to travel back home. Residence halls, dining services, academic support, and other limited services will be open and available for students who remain on campus.

No later than Friday, March 20, students will receive updates from their professors regarding virtual and home project instruction and learning. Students are asked to log-in to their Limestone College portal on a regular basis to check for updates from faculty members.

“For the students who do not wish to return to campus following this week’s spring break, Limestone is offering alternate instruction that they can do from their home using the internet,” said Limestone President Dr. Darrell Parker. “Those who are already back on our campus have the option to stay or return home – the decision will be theirs to make. Students not yet back on our campus from spring break also have the option to return or to receive instruction from home. The students who remain on our campus will also receive online instruction while continuing to stay in their residence hall rooms and use their meals plans from our food service provider.”

Limestone has canceled all athletic competitions and practices for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.

Throughout the coming days, the College’s leadership and crisis response team will continue to monitor the situation, maintaining constant contact with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and other health and safety officials in the state.

Limestone’s onsite operations staff will continue to regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces with a suitable chemical disinfectant.  

Parker said that Limestone will regularly reassess the situation and decide the best course of action moving forward.

In the meantime, regularly updated information will be available at www.limestone.edu/corona. Limestone is also asking that its students, faculty, and staff check their email regularly for updates.

Limestone’s announcement comes after several universities in South Carolina have extended their spring breaks and moved to online classes amid concerns about growing cases of the virus. After receiving updated guidance from state health officials, Limestone made the decision today to offer alternative learning on a temporary basis.