BEREA, Ky. (LEX 18) — Berea College announced Tuesday that it will be stopping classes due to the novel coronavirus illness.
The last day for students and faculty will be this Friday. The announcement was made through email. Although there have been no reported cases in Madison County, officials say they wanted to be precautionary.
"Concluding, after careful analysis, that it will not be possible to adequately assure student and employee safety in the circumstance of a case of COVID-19 occurring on campus, we have decided that the College will cease instructional activities as of the end of the day on this Friday, March 13," reads a statement from the college.
The situation leaves many students wondering about their course credits and where they are going to go.
"Figuring out how I'm supposed to leave is going to be interesting," Berea student Peter Riley said. "I'm from Maine so it'll be something I'll figure out over the week."
On top of classes being canceled for the rest of the spring semester, summer academic travel through the BIST (Berea International Summer Term) program has also been canceled.
"I was supposed to go on a BIST trip this Summer," Berea student Finnley Rickman said. "It was going to count towards my graduation and towards my credits I need for graduation. I dont know if I'll be able to do the internship I applied for. I just don't know."
Officials stressed that students will not lose credits for be left homeless, saying that of the 1600 students, they're making accommodations for 200 students who are from other countries or have no place to go.
The college said some students can finish their courses online and those without computers are being accommodated in other ways.
