Miami Dade College to cancel classes for two weeks to prepare for online courses

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Miami Dade College has canceled classes for two weeks to allow for time to transition to online learning, a step in line with many universities that have made similar calls in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Classes have been canceled from Friday through March 29. Employees are still expected to report to campus to prepare for the transition.

The college on Thursday shuttered its medical campus at 950 NW 20th St., after it was announced that a Brazilian official who had visited the campus Monday night tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

All events have been canceled college-wide.

MDC, with one of the largest undergraduate enrollments in the country, began surveying students this week on their internet connectivity outside of campus.

To the north, Broward College will also suspend its in-person classes from Saturday through March 22 to also transition to online classes. Field experience courses like health science and teacher education as well as law enforcement academies are excluded.

“Additionally, Broward College recognizes that a limited number of courses are not adaptable to remote instruction,” a release sent late Thursday night read. “Decisions about those courses will be made in collaboration with faculty and administrators. In addition, the College will work with its Broward UP partners to review their respective protocols for continuing on-site classes and workshops.”

Online spring term courses will resume March 23.