UTEP’s president says no school until March 30, many classes to shift online, graduation ceremonies delayed

UPDATE: UTEP will postpone spring Commencement ceremonies. Graduating students will still receive their degrees as scheduled, but the ceremonies will not take place until the fall at a date to be determined.

ORIGINAL REPORT: EL PASO, Texas -- UTEP President Heather Wilson announced the university was undertaking "mitigation practices to slow the transmission" of the novel coronavirus.

The university will extend spring break until March 30, and then as many classes as possible will be moved to “online learning” for the remainder of the semester.

For classes that need to take place on campus, Wilson said some classrooms will be reconfigured during the break to allow for "social distancing."

She indicated faculty members would be in touch with students about plans for individual courses.

Wilson said UTEP was also suspending all foreign travel except for Ciudad Juárez.