ROCKWOOD – In response to the coronavirus outbreak and continued public health concerns, all Roane State campuses will extend spring break for students through March 22 and will transition to an all-online teaching environment when classes resume on March 23.
Courses will remain online through at least March 29, with the possibility of continuing online beyond that date. All campuses will be closed when classes resume in an online format. Only essential personnel will be permitted on campus after that point until at least March 29. These steps place the school on level two of Roane State’s Pandemic Preparedness Plan.
Additional measures include:
- Cancelation or postponement of all on-campus events beginning March 16 through March 29.
- Cancelation of all planned international travel, including study abroad programs to Italy, Costa Rica, Central America and the Galapagos Islands.
- Cancelation of all out-of-state travel for college personnel during the month of March.
- Dual enrollment courses taught at area high schools will follow Roane State’s adjusted schedule and any potential schedule adjustment made by the respective high school system.
Alternative arrangements will be made for any Roane State courses that are unable to move completely online, which could include a delay and extension of the semester. The same will be true for any student who is unable to take courses in a distance learning format.
Visit Roane State’s resource pages on Distance Education and Momentum (or D2L) for more information. Students and faculty may login to Momentum at the following link: https://elearn.roanestate.edu/d2l/login.
“The health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, their families and the broader communities we serve are the top priority as this decision is made,” said a statement by university officials.
While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on any of Roane State’s campuses right now, they hope taking these steps will help prevent that from occurring.
“We are doing everything in our power to make this transition as smooth as possible, but we know there will be unforeseen issues,” continued the college’s statement. “We ask for your patience and understanding while we work to keep everyone safe during this unprecedented situation. Students, we encourage you to reach out to your instructors and academic advisors if you have any concerns. For faculty and staff, please contact your academic dean or your direct supervisor with questions.”
Roane State continues to monitor information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Tennessee Department of Health regarding coronavirus. The health department has activated a public information number for COVID-19 that is available daily from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. central time by calling 877-857-2945.
Roane State will be keep students informed via RaiderAlert text and email messages, general college email, social media, and our website. Please visit the links listed at the top of this page for up-to-date information from the CDC about protecting yourself from the virus.
Any additional actions or precautions taken by the college in response to the outbreak will be done in coordination with the Tennessee Board of Regents, with guidance from our state and local health departments.
