ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Colleges in Lehigh Valley and across the state are responding to the threat of coronavirus by canceling in-person classes and moving coursework online following spring break. Penn State and Lehigh University will start remote classes Monday, while East Stroudsburg and Kutztown Universities are suspending classes and closing dorms until March 21st.
Muhlenberg College is ending in-person classes after this Friday.
Muhlenburg will offer “alternate modes” of instruction starting next week through the middle of April. Brian Speer is with the Muhlenberg College communication department.
"We understand that the virus is going to eventually reach our campus," said Speer.
Speer says having people close together at the school could invite spread of the virus on the campus. He said most students will need to be out by 2 o'clock this saturday.
"Students who might be staying on campus might include international students, domestic students whose home areas are infected with the virus and there would be some other exceptions on the case by case basis," said Speer.
Speer said reactions from the community have been across the board. Brian Hoffman is a sophomore at the school.
"A lot of the student body of Muhlenberg is in fact from Westchester area or Northern NJ and they're sending kids back into that red zone I guess you could call it," Hoffman.
Student Samantha Singman says she’s worried about so many students traveling and then having to return to school.
"But then at the same time its better to take the precautions now then wait for it to come here first," said Singman.
Students will be able to complete their coursework online. They won’t be allowed to return to their dorms for at least four weeks.