Northeastern, BU join ranks of schools moving to online classes

Northeastern University President Joseph Aoun made his announcement today - but says students can stay in their dorms if they want. His counterpart at Boston University, Robert Brown, wants students to go home, but says those who need to can stay in their dorms.

Aoun wrote:

Over the past week, I have heard from many members of our community—students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and others. Not surprisingly, you have expressed every possible viewpoint on the idea of moving to online education. In the end, this decision was—and had to be—based on science, facts, and real circumstances. I am confident that this is the right decision for our university.

Let me be clear: as of today, we have no evidence that COVID-19 has infected a member of the Northeastern community. Nevertheless, we must focus on prevention, not just containment. We owe it to each other—and everyone in the Northeastern family and beyond—to take all practical steps to minimize the risk of infection and community transmission. We thank you for all of your support and understanding during this challenging time.

As we move to online instruction, we are not asking students in Northeastern residence halls to move out. While students may elect to do so, we are committed to maintaining continuity of campus life for those who elect to stay.