This page will include the decisions Kentucky’s eight public universities are making in response to COVID-19. It will be constantly updated by the MKY Guide staff in the coming weeks.
KY Public Universities
Murray State University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 6:45 p.m.
Class format: Online through the spring semester.
On-campus housing: Effective Sunday, March 22, 2020, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), residence halls will not be reopening following spring break and will remain closed for the remainder of the semester. Students need to begin making preparations now to move out of their residence halls. Move-out instructions and schedules will be distributed via email no later than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, from the Housing Office. All personal items will be expected to be out of the residence halls by Friday, March 27, 2020, at 8 p.m. (Central). Information about prorations of housing and dining fees will be forthcoming, according to a statement released Tuesday night.
Dining: Limited campus services, including dining, will remain operational.
Commencement: Postponed. A date will be released soon.
Faculty research: The Murray State Institutional Review Board (IRB) has decided to pause approval for all research protocols involving face-to-face data collection effective at midnight on Friday, March 20, 2020. This means that any research currently approved by the Murray State IRB must stop at that time if it involves any procedures where researchers and participants meet in-person. This stoppage will remain in effect until further notice.
For more information about Murray State’s response, visit https://www.murraystate.edu/healthupdate/
The University of Kentucky
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.
Class format: Online through the spring semester.
On-campus housing: Students will need to move out of residence halls. Refunds will be distributed. More information will be released in the coming days.
Dining: Refunds will be distributed. More information will be released in the coming days.
Commencement: Postponed to a safer time. A new commencement date will be released in the coming days.
For more information about UK’s response, visit https://www.uky.edu/coronavirus/
The University of Louisville
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.
Class format: Online through Sunday, April 5.
On-campus housing: Campus housing will remain open, but students who are able to stay away from campus until April 5 are encouraged to do so.
Dining: All dining locations will be carryout only until otherwise noted.
Commencement: The Countdown to Commencement ordering event previously scheduled for March 17 and 18 has been canceled. Graduating students may place their order for a cap and gown, accessories, announcements, rings, and more online. Commencement is still planned for Saturday, May 9.
For more information about the University of Louisville’s response, visit https://louisville.edu/campushealth/information/coronavirus
Western Kentucky University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 5 p.m.
Class format: Online through the spring semester.
On-campus housing: Move-out plans coming within the next 48 hours.
Dining: Plans forthcoming.
Commencement: Commencement is postponed. A new date will be released soon.
For more information about Western Kentucky University’s response, visit https://www.wku.edu/covid19/
Northern Kentucky University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.
Class format: Online classes with no clear end date.
On-campus housing: Students are permitted to live in on-campus housing after returning from spring break.
Dining: Carry-out only options.
Commencement: Finals Week and Spring Commencement will remain as scheduled, but we will monitor the situation to determine if this should change.
For more information about NKU’s response, visit https://inside.nku.edu/hcsw/emergency/coronavirus-preparedness.html
Eastern Kentucky University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Class format: Online through the spring semester.
On-campus housing: Students must return to their permanent residence. Students should be moved out by Wednesday, April 1.
Dining: Stratton Cafe and Starbucks will remain open for carryout meals only.
Commencement: Commencement is postponed. A new date will be released soon.
For more information about EKU’s response, visit https://prepare4flu.eku.edu/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
Morehead State University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m.
Class format: Online through the spring semester.
On-campus housing: All campus residence halls will close on Friday, March 27 at 4:30 p.m. Students should plan on returning to campus the week of March 23-27 to remove all personal belongings and return home to continue their online classes for the remainder of the semester.
Dining: For the week of March 23-27, campus food service will be limited.
Commencement: To be determined.
For more information about Morehead State’s response, visit https://www.moreheadstate.edu/coronavirus
Kentucky State University
Updated: Tuesday, March 17 at 10 a.m.
Class format: Online through Friday, April 3.
On-campus housing: The campus residence halls, buildings, and dining operations will reopen for all students as scheduled to accommodate travel plans which cannot be modified.
Dining: The campus residence halls, buildings, and dining operations will reopen for all students as scheduled to accommodate travel plans which cannot be modified.
Commencement: Still planned for Friday, May 8.
For more information about KSU’s response, visit https://kysu.edu/2020/03/12/presidential-plain-speak-regarding-ksu-covid-19/