Photo Credit: UGA Grady College

The University of Georgia will move to online classes for the rest of the spring semester and reduce on-campus activities to a minimum, including canceling the May commencement ceremony, President Jere Morehead announced today.

The few students who remain in residence halls because they have nowhere to go can stay, and can get food to go from Bolton Hall. Other students who live on campus and meal plan subscribers will be given refunds on a pro-rated basis. All students will also receive pro-rated refunds on fees. Advising for the fall semester will happen remotely.

Classes will resume online Mar. 30. The deadline to withdraw has been extended until Apr. 17.

Routine research conducted on campus is winding down this week. All non-essential employees will continue working from home.

All events this semester are canceled, including athletics, performances, student activities, Honors Week and commencement. Students will be able to graduate, though.

"We realize that the cancellation of many of these activities is extremely disappointing—particularly the cancellation of Spring Commencement on Friday, May 8, 2020," Morehead said. "Therefore, we are exploring other ways to honor our graduates and will communicate when those plans are known. These decisions are not made lightly, but with the best interests of our campus community and our students’ families and loved ones in mind."

See the full message from UGA here.

The decision to suspend on-campus activities comes as colleges and cities around the country put measures in place to ensure that people don't gather in crowds—considered by experts the best way to combat the spread of coronavirus, along with hygiene practices like frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission voted Monday to essentially shut down bars and restrict restaurants to take-out and delivery because college students who remain in town didn't heed warnings to practice social distancing.

Also Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp ordered all public colleges, universites and K-12 schools to stay closed through the end of March.