SMC Cancels Live Classes; But No Confirmed cases of coronavirus at Santa Monica College.

Starting next Wednesday, classes will switch to online. All extra curriculars, travel, and clubs have also been cancelled

Santa Monica College has now joined the long list of schools shutting down to contain the spread of Covid-19, or Coronavirus. Early this evening, SMC announced that all classes are going to be cancelled starting on Friday. And next Wednesday, classes will switch to online. All extra curriculars, travel, and clubs have also been cancelled. All volunteer activities by students have been curtailed until further notice.

SMC joins USC, UCLA, LMU, Pepperdine, and almost all local private schools in their Covid-19 closure. Late Thursday afternoon, SMMUSD announced all schools will be closed Friday and Monday, and are scheduled to reopen Tuesday. Nearly all extra-curricular events have been cancelled. This is to help enforce "social distancing", as recommended by the County Health Department.

There are no confirmed cases of coronavirus at SMC.

Thursday was the last day for most business and campus operations. Certain classes that require in-person instruction-some, but not all laboratory, physical education, and performing arts courses-will continue to meet on campus as scheduled.

In keeping with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding older adults being at high risk from COVID-19, SMC has also temporarily suspended all classes at SMC Emeritus, the college's program for older adults. This includes the suspension of all Emeritus-sponsored in-person activities both on- and off-campus. There will be no in-person classes until further notice; the SMC Emeritus office remains open for employees and is accessible for Emeritus students via telephone and email. Some classes will resume via remote methods.

Spring Study-Abroad Trips have been cancelled. SMC has canceled study-abroad trips to Costa Rica, Helsinki, and Tallinn, in keeping with guidance from the CDC's advisory on student foreign travel to higher educational institutions.

Cancellation of Non-Essential Travel, Large Gatherings & Extra-Curricular Activities: Based on March 7 guidance from the California Department of Public Health to higher education institutions, the college has, effective today, canceled all large academic and student-focused gatherings and extra-curricular activities through the end of the Spring 2020 semester or until further notice. Athletic events will be conducted wherever possible without spectators. SMC sponsored and sanctioned non-essential travel has also been canceled until further notice. Please check smc.edu/canceled events for a list of canceled events that may have been previously publicized.