Columbia University makes all classes, exams remote

Columbia University announced on Thursday all classes and final exams were going remote for the rest of the academic year due to an “evolving” environment.  

“In order to address the concerns of our members in an evolving campus environment, all academic activities for schools on the Morningside Heights campus will be fully remote for the remainder of the semester (with carve-outs noted below),” said Provost Angela Olinto. 

“Any remaining class meetings, review sessions, or office hours should be held fully remotely, and all final exams and other final assessments should be fully remote,” Olinto added.  

The announcement came after the New York Police Department arrested 300 individuals while clearing out protesters who took over Hamilton Hall.  

The decision comes after Columbia already made classes hybrid due to the unrest on campus.

The provost is encouraging professors to adjust their finals such as making them “a take-home final, modifying the final’s weight, adjusting the grading policy such that the final exam does not negatively impact the final grade (i.e. a no-harm final), making the final exam optional, or canceling the final exam.” 

Professors will also have to work with students who have already left campus as only those residing in the residential buildings on the Morningside Heights campus are allowed on the premises.