STATESBORO — The University System of Georgia announced Monday that all classes will be online for the rest of the semester in response to the novel coronavirus.

Georgia Southern University and the rest of the USG institutions will move to online instruction for all courses “with extremely limited exceptions,” according to USG guidance emailed to students, faculty and staff by GS Communications and Marketing.

Residence halls will be closed, and students are not allowed to return to campus until given permission by GS, according to the email.

The decision follows other campus closures nationwide, with more than 100 colleges having moved online as of March 11, according to USA Today.

The message from the USG is available in full below.

The message from the University System of Georgia

Following last week’s decision to suspend instruction for two weeks, the University System of Georgia (USG) has decided:

• All 26 institutions will move to online instruction for all courses for the remainder of the semester, with extremely limited exceptions.

• Residence halls will be closed, with minimal exceptions for students unable to return home or who cannot find housing elsewhere. Students are not allowed to return to campus until given permission by their institution.

• Institutions will make every effort to accommodate students who are unable to depart campus.

The USG will provide guidance to campuses on refunds to students. Additional details are forthcoming.

All USG institutions will remain open with minimal staff physically on-site to ensure continuity of certain services.

Please continue to adhere to public health and CDC guidelines regarding hygiene and social interactions, and be especially mindful during the transition this week and next.

Blakeley Bartee, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu