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Mercer University moves to virtual learning for rest of semester

Four Georgia schools were among U.S. News & World Report’s top national universities.

Credit: AJC FILE PHOTO

Credit: AJC FILE PHOTO

Four Georgia schools were among U.S. News & World Report’s top national universities.
By
March 27, 2020

Mercer University’s president announced Friday the school will close its campuses for the rest of the semester and move to virtual learning.

Most of Georgia’s largest colleges and universities — public and private — decided more than a week ago to move to virtual learning. Mercer had said it would make a decision about its plans by April 3. Its main campus is in Macon, but it also has a campus in north DeKalb County.

Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday ordered all public colleges to remain closed for the remainder of the semester. Mercer is a private university.

“My hope was that we could provide those of you who are graduating at the end of this semester or term an opportunity to complete your time at Mercer physically on our campuses with your colleagues and faculty,” the university’s president, William Underwood, said in a message posted online Friday.

> RELATED: Georgia college students, faculty adjust to remote learning

Underwood said Mercer is working on a plan to reimburse students for unused university housing and board. The plan will include students who live in the various Loft developments immediately adjacent to the Macon campus that are a part of the university’s housing plan.

About the Author

Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He is the newsroom's education editor. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.

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