Northern Michigan University and Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula both have extended online classes through the end of the semester, officials announced this week.

NMU also postponed its May 2 commencement ceremony, which will be rescheduled for a future date that will be announced when details are finalized, NMU President Fritz Erickson said in a news release.

“We continue to have no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Upper Peninsula,” Erickson said. “However, in light of the projected COVID-19 timelines Northern Michigan University has been provided by local, state and federal health agencies, the university has moved up its decision date from March 30 to take (these) … actions.”

The move to finish the semester online including final exam week, the NMU president said.

While the remote instruction will continue, NMU residence halls and apartments remain open and students can remain on campus. “The university has every intention to keep NMU housing options open throughout the semester,” Erickson said.

Summer course registration is underway; already scheduled summer online classes will take place as scheduled. A decision about the format of summer courses and labs scheduled for campus will be made in April.

Students not now on campus can choose to delay returning for the purpose of vacating their rooms. May 3 is the semester checkout deadline.

Other residence hall and dining service issues, including adjustments, will be considered at a later date.

The university remains open with normal business hours. This means on-campus student employees who remain at NMU or in Marquette can continue to work at their jobs. Students should discuss their employment possibilities during this COVID-19 period with their supervisor. Career Services at nmu.edu/careerservices is coordinating redeployment of student employment needs.

NMU requests that students and parents who need to contact faculty and staff call or email first before coming to campus offices to see if the questions and issues can be resolved without face-to-face interaction.

MTU in Houghton had announced Monday it would extend online classes through the end of the spring semester.

The university also was working on a “creative solution” to spring commencement, also originally scheduled for May 2, President Richard Koubek said in a news release.

Michigan Tech also was affected by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s directive closing all dine-in facilities, museums, recreational facilities and other venues in the state. Michigan Tech’s Dining Services transitioned to solely grab-and-go meals starting at 3 p.m. Monday.

MTU also closed the Student Development Complex, the Van Pelt and Opie Library, the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the Gates Tennis Center and the Keweenaw Commons seating area in the Memorial Union Building. The locations will remain closed through at least March 30.

“Because this is a rapidly changing situation and as we learn more about COVID-19, we need to prepare for a range of possibilities,” Koubek said. “Currently, campus is open and residential and dining functions remain operational, though limited. We encourage all students to reassess their own on-campus living situation in light of the developments over the past 24 hours.”