CRETE - A Doane University student on the Crete campus has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 and is self-isolating at home, according to a Monday press release.

On March 14, after returning from spring break, the student went into Smith Hall to retrieve their belongings and move out for the semester. The student had limited interaction with other people during that time.

On March 15, the student began to display symptoms of COVID-19. On March 16, the student visited a healthcare provider who diagnosed the student as “presumed positive” for COVID-19, based on the student's symptoms. This was not a laboratory-confirmed case.

The age of the student, and where the person is quarantined has not been made available. It's also unclear where that person traveled for spring break.

Individuals that the student interacted with in Smith Hall on Mar. 14 have been contacted, and are self-monitoring their symptoms. To date, they have not experienced any. Local health officials have advised that all students still in Smith Hall self-monitor their symptoms for the next seven days.

Many colleges across the U.S. are adjusting to an online learning system, as face-to-face classes have been suspended.

Doane University began their online curriculum on Monday, and plan to continue this format until the term ends on May 8. Doane made that decision on Mar. 12, and it applies to the Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island campuses as well. The university also extended its spring break by a week to accommodate the changes.

"We focused on training sessions (last week) for our faculty to really think about new ways of presenting information," Savory said. "Really just to get us up to date to start offering our entire range of courses across all of our campuses."

Savory said students still have until Apr. 3 if they wish to withdraw from any courses. He also says students will have the option to switch from a letter grade to pass/fail for certain courses.

Doane's residence halls are still open for students who come from out-of-state or abroad. While Crete's campus is designed to house over 500 students, Savory says just 44 remain on campus as of Monday. Faculty and staff are still working at their respective campus offices.

The Student Health Services Office will be offering Telehealth services as an option for students residing in Nebraska, starting Tuesday. Doane’s Counseling Center Staff are available to support those experiencing anxiety or other mental health concerns.

Just like the NCAA and professional sports leagues, the NAIA suspended sporting events, and canceled all remaining events this semester. Athletic director Matt Franzen says any Doane student athlete who lost their eligibility during this time will get it back.