USC campuses closed through end of spring semester.

University of South Carolina students will not return to campus for the rest of the spring semester.

The university announced Thursday that online classes across its system will begin Monday and continue through the completion of final exams in May. The school also said that May graduation an all campuses will be postponed and rescheduled at a to-be-determined date in response to the new coronavirus outbreak.

The postponement will not affect students' degree completion status for those scheduled to graduate in May, according to a news release from USC.

In addition to transiting to online classes, instructors are modifying courses requiring experiential learning, the university said, and accredited academic programs are working with accrediting agencies to develop alternative ways to meet degree requirements.

"I realize that these actions will be deeply disappointing to our students, particularly those who are about to graduate and were looking forward to a final semester on campus," Bob Caslen, USC president, said in the...