Virginia Tech to move summer classes online, freeze hiring

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Tech announced it will move all summer classes online and impose a hiring freeze amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In addition to moving classes online, new student orientation for the fall semester and summer conferences will also take place digitally, the university said Monday. Events that cannot be moved online are slated to be canceled.
In another announcement, the university told faculty and staff to prepare for budget cuts for the upcoming academic year citing the pandemic’s impact on the school’s budget. They added that only jobs deemed “essential” are allowed to be filled.
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a hiring freeze on state employees last week and has asked agencies to look for ways to save costs.