Solar Eclipse Sparks College Closures

A swath of the United States is set to plunge into darkness during next month’s solar eclipse, with concerned education officials closing colleges and schools amid safety fears.

The eclipse is expected to take place on April 8, with the path of totality beginning in Mexico when the moon appears to cover the entire surface of the sun. The shadow cast by the eclipse is set to extend across the U.S., with some areas falling into complete shadow for several minutes, before the totality moves to Canada. The states due to experience the eclipse are Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

City authorities and police chiefs across the country have said the eclipse was creating a logistical nightmare—with fears of distracted drivers, gridlocked traffic, cellphone outages, large crowds and increased demand for food, water and fuel as towns’ populations swell astronomically as sky-gazers head to prime viewing spots. Many schools across the country have already decided to close over safety concerns. And now some colleges are also set to shut for the day.

All Ivy Tech Community College venues across Indiana plan to operate virtually on April 8, the school announced, according to local news outlet The Times.

All in-person classes at Indiana University are also canceled on the day of the eclipse, the school said in a statement on its website. Some campuses—such as those in Bloomington, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Richmond and Columbus—sit squarely in the path of totality. Many of the state’s schools are also closing, releasing students early, or running e-learning sessions for students on the day of the eclipse.

Colleges in other states are also due to close.

For example, in Ohio, Lorain County Community College and the Ohio Northern University have announced closures.

In the Lone Star State, Texas State University plans to suspend classes from noon until 2:00 p.m. at both the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses during the solar eclipse, while the University of Texas at Austin plans to suspend classes campus-wide for a celebration called “Total Eclipse of the Horns.”

Students in states sitting in the path of totality should check with their colleges and universities for the most up-to-date information about closures relating to the eclipse.

Many schools across the United States are planning to run educational activities about the eclipse. NASA has also shared details on the social media site X, formerly Twitter, of some scientific experiments that smartphone users can take part in, such as observing changes in animals or recording temperature changes. Special protective eyewear must be worn to view the eclipse.