NORTH BAY -- Students enrolled at Nipissing University in September can expect their fall term classes to be taught primarily online.

"The physical distancing directives will still be in place in the fall," said Arja Vainio-Mattila, provost and vice-president, academic and research, at Nipissing University. "We all know that many of our international students and also students from remote communities in the north won't be able to arrive on campus."

The university says it will open the school when it is safe to do so as staff await more information to update students about residence, campus services and athletics.

"There might be some ways we can provide certain supports on campus," said Vainio-Mattila. "Things like advising and counselling."

How does this compare to other universities in Northern Ontario? At Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, the school has launched more than 100 spring and summer courses that will be provided remotely. They won't start until June.

"It's a full slate, I would say, in virtually every program, from music and visual art through to biology and political science," said Donna Rogers, Algoma University's academic dean and provost.

As the school continues to monitor the COVID situation, Rogers said there are no plans yet to move classes online this fall.

"I am going to have a discussion about this in our early June senate meeting and I think that's the point in which we'll announce something definitive," said Rogers. "I will say we are hopeful some of our instruction in the fall will be in-person."

Meanwhile, Laurentian University in Sudbury is currently closed. The school is monitoring how the pandemic unfolds before making a decision whether to remain closed in the fall.

"While it is still too early to look to a specific date, or predict the degree of face-to-face activity, Laurentian will be prepared to be as proactive in the reopening of campus as we have been in our initial response to COVID-19," the university said in a statement. "As always, safety and security will be the primary concern in anything and everything we do."