UNAM quietly moved much of Monday’s teaching online. It wasn’t a drill. After the fatal attack at CCH Sur on September 22 and new threats circulating on social media, several CCH campuses and more than ten faculties shifted to distance learning while they reassess security. Timelines vary by campus; some say they’ll reassess by October 3–4, while others are listed as “until further notice.” Students are frustrated but want calm and clarity. Administrators say safety and mental health are top priorities as investigators trace the threats.
UNAM began the week with a broader move to distance learning after the September 22 killing of a CCH Sur student and fresh threats shared online. At least three CCH campuses—Azcapotzalco, Naucalpan, and Vallejo—announced remote instruction, alongside more than ten faculties that temporarily suspended face-to-face classes. The decisions aim to buy time to reinforce on-campus protections and reduce anxiety while authorities investigate.
UNAM online classes
Animal Político reported that CCH Azcapotzalco and CCH Naucalpan switched to online classes through Wednesday, October 2, planning to resume in person on Thursday, the 3rd. CCH Vallejo extended remote days to Thursday, the 3rd, with a return to campus on Friday, the 4th. CCH Oriente is under a student-agreed stoppage until midday on October 2, while CCH Sur remains suspended since the attack.
The faculty joined in. FES Zaragoza moved instruction online “to safeguard integrity and mental health,” and FES Aragón said it would shift to distance learning starting Tuesday, September 30, citing recent messages and formal complaints to authorities. The Faculties of Chemistry, Law, and Economics also announced remote teaching while they review security. These measures overlap with separate student strikes in other schools tied to the CCH Sur case, Ayotzinapa remembrances, and upcoming October 2 commemorations.
What prompted the shift
The trigger was stark. On September 22, a 19-year-old student entered CCH Sur, fatally stabbed a 16-year-old classmate, and injured a staff member. Police say the suspect tried to flee by jumping from a building and remains hospitalized under custody. The episode rattled the university system, prompting administrators and student bodies to take action.
By Monday afternoon, outlets were counting “more than ten” faculties and schools that had either gone remote or maintained stoppages. Among the names cited are Architecture, Law, Economics, Music, Nursing and Obstetrics, Arts and Design, and Engineering, as well as several CCH campuses and at least one ENP preparatory program. Messaging from deans emphasized prudence and continuity of teaching while security committees met to define next steps.
UNAM’s rector, Leonardo Lomelí, has pledged to reinforce campus safety and to address the psychological toll on students. Reporting on Monday reiterated that prosecutors are investigating the CCH Sur case for aggravated homicide and injuries, and that the suspect is linked by some reports to online incel spaces—one more reason administrators are urging students to rely on official channels, not rumor mills.
For now, the patchwork is the point. Different schools have different calendars and pressures, and their return dates reflect local risk assessments. CCH Azcapotzalco and Naucalpan are targeting October 3 for in-person classes. CCH Vallejo is looking at October 4. Others will communicate “until further notice,” pending security reviews and the outcome of law enforcement work. The university wants classrooms to be open, but not at the expense of maintaining calm.
