Update: Regis to suspend on-campus classes, move to online courses by March 19

  • March 12, 2020
  • COVID-19

Updated Statement:

In response to the announcement about moving to online courses, we have heard from many of our students who are concerned about waiting until March 30, the date when most other Denver universities are going online as well.

To address these concerns and assure you that we are able to deliver high quality education online to our residential students,Regis University will suspend on-campus classes from Monday, March 16, through Wednesday, March 18. When classes resume on March 19, these classes will be fully online. 

Our earlier decision was based on balancing the advice of health professionals with the desire to provide you with an optimal education.  While our advice from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) continue to assure us that our campus remains low-risk, we hear you and understand that you feel at risk. We take that concern seriously.

 Please continue to check your Regis email, as faculty will be reaching out to you next week about your courses.

Janet Houser, PhD
Provost and Professor

More information

The University’s existing online academic programs will continue as scheduled and all campuses will remain open.

“While the threat remains low for our student population in general, this step is intended to help prevent the potential spread of disease and alleviate concerns in the greater community,” Regis University President John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J., said. “This will only work, however, if we all follow best practices such as washing hands frequently and avoiding large crowds to help contain the virus and help protect the most vulnerable among us.”

All campus facilities will remain open, and students may remain in University housing per Centers for Disease Control recommendations for safe housing environments. A decision about events scheduled on campus for the remainder of the semester will be made Monday.

Employees will be permitted to work remotely with permission of supervisors.

Club sports and high-contact intramural sports will be discontinued for the remainder of the school year. Individual and low-contact intramurals will be managed on a case by case basis.

Other measures being taken include:

  • Surveying students about recent travel and any health concerns;

  • Increasing the frequency of facility cleaning services to high-traffic and group congregation areas;

  • Providing information about washing hands and other recommended ways to avoid spreading disease;

  • Purchasing additional flu tests for the student health clinic;

  • Setting aside rooms for quarantine (for any communicable disease) if needed; and

  • Banning food sharing (e.g. potlucks) and other steps to help protect people.

Preparations for moving courses to the University’s existing online learning platform began two weeks ago as Regis officials closely monitored developments and met with public health officials.

The University is following the guidance of the CDC and strongly encouraging all University community members to take personal action to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your face and practice social distancing if ill.

Any students, staff or faculty who traveled recently to a CDC-designated Level 3 (Avoid Essential Travel) country, which includes Italy, South Korea, China and Iran, have been asked self-quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of U.S. reentry (or at the onset of symptoms). Following CDC guidelines, Regis also is restricting all University-sponsored travel to Level 3-infected countries (again, those are Italy, South Korea China and Iran, to date).