COVID-19 Letter from Student Affairs

Dear Extended Ranger Family,

I know the spread of the COVID-19 illness and the well-being of your Regis University student must be very much on your mind. Let me update you on where things stand as of today.

Our primary focus at Regis is the well-being of our students and, by extension, those in their lives who are most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. This is our guiding principle as we develop and execute an effective, thoughtful and measured response to this unfolding pandemic. The University’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) meets daily to evaluate the evolving COVID-19 situation, assessing real-time guidance from state, national, and international resources, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Health. We are using that information to guide an adaptive strategy for resource allocation and response. We also are working closely with our campus partners — particularly our food service and janitorial service providers — and leveraging their resources and experience in preparing for multiple scenarios that may (or may not) emerge.  

Currently our response is focused on education and outreach around those basic interventions that curtail the spread of viruses, dispelling myths and stigma, limiting university travel to countries with a State Department Level 3 or higher travel warning, purchasing additional supplies of anti-bacterial cleaning products, and the like. Students who returned from countries with a State Department Level 3 or higher travel warning are in quarantine as a precaution. Academic continuation plans have been developed to ensure that courses may continue online in the event that face-to-face instruction must be suspended for a period of time. As the situation unfolds, the University response will evolve in equal measure.

To date, students on study abroad experiences to Italy have returned to their homes and observed the 14-day self-quarantine guidance proposed by the CDC. Our students enrolled in other study abroad experiences in countries where there is not an outbreak are in the capable hands of our trusted partners, who share our commitment to the well-being of our students. We continue to monitor the evolving situation to evaluate if we should make any decision to modify, cease or halt programs of study.  

I would reiterate that the strength of our community in difficult times is our wholehearted commitment to the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well-being of our students. We know that this situation is stressful and anxiety-producing to many of them — who we know already have a full plate going into the final stretch of our semester. Our staff and faculty stand ready to navigate this with them.  

We recognize the trust you have placed in us; it is never far from our thoughts. Please know that we will continue to be guided in all our decision-making by our concerns for the students' well-being and our commitment to their education. We deeply appreciate the partnership that we have with you, our Regis families and supporters. We hope and pray for your good health.

The University will continue to be in touch regularly with students, faculty, and staff — and with you — in the coming days as we respond to the dynamics of COVID-19. Should you have additional specific questions or concerns, please be in contact with the Office of Student Affairs by emailing studentaffairs@regis.edu or by calling 303.458.4086.

Most sincerely, and with great appreciation,

Patrick Romero-Aldaz, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students