Regis University to suspend classes March 16, resume online March 19

Regis University will move all of its on-campus classroom instruction to online learning environments starting March 19, 2020 to address concerns about the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). On-campus courses will be suspended March 16-18. The University’s existing online academic programs will continue as scheduled and all campuses will remain open. 

This schedule allows for a more successful academic transition and aligns with other Denver-area universities that are also moving to online-only courses. The University’s crisis response team will continue to assess developments in the community.  

“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,” said Regis University President John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J. “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. 

“We are 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,” Fitzgibbons said. 

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).