Regis University adjusts its spring 2021 calendar

The University expects COVID-19 to remain a serious public health concern through next summer, and has adjusted its spring 2021 calendar to mitigate health risks. These apply to on-campus, traditional, undergraduate and graduate programs and some of the University’s health profession programs.

Similar to the adjustments the University made to the current fall semester, these changes are designed to compress the semester and discourage off-campus travel that could potentially increase exposure to the virus.

The new schedule moves the start of classes for these students back by eight days and eliminates the week-long Spring Break. The semester will end on its previously scheduled date so that finals and Commencement will not be affected. Classes will continue to meet in-person or in hybrid learning environments.

Key changes are:

• New first day of classes for Regis College, Anderson College of Business and Computing, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy and MFA: January 19, 2021
• Spring Break: Cancelled
• New mid-semester break day: Friday, March 5, 2021

The adjusted spring schedule also will affect registration deadlines for the spring semester. Note these revised dates:

• Oct. 12: Registration opens for most post-traditional and graduate programs.
• Nov. 2: Registration opens for Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, BioMed, and MFA programs
• Nov. 2: Registration opens for traditional students, on the following schedule:
  • Seniors, Nov. 2-3
  • Juniors, Nov. 4-5
  • Sophomores, Nov. 6-9
  • First-year, Nov. 10-11

Note that Regis students enrolled in 5-week, 7-week, 8-week and variable terms, as well as online degree and certificate programs, will continue on a normal schedule and start on Jan. 11, 2021.

The University will still close Friday, April 2, to observe Good Friday.

The fall schedule, which ends on-campus classes before Thanksgiving, and this new spring semester schedule provide the same amount of instruction time but allows students to stay home during the forecasted peak activity for the flu and a second wave of COVID-19.

“The University is committed to keeping our community as safe as possible by closely adhering to public health directives and innovating to provide quality classroom instruction and lab courses,” said Provost Janet Houser, Ph.D., in a recent letter to the Regis community. “We are pleased that after a limited outbreak of cases on campus earlier this month, use of quarantine, isolation and other mitigation measures has resulted in no new cases this week.”

“We believe this new schedule for spring will help reduce exposure while maintaining academic quality here at Regis,” Houser said. “Thank you to everyone for helping keep our community safe by wearing masks, safely distancing and in some cases enduring isolation and quarantine in order to protect others.”