The following letter from Provost Janet Houser and Vice President for Student Affairs Barbara Wilcots was emailed to Regis parents on May 12:
Dear Regis Parent:
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our way of life, caused severe economic hardship, and robbed us of cherished experiences this past spring. With more than 140 years of history, Regis is resilient, and we will return from this experience stronger, smarter and safer. We do not plan to let the pandemic disrupt our students’ learning, though, and we are determined not to let it rob your student of a rich campus experience.
It is our intent to open the campus for classes this fall, with the safety of our students, faculty, and staff paramount. We want to let you know of the measures we are taking to protect your student and still allow for an optimal campus experience.
Academic Affairs and Student Success
Our Provost’s Academic Affairs team is carefully preparing for students to return for the fall semester. We have reviewed the potential scenarios provided by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CPHE) as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.) We have developed contingency plans for each of the potential fall scenarios. Rest assured, we will continue to adhere to expert public health guidance. In addition, we are strictly following guidelines from the Colorado Department of Higher Education for post-secondary education. We have filed our contingency plans with the state and have submitted appropriate documentation for campus-based coursework.
Our 20 years of experience with distance education enabled this spring’s rapid migration to virtual learning. We had a lower withdrawal rate (less than 1%) than at this time last year, and more than 93% of the students that had to move online received passing grades. Our faculty were creative and determined to design learning activities that mirrored those in the classroom. While we heard from students that their learning proceeded – albeit with much more effort on everyone’s part – our students most missed the on-campus experience. We are determined to return that experience to our students.
We are adjusting the academic schedule for semester-long courses. Our plans enable the University to swiftly respond to public health developments in the least disruptive manner for our students. The scenario we believe is most likely is a surge near the holidays, when flu season, COVID-19, and the holidays converge.
Therefore, our plan is to have students on campus early, when the probability of disease is lower, and to adjourn campus-based classes the Friday before Thanksgiving, offering online only final exams the week after, from November 30 to December 6. With this plan, if a second surge occurs around Thanksgiving, your child will already be safely at home.
In addition, we are equipping our faculty and classrooms with the ability to simultaneously teach in class and on Zoom. In this way, faculty can minimize class size to 10 if necessary, while still allowing for a campus experience by staggering classroom attendance.
Additional academic measures have been taken in case we must move online again. Every class will have a home shell in our online learning system. This will enable a smooth shift to online courses should it become necessary. Our faculty are planning now for even more engaged learning opportunities should this be necessary once again.
Student Affairs and Support Services
Our Vice President of Student Affairs’ team has been working with the President’s Response Team, Academic Affairs, and our colleagues across campus to develop multi-staged plans in preparing for students to return to campus safely in the fall.
Student Health Services has submitted a request to be a primary COVID-19 testing site, and we are prepared for detection, contact tracing, and separation. We have reserved rooms for quarantining students if necessary and will have our food service provider deliver meals.
Additionally, our care providers will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and will provide disposable thermometers in the residence halls to monitor for the illness. During spring semester, our Student Health Services clinic implemented telemedicine triage and care appointments, where possible, to address our students’ health needs while supporting social distancing. In-person appointments will be available in the fall, and we will continue practicing telemedicine triage and care, as needed, during the upcoming academic year.
In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control Guidance for Congregate Living Facilities, we will follow strict signage, hygiene, social distancing, screening, and isolation protocols in our residence halls and dining facilities. Our residential students will be asked to sign a social contract promising to abide by these protocols. To minimize the potential for spreading the virus, we will limit our residence hall rooms to two occupants and are prepared to move to singles should it become necessary. We also will enforce a “no outside guest policy” to limit potential exposure and transmission from guests not adhering to our protocols.
In addition to posting signs reminding residents and staff of the importance of handwashing and sanitizing, we will ensure best practices for sanitation and housekeeping with enhanced cleaning and disinfecting schedules. We will limit gatherings in accordance with local ordinances and are removing and rearranging furniture in common areas in the residence halls and dining hall facilities to encourage social distancing. We will monitor for compliance. Should there be a resurgence of the virus during flu season, our dining operation will move to exclusive grab-and-go service. Student Affairs will provide additional details regarding orientation and student housing during the first week in June.
Our community’s response to this crisis has been incredible, and that includes our resilient student body. The faculty and staff look forward to their return to campus when it is safe to do so. The world needs Jesuit education now more than ever, and we are ready to welcome our students back to campus to continue the journey with Regis.
Janet Houser, PhD
Provost and professor
Barbara J. Wilcots, PhD
Vice President, Student Affairs
