Regis College has announced some new details about what students, faculty, and staff can expect for the fall 2020 semester. The goal is to welcome back students to its Weston and Lawrence campuses around Labor Day weekend with numerous safety protocols in place. Regis also announced an updated academic calendar for undergraduate students that will allow flexible learning models based on public health recommendations.
“Our two main priorities this fall are ensuring the safety of the Regis community and the continuity of our students’ academic pursuits,” said Regis President Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN. “These changes create the most flexible conditions for student success if health and safety guidelines require a rapid adjustment between remote and in-person learning.”
The Regis campus was closed in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. President Hays stressed that reopening is based on guidance from state and local public health officials, and contingent on Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s phased reopening plan.
Under the new academic calendar, the fall 2020 semester will be split into two, eight-week terms. The first term will begin August 17 with remote courses. Most residential students would return to campus on a rolling basis around Labor Day weekend and shift to hybrid or in-person learning. The first term will end on October 11, with the second term running from October 13 to December 6.
“So far we have been able to minimize disruption to our students’ education due to our robust experience with online learning already in place is many of our programs at Regis,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Erina Driscoll, PhD. “Our students and faculty did a tremendous job changing to remote learning, which allowed us to maintain the level of academic excellence our community expects.”
The Regis administration is continuing to finalize what campus life will look like in the fall, including mask protocols, testing, isolation areas, contact tracing, daily screenings, dining hall operations, and residency hall set up, among other areas of focus.
“We are confident that together we can meet the challenges of this unprecedented situation by being nimble, believing strongly in our mission, and having committed students, faculty, and staff,” said President Hays.