In a University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) COVID-19 memo, Chancellor Venkat Reddy announced that the school will go remote after the Thanksgiving break.
The shift is in response to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Colorado and the El Paso vicinity. Additionally, the school acknowledges that “we are beginning a season of holidays that often involve travel and family gatherings.”
There are limited exceptions for students who are required to undergo clinical training or assigned to internships with companies outside the campus.
Within the campus, UCCS has reported 55 cases since the start of the fall semester last August 24. In the week ending October 30, the school recorded nine new positive cases.
Precautionary Measures
Remarking that there are still four weeks until the start of the Thanksgiving break, Chancellor Reddy reminded the community of the prevailing public health order that limits gatherings to 10 people or fewer. The order will remain in effect until November 23.
Additional precautionary measures include limiting the on-campus dining halls to 50 percent capacity with a cap of 50 people while the school recreation center operates at a quarter of its capacity, also 50 people. The library will function at 50 percent capacity.
Distance Learning
UCCS spokesperson Jared Verner stated that the current set-up of classes during the fall semester consists of 19 percent in-person classes and 17 percent fully online. A total of 61 percent of classes have some type of remote instruction, he said, and 43 percent have in-person learning components.
The spring semester will likely follow the same format, but officials continue to monitor the number of infections around the community and conform to public health guidelines.