La Roche University Update Regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

To: La Roche University Community
From: Office of the President
Date: March 11, 2020

Dear Campus Community:

La Roche University continues to monitor the progress of the COVID-19 global situation. While there are no confirmed cases on or near the La Roche University campus at this time, the number of confirmed infections is growing in multiple states across the country. To ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors, we will begin to practice social distancing measures to further mitigate the risk to our community. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Social distancing measures can reduce virus transmission by decreasing the frequency and duration of social contact among persons of all ages. These measures are common-sense approaches to limiting face-to-face contact, which reduces person-to-person transmission.” We are taking the following new actions now.

Spring Break Extended

Face-to-face courses have been suspended until Monday, March 23rd. During this extended break:

Faculty will modify their courses to be delivered in an online or alternative format. Those modified courses will begin on Monday, March 23rd. Tentatively, those courses will remain in an online format until Monday, April 13th. We will then re-assess the situation and a decision will be made regarding the continuation of the online or alternative format. Information regarding the transition from face-to-face classes to virtual instruction and other learning options will be forthcoming.

For those taking courses that are already online, classes will resume as previously scheduled this Monday, March 16th.

The Dining Hall and the residence halls will be closed until Monday, March 23rd. For those who are unable to go home, we will accommodate you with housing, and dining services will be available.

All athletic events, including games and practices, are canceled for the week of March 16th. The Kerr Fitness & Sports Center will be closed.

Study Abroad + Study USA

The SA+SUSA trips scheduled for May have been canceled. Juniors scheduled to travel on these trips are encouraged to participate during their senior year. We are working on an option for graduating seniors to participate at a later date.

Campus Operations and Events

We strongly urge you to cancel or postpone all La Roche events, whether on- or off-campus, that involve more than 25 people. Refrain from planning future gatherings until further notice. This will affect campus life considerably, and we will communicate specific guidance on these matters in the coming weeks, including a decision on Commencement.

Sage Dining Services

Sage Dining Services has initiated precautionary adjustments to their service. Among the changes made:

Eliminating all self-service stations where possible. This may result in offering more prepackaged or pre-plated meals and/or having gloved team members serve meals.

Offering bakery sheets or wipes for use to dispense beverages and contents.

Replacing salt and pepper shakers with packets.

Cleaning and wiping down all surfaces in the Dining Hall and kitchen throughout the day using sanitizer solution.

Setting up hand-sanitizing stations for use at the entry to the Dining Hall.

Looking Ahead

These are difficult and unprecedented decisions for La Roche, but they will help us to do our part in proactively reducing the spread of COVID-19 while also protecting the health and safety of our community. Additionally, these decisions will ensure the highest academic integrity and continuity possible as we begin the second half of the semester.

Blessings, 

Sister Candace Introcaso, CDP, Ph.D. 
President

The University will continue to update the campus community as new and relevant information or policy developments arise. For Coronavirus Updates, visit: www.laroche.edu/coronavirus