Salve Regina delays start of spring semester

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE)- Salve Regina will be delaying the start of their spring semester by one week following the recent surge of COVID-19 cases, the university announced Wednesday.

Classes will being on January 17, and end on April 22 as planned.

Students will be able to return to campus January 15 and 16.

Undergraduate students are required to have a negative COVID-19 test three days prior to arriving on campus, regardless of vaccinations status.

Those who test positive are expected to quarantine before returning to campus.

All vaccinated students will be required to get a booster by March 1. Medical and religious exemptions will remain in effect.

The university still plans on having an in-person academic experience as of now.

All spring activities including commencement will remain on schedule.

In result to the delay, classes will be held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, and a shortened Easter break included.

“We recognize the civic and religious importance of those holidays and the disruption these changes will mean for our students, employees and families. Still, as a University guided by its mercy mission – and what that means in terms of our obligations to others – we concluded that delaying the start of the semester is essential given the disease forecast for the coming weeks,” the university stated.