Salve Regina, CCRI Extend Online Classes, Cancel Commencement

NEWPORT, RI — As schools, colleges and universities across the state transition to online, remote learning on Monday, two more Rhode Island high education institutions announced that they won't be holding in-person classes for the remainder of the spring semester due to the new coronavirus. Both Salve Regina University and the Community College of Rhode Island will also not hold commencement as scheduled in May.

Students who are living on campus at Salve Regina are asked to schedule a move-out date online between March 25 and April 19. Only a certain number of people will be allowed to move out on each day. Those who have already left but still have belongings inside their dorms can also come to campus during exam week from May 11 to 15.

The university made the decision to cancel in-person classes for the remainder of the semester, shifting to all online instruction. All senior week activities have been canceled and commencement has been postponed.

"As details for the new Commencement date become available, they will be shared with students and families so that they have time to prepare for this momentous and joyful occasion," university officials said on their COVID-19 website.

The Community College of Rhode Island also decided to make online learning permanent for the semester, and will not hold its commencement exercises at the Dunkin' Donuts Center this spring, President Meghan Hughes said in a message to students.

"None of us ever expected to be where we are today, and I continue to marvel at the speed at which we have all needed to adapt," Hughes said. "In the interest of the health and wellbeing of our community, we have made the difficult, but necessary, decision to continue with remote learning for the remainder of the semester."

With so much uncertainty surrounding the pandemic in Rhode Island, college leaders felt it was best to cancel graduation, though a celebration for the class of 2020 will be held at a later time, Hughes said.

"To our students, commencement is a powerful symbol of your achievement, and I know how much walking across that stage to receive your diploma means to you and your family. It also means so much to the faculty and staff at the college to celebrate you," she said. "All of our lives have been upended by COVID-19, and we will all be balancing competing demands for some time to come. We will be learning how to work, teach and learn remotely, and fulfilling college responsibilities through new modes, while attending to the care of our families, neighbors and friends. Let us continue to face this challenge with the same compassion and kindness we have seen demonstrated so beautifully by all of you."

On Thursday, The University of Rhode Island announced that in-person classes will not be held for the remainder of the semester. A decision about commencement is expected by the end of the month.

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