At Ridgewater College, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff is a priority. We, along with our colleagues at Minnesota State, are closely monitoring the developing situation related to COVID-19 and are committed to taking steps necessary to protect the health and safety of our faculty, our staff, and our students. This webpage contains the most current information on our operations and response measures. Please check back often for updates.
For all questions or concerns, please email us at covid19@ridgewater.edu.
Response Measures
March 30,2020
NO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION OR LABS will take place through April 10. Students should check their Ridgewater email for instructions from faculty and watch for continued updates. The campus will be open only for students needing access to computers and WiFi.
March 29, 2020
NO FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION OR LABS will take place at Ridgewater College on Monday, March 30th. Students should check their Ridgewater email for instructions from faculty. The campus will be open only for students needing access to computers and WiFi.
March 27, 2020
Email from President Johnson to students.
March 26, 2020:
In his Stay At Home order, Governor Walz noted that both K-12 and Higher Education are essential services, allowing our students to continue their classes and move forward toward their educational goals. The portion of the order that covers this is found on page 8 under q: The Executive Branch and w: Education.
All classes will resume on March 30 and have moved to alternative modes of delivery, to the extent possible. This includes online, web/video conferencing, and other instructional technologies. In limited cases where these delivery modes are not feasible, face-to-face instruction may occur. In such cases, the instruction will be adapted to follow social distancing guidelines from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Examples of where face-to-face classes may be held are in some of our technical programs and classes with labs. Instructors will be communicating with students regarding their plan, as instruction will vary among programs. (Note that on March 29, in-person classes were suspended for a period to be determined.)
To the extent possible, students should avoid coming to campus unless they lack a computer, internet, or have a face-to-face class. The college will only be open for current students to access essential services. Limited staff will be on campus and we will be closed to the general public. Read our FAQs to learn more.
March 23, 2020:
We’re hosting ZOOM (virtual video conferencing) meetings throughout the week of March 23 for students to provide an update on the COVID-19 situation. Students should check their Ridgewater email for dates, times, and the link. NOTE: Attendance is not mandatory. These meetings will be recorded and the links made available following the meetings for anyone who wanted to attend but was unable.
March 18, 2020:
The Minnesota State system has announced the cancellation of all commencement ceremonies, including those scheduled for May at Ridgewater College. Please note that we still plan to complete the delivery of all of spring semester courses by the scheduled end of the term. Additionally, students who fully complete all of their degree requirements this spring will still officially graduate and earn their respective degree, diploma or certificate.
March 17, 2020:
COVID-19 Update from President Johnson to Students
March 16, 2020:
Spring Break for all Ridgewater students has been extended again. All classes, including online classes, are expected to resume on Monday, March 30. (Note that on March 29, face-to-face classes were suspended for a period to be determined.)
While the college will be open during this time, we are discouraging current and prospective students from coming to campus. Some services, including food service, the test center, and the library, are closed. Please call ahead before visiting. You can also email questions to us at covid19@ridgewater.edu.
March 15, 2020:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 Travel Information as follows:
- Most countries in Europe have now been designated, along with China, Iran, and South Korea as Level 3 (Warning, Avoid Nonessential Travel) countries.
- The rest of the world,including the United States, has now been designated as Level 2 (Practice Enhanced Precautions).
All travelers, including all Ridgewater students, faculty, and staff, who are returning from a Level 3 country must stay home (i.e., self-quarantine) for 14 days after returning from travel, monitor their health, and practice social distancing. See the full guidance from the CDC at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-europe.
All travelers returning from other countries or from domestic travel, including all Ridgewater students, faculty, and staff, need to monitor their health and limit interactions with others (practice social distancing) for 14 days after returning from travel. You do not need to self-quarantine if you did not leave the United States unless you were in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus or you are showing symptoms of the virus. Travelers who are sick with fever, cough, or have trouble breathing should stay home and call ahead before seeking medical care. See the full guidance from the CDC at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/coronavirus-global.
If you are a student, faculty or staff member who needs to self-quarantine or stay home to monitor your health after traveling, please notify us at covid19@ridgewater.edu. Use “travel” in the subject line.
If you have questions regarding exposure as a result of travel, Minnesota Department of Health asks you to call 651-201-5414 or 877-676-5414 for guidance.
March 12, 2020:
- Spring break was extended for students, suspending all classes until March 23. (Note: On March 16, that changed to March 30, which is the most current plan.) Our Willmar and Hutchinson campuses, including student support services and the library, will remain open and appropriately staffed, including student workers. However, our food services will not be available. We will be spending the extra week exploring alternative modes of delivery and adjust campus learning spaces to ensure the safety of our communities.
- All events or gatherings totaling more than 100 attendees are cancelled until May 1, and the situation will be re-evaluated.
- All international travel continues to be suspended.
- Beginning March 16, 2020, all out-of-state business travel for students, faculty and staff was suspended.
Please see the Letter from Chancellor Devinder Malhotra to students.
Customized Training and Continuing Education Courses
All non-credit courses facilitated through Customized Training and Continuing Education will be held as scheduled, provided social distancing requirements can be followed. Instructors and students will be notified individually if there are changes to non-credit courses and programs.
Event Cancellations
All event cancellations and postponements are listed on our events calendar. Please note that Adult Basic Education at the Hutchinson campus has also extended their break and plans to resume on March 30.
Contact
For more information about our emergency preparedness and pandemic response efforts, contact Beth Hepola, Director of Safety, Health & Environmental Services at 320-234-8607 or Beth.Hepola@ridgewater.edu
