Champlain College extended its spring break through March 20, 2020, amid rising concerns over the coronavirus, or COVID-19. Traditional undergraduate classes will resume on March 23 but will be done online for at least three weeks. 

In an email to the Champlain community, Interim President Laurie Quinn said, “… when I, together with the College leadership team, made the above decisions, we did so recognizing that in uncertain times, there are no perfect decisions.”

The decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.” 

Champlain urged students in a later email on Wednesday to remain home through the extended break. Student ID cards have been deactivated, and students cannot return to campus without prior approval. Those decisions will be made within 24 hours by the Residential Life office.

Additionally, external meetings or meetings that bring external individuals to campus have been virtualized or canceled. This includes Champlain’s two Admitted Students Days occurring on the weekends of April 3-4 and April 17-18. 

Champlain’s annual Freeman Foundation Scholarship Program was canceled for this coming summer earlier this month. That program has previously sent students to intern with companies in Shanghai, China. 

As of March 11, 2020, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Burlington area or on Champlain’s campus.