Benedictine University announced today an intial plan for reopening campus and University housing for the fall academic season. In order to prioritize the health and safety of their community, they will institute a hybrid BenU-Flex model of learning at both Lisle, IL and Mesa, AZ campuses, which will include a blend of in-person classes and online instruction.
“We want our faculty and students to know that we are taking every precaution to create a safe learning environment,” says Ken Newbold, Jr., Ph.D., Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “Our students want to be on campus, they want the full BenU experience. And so we’re doing everything we can to provide an enriching learning experience, one in which they can truly engage with their classmates and professors, both in person and virtually.”
The BenU-Flex model was developed by the University’s COVID-19 Return to Campus Taskforce based on recommendations from local medical experts, faculty, facility professionals, local and state governments in Illinois and Arizona, as well as the CDC. This plan, along with campus protocols and staggered return schedules, will be released later in July. Details will be communicated by Pat Ariano, Chief of Staff, and Dr. Newbold.
Additional key dates and information regarding BenU’s fall plan to reopen:
- Staff and faculty will return to work Monday, July 13, taking a phased-in approach back to the now “Six-Foot Campus.”
- Classes will begin on campus in Lisle, IL and Mesa, AZ on Monday, August 31 and both campuses will implement a modified fall calendar.
- Benedictine will shift to a fully virtual campus following Thanksgiving Break, with two weeks of online instruction followed by a virtual final exam period.
- University housing will be opening on both the Lisle, IL and Mesa, AZ campuses. Students will receive updates on move-in dates and procedures in the next few weeks.
- Benedictine is holding for an official start date for the fall athletic seasons, awaiting guidance from the NCAA, NAIA and athletic conference partners in Arizona and Illinois.
“I extend my deepest gratitude for the tireless dedication, unwavering passion for our school and mission, and the countless hours of collaboration each individual in our BenU community has invested to prepare us for the fall,” says Charles Gregory, Benedictine University President. “We will continue to lean on our University’s hallmarks [in order to] deliver a fulfilling and engaging BenU experience this fall semester.”
View President Gregory’s video statement and read the complete details of today’s announcement regarding the BenU fall reopening at ben.edu/coronavirus.
Media Contact:
Brittany Langmeyer
219-973-1903
About Benedictine University
Benedictine University is located in Lisle, Illinois, just 25 miles west of Chicago, and has a branch campus in Mesa, Arizona. Founded as a Catholic university in 1887, Benedictine enrolls nearly 5,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Forbes magazine named Benedictine among “America’s Top Colleges” for the ninth consecutive year in 2019. Benedictine University was also named the second-safest campus in the country and safest campus in Illinois by yourlocalsecurity.com in 2019. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information about the University, contact (630) 829-6300, admissions@ben.edu or visit ben.edu.
