• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, April 1, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Education

Regents Board President Lifts Pandemic Restrictions at Iowa Regents Institutions

Iowa Board of Regents President Mike Richards on Thursday announced that he was lifting the state of emergency at Iowa's Regents institutions.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
May 21, 2021
in Education, State Government
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Regents Board President Lifts Pandemic Restrictions at Iowa Regents Institutions

Iowa Board of Regents President Mike Richards

DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowa Board of Regents President Mike Richards on Thursday announced that he was lifting the state of emergency at Iowa’s Regent institutions: Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, Iowa State University, Iowa School for the Deaf, the University of Iowa, and the University of Northern Iowa.

RELATED POSTS

Reynolds names Mary Mosiman as head of Iowa Dept. of Revenue

Reynolds signs two bills addressing transgender children

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

Richards declared a state of emergency for all institutions under the Board’s jurisdiction on March 18, 2020, in alignment with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ public health emergency declaration.

“In recent months, highly effective vaccines have become widely available to adults and older children. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) currently reports that over 1.2 million Iowans have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Positivity and hospitalization rates continue to decline, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently revised guidance with regard to social distancing, mask-wearing, and isolation for individuals who are fully vaccinated. In consideration of significant improvements in the management of COVID-19 both in the State of Iowa and nationally, I am lifting the State of Emergency at the Board of Regents institutions effective immediately,” he explained in a released statement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Richards ordered that all faculty and staff return to campus effective July 1, 2021, to the extent their pre-pandemic responsibilities require. He said presidents and superintendents at Regents schools can approve remote or hybrid work arrangements in circumstances when there is a legitimate business rationale that serves the best interest of the institution, or as may otherwise be permitted or required by law or established institutional policy.

He also ordered Regents institutions for the Fall 2021 semester to offer in-person academic coursework and educational experiences to the same extent they were offered prior to the pandemic. Richards added the institutions may continue to explore hybrid or distance learning academic coursework and educational experiences provided they consult the Board of Regents office and it is in accordance with Board of Regents policy. He stated that institutions are expected to resume traditional student life activities and opportunities effective for the Fall 2021 semester.

Richards ended, effective immediately, mask and physical distancing requirements. He noted that campus transportation (i.e. buses), the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), veterinary medicine facilities, research laboratories, or any other healthcare operation, setting, or service are exempt from this guideline. He encouraged unvaccinated people to wear masks and to physical distance where possible.

He encouraged all members of Regent campus communities to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, but will not require it.

“The Universities will continue to ensure vaccine availability to faculty, staff, and students either through vaccination opportunities on campus or in partnership with external providers. The institutions shall make information regarding COVID-19 vaccines easily available to all members of the campus community. However, the institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents (with the exception of University of Iowa Healthcare) may not impose any requirement that students, faculty, or staff receive or provide evidence of having received a vaccination for COVID-19,” Richards said.

Tags: COVID-19Iowa Board of RegentsIowa Braille and Sight Saving SchoolIowa School for the DeafIowa State UniversityMike RichardsUniversity of IowaUniversity of Northern Iowa
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Miller-Meeks: Bridging the Digital Divide

Next Post

Schultz: Protect Women’s Sports

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Regents Board President pauses new DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities
Education

Regents Board President pauses new DEI programs at Iowa’s public universities

March 16, 2023
coronavirus
Opinion

Miller-Meeks: Understanding the origins of COVID-19 will prepare us for the future

March 13, 2023
Taxpayers to pay $2 million of UI’s settlement in racial discrimination lawsuit
State Government

Taxpayers to pay $2 million of UI’s settlement in racial discrimination lawsuit

March 7, 2023
State of Iowa to end mandatory COVID-19 reporting on April 1
State Government

State of Iowa to end mandatory COVID-19 reporting on April 1

February 27, 2023
Iowa’s New Unemployment Rate Holds Steady, Overall Rates Rise
News

Report finds Iowa is fifth-worst in U.S. for hiring struggles

February 20, 2023
Miller-Meeks Asks If Feds Are Prepared to Support States, Cities Fight Cyber-Attacks
Opinion

Miller-Meeks: Restoring pre-COVID norms

February 9, 2023
Next Post
Schultz: Protect Women’s Sports

Schultz: Protect Women's Sports

Iowa Schools Now Required to Lead Students in Pledge of Allegiance

Iowa Schools Now Required to Lead Students in Pledge of Allegiance

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Reynolds Non-Committal on Bill Allowing Permitless Carrying of Firearms

Reynolds Non-Committal on Bill Allowing Permitless Carrying of Firearms

March 24, 2021
Rowley Wins Republican Nomination for Iowa Senate District 1

Rowley Wins Special Election in Iowa Senate District 1

December 16, 2021
Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

June 16, 2022

Popular Stories

  • text

    Peters, Schuster & Zemanek: Enough is enough, Tamara Scott

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Sherman: Iowa can fight back against the Biden Administration’s attack on retirees and families

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Vivek Ramaswamy launches first ad of presidential campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hinson: Let’s commit to enacting policies that matter most to farmers

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Feenstra: Main Street America can benefit from quantum computing

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.