U of R has fewer students moving in, spreads out process over several days

Far fewer students have moved into housing at the University of Regina this year.

Last week, 265 people moved in with about 30 more housing applications outstanding, said Bettina Welsh, the university’s director of student affairs operations.

They did so over a five-day period in order to limit interactions and avoid crowding.

“(We did that) rather than doing a one-day (event) that would feel like a party and a giant celebration for brand-new students and then having … the rest of the students move in,” Welsh said.

In pre-pandemic times, first-year students would move in on a single day, with returning ones following over a weekend. Typically, there would be 1,000 people moving into housing, with the help of 100 volunteers.

Classes started on Wednesday with early numbers showing 16,754 students enrolled, an increase of 286 or 1.7 per cent.

While teaching will be primarily be offered remotely, some students need to be on campus. Welsh said 175 international students never left in the first place.

Some are student-athletes, some are taking upper-level courses that require in-person instruction and others have practicums and internships, she continued.

Those living on campus will have a different experience.

For one, there is a no-guest policy, Welsh said.

As well, she said every student will have their own bathroom and if somebody has symptoms of COVID-19, they will be moved into isolation areas.

Luther College is also helping by preparing meals for students who have to quarantine without cooking facilities, she said.

The Owl is closed and the library is accessible only to pick up books, she said.

“All of the common areas in housing are closed. The hallways do have dedicated study space but they are set up for social distancing,” Welsh said.

As for socializing, so far students have been doing so responsibly.

“We’ve had absolutely no issues with parties or gatherings larger than they should be. We’ve been fortunate to have a co-operative group of students staying with us. They’re taking the pandemic (seriously),” Welsh said.

While COVID-19 started to impact the province in earnest in the spring, Welsh said the university had been preparing since January due to the presence of international students.

There is hope that the campus can start opening up more this winter.

“Our administration has informed us that we should hear something mid-September on what January will look like on campus,” Welsh said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of this story, correcting the day classes started.