Elmhurst College To Reopen In The Fall

ELMHURST, IL — In-person learning will return to Elmhurst College in the fall, the school announced Tuesday. The college, which will be renamed Elmhurst University with the new academic year, has been closed since March because of the pandemic, with students learning remotely.

According to a news release, the return to an in-person campus experience will require additional public-health precautions in classrooms, residence halls, and dining and athletic facilities. Elmhurst College plans to expand its capacities to offer testing, contact tracing, sanitization and other health-safety protocols in order to respond quickly to any cases that may arise, the release said.

The college also said it may be better positioned than larger institutions to abide by any physical distancing policies because it offers smaller classes, with an average class size of 18 students.

Understanding the ongoing economic impact of the crisis, the news release said, Elmhurst will offer enhanced financial aid opportunities for the hardest-hit families, and will continue to raise money for the Bluejay Nest Fund, the student emergency fund.

“As we navigate the new realities caused by the COVID-19 crisis, I hope that both current and prospective college students will continue to prioritize their education,” President Troy VanAken said in the release. “More than ever, the world needs the knowledge and skills they will develop in college and bring to their endeavors after they graduate."

The most recent information on Elmhurst College’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is available at on its website.

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