Northwest College is extending the closure of its campus through May while online and remote instruction will continue through the summer semester.

NWC President Stefani Hicswa said in a Thursday announcement that the extension of the campus closure was “to avert potential clusters of new COVID cases.”

“We will use this time to assess and strategize a transition plan for re-opening campus, in consultation with Park County Health officials,” Hicswa said, adding that students and others “should “expect [the] transition to be gradual and to include incremental steps; this is a marathon, not a sprint.”

In response to the pandemic, the college closed to the public on March 13. By early April, NWC successfully transitioned all but a couple testing sections of nursing classes to an online format. No classes were canceled due to the closure.

The college is also holding a virtual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15. More information is available at www.nwc.edu/celebrate2020.

Gov. Mark Gordon relaxed some of the statewide restrictions beginning last week, offering guidance for day cares, gyms and personal care businesses to have limited reopenings. The NWC announcement said the college is reviewing its options to reopen Johnson Fitness Center and the Children’s Learning and Care Center, with more details released at a later date.

“We do not know what fall semester will look like yet,” Hicswa added in the announcement. “We are diligently planning for multiple contingencies and will communicate details as soon as we know more.”