SANTA FE – New Mexico Tech has temporarily closed out of caution against COVID-19 after officials learned of several off-campus weekend parties.

University President Stephen Wells announced on the school’s website that the campus would be shut down Monday.

According to Wells, between 50-100 students gathered over the weekend at multiple parties in the area surrounding the Socorro campus.

Wells said “it is regrettable that I have to take this extreme measure due to the irresponsibility of a few.”

He warned any student who attended a party should go into self-isolation and report it to the office of the dean of students. Furthermore, the school will attempt to move all classes online.

Wells did not say if the school would remain closed beyond Monday.

Since the school year began, New Mexico Tech has reported four cases of COVID-19.