Latest Developments
Updated: February 22, 2021
- As of February 6, 2021: We are in Level Yellow: Concern
- We will resume in-person classes with on-campus student activities and experiences on Feb. 15. Read the Jan. 13 update from campus leadership confirming these plans.
- Spring break 2021 is replaced with a later start date for the semester (Jan. 14) and two wellness days on Feb. 17 and March 25. While there will be no courses, the university will be open on the two wellness days.
- New testing expectation: All faculty, staff and students with a need to be on campus during the spring semester will need to participate in the campus monitoring surveillance program once a week.
- CU Boulder has introduced a live chat on the university's COVID-19 page, and you can refer inquiries there, call the central hotline at 303-492-8478 or submit question via the Ask a Question form on the COVID-19 page.
- Students who feel like they have symptoms of COVID-19 should go immediately to Wardenburg Health Center. If they think they have been exposed but don’t have symptoms, they should go to one of the six surveillance testing sites on campus. Faculty/staff should use their own doctors unless they are instructed otherwise by a contact tracer who contacts them. For additional guidance on COVID-19 testing, symptoms and surveillance, click here.
- CU Boulder has launched a public COVID-19-ready dashboard on the COVID-19 information webpage, which includes the state of Colorado status, Boulder County COVID-19 statistics and our current campus mode of operation. It will provide both a daily and a five-day moving average of positive CU Boulder cases that have been tested via our campus Medical Services testing operations.
- All students, faculty, staff, researchers are required to complete a Daily Health Questionnaire and Illness Reporting Form each day before they come to campus.
- CU Boulder announced the Protect Our Herd public health awareness campaign, reminding our community of the basic daily actions we all must take to protect ourselves and others.
- Buildings on campus will continue to require Buff OneCard for access. Students, faculty and staff will have access only to the buildings for which they normally have department or academic approval for access.
Get CU Boulder COVID-19 Updates
Current Students Resources
Support for current undergraduate and graduate students during the coronavirus pandemic.
Alumni and Community Members Resources
Opportunities for our greater Leeds community to get involved and help current students and new graduates navigate challenges presented by COVID-19.
Webinar Series
Announcing a new, eighth series of COVID-19 and Current Issues webinars from April 12-23, featuring relevant, informative commentary from a variety of world-renowned faculty and alumni from disciplines across CU Boulder. Each presentation will provide frank and timely insights for life during and after the pandemic from their specific lens.
Tax Relief and the Pandemic: Year One
Monday, April 12, 2021 at 12pm MT
Description:
Taxes have been integral to Congress’s COVID-19 relief packages under the Trump and Biden administrations. This webinar explores three important tax-related components of these relief packages: the multiple rounds of stimulus checks issued to individuals, the tax consequences of loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program, and the temporary expansion of tax rules governing net operating losses. After one year of the pandemic, how effective were these relief programs? Answering this question requires an understanding of how these programs fit with traditional metrics of tax fairness, as well as a framework of policy alternatives. Congress may revive these programs in future crises, which raises the stakes of identifying effective policies now.
Presenter Bio:
Sloan Speck is Associate Professor of Law at the University of Colorado Law School. Professor Speck’s research interests are in tax law and policy, with an emphasis on corporate and international tax, legal and business history, and the ways in which taxation informs relationships between state and society. Before joining Colorado Law, Professor Speck taught at New York University School of Law and practiced in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP. Professor Speck has a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.
Self-Amplifying RNA Vaccine for Prevention of COVID-19
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 12pm MT
Description:
The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 into a global pandemic within a few months of onset necessitated the production of a rapidly scalable vaccine. In this presentation, we'll explore the preclinical development of a self-amplifying RNA encoding the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein encapsulated within a lipid nanoparticle as a vaccine. We observed remarkably high and dose-dependent SARS-CoV-2 specific antibody titers in mouse sera as well as robust neutralization of both a pseudo-virus and wild-type virus, which facilitated initiation of a combined Phase I/II first-in-human clinical trial. These data provide insight into the vaccine design and evaluation of immunogenicity to enable rapid translation to the clinic in the event of an outbreak.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Anna Blakney is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia in the Michael Smith Laboratories and School of Biomedical Engineering. She completed a BSc in Chemical and Biological Engineering at University of Colorado at Boulder, a PhD in Bioengineering at University of Washington, and then a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Imperial College London under the supervision of Prof. Robin Shattock and Prof. Molly Stevens. Her laboratory seeks to gain a better understanding the immune mechanisms of RNA formulations in order to design the next generation of vaccines and therapies.
Why GameStop? Why now? A theory of all-in investors and unstable asset prices
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 12pm MT
Description:
The rapid rise in the price of GameStop shares in early 2021 was, to many, a surprise. How could disparate small investors muster the capital to force share prices up 20-fold? To answer this question, we develop a theory of retail investor trading behavior that causes asset prices to be unstable when investors are allowed to buy shares with borrowed funds or purchase highly risky options. We define an investor to be all in if she borrows as much as possible and continues to borrow more when prices rise. We show that when enough investors are all in, demand for shares can be upward sloping. That is, investors buy more shares when the price is higher. When demand is upward sloping, prices are unstable and can quickly ratchet to sky-high levels.
Presenters Bios:
Van Wesep is an associate professor of finance. He earned a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Brown University in 2003 and a doctorate in economics from Stanford University in 2007. His research spans several areas of economics, including asset pricing, contract design, employee compensation, and microeconomic theory. He teaches graduate-level economics courses in the Leeds MBA, evening MBA, masters in finance, and masters in real estate programs.
Waters is an assistant professor of finance. He teaches investment and portfolio management at the undergraduate level and teaches a graduate-level course in financial theory. He earned a doctorate in finance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and bachelor’s degrees in economics and in human and organizational development from Vanderbilt University. His research interests include corporate finance and microeconomic theory with a focus on the design of incentive and screening contracts.
Death, Discipline and Digital Resistance: How Black Youth Leverage Technology to Survive and Resist Anti-Black Racism
Friday, April 16, 2021 at 12pm MT
Description:
In this webinar, I will discuss the various ways Black girls leverage digital media and computer science technologies to challenge and dismantle systems of anti-Black racism in their lives and schooling experiences. Hashtag activism, youth-led digital platforms, co-constructed websites and e-textile projects are just the few of the projects that will be covered in this talk.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. Tanksley earned her PhD from the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies within UCLA’s Urban Schooling program. Broadly, her research examines the intersectional impacts of race, gender, class and age on the experiences of Black girls in media, technology and education. Grounded in Black feminist technology studies and critical race theory, her robust research agenda sheds light on the ways Black girls intersect with and are intersected by media and technology systems as they attempt to navigate K-16 educational institutions. Designed in response to #BlackLives Matter and the growing presence of racialized violence online, Dr. Tanksley’s dissertation research examines the socio-academic consequences of witnessing viral Black death for the internet’s most vocal and visible users: Black women and girls. Her newest strand of research examines the ways Girls of Color leverage computer science technologies, including virtual reality software, e-textiles and robotics, to engage in political resistance within and beyond the school setting. Overall, Dr. Tanksley’s scholarship responds to calls for more intersectional analyses of digital technology that can recognize the lived experiences, modes of resistance and technological contributions of Black girls and women around the globe.
COVID-19 Economic Discussion: What We Have Learned Over the Past 4 Months
Presented on July 9 | 12pm MT
Description: This webinar will present observations on the current impact and future expectations for the national and Colorado economies.
Presenters Bios: Associate Professor Richard Wobbekind holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Colorado Boulder and is, amongst many roles at the University, Associate Dean for Business & Government Relations, Senior Economist, and Faculty Director of the Business Research Division. As Faculty Director of the Business Research Division, his responsibilities include developing an annual consensus forecast of the Colorado economy and performing various economic impact assessments of the Colorado economy. Wobbekind also produces the quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado.
Brian Lewandowski is the executive director of the Business Research Division at Leeds. Brian specializes in economic and revenue forecasts, policy studies, and economic impact analyses.
Hazards and Disasters in the Context of COVID-19: Implications for Marginalized Communities
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 12pm MT
Description:
As is often true of disasters, COVID-19 has brought to light the many ways in which existing social inequities are amplified in times of crisis. Marginalized communities have borne a disproportionate burden from the pandemic, with higher rates of illness, death, and economic loss. These realities have intersected with environmental hazards in the past year, with devastating—and generally avoidable—consequences. In this webinar, we will examine the social underpinnings of disaster vulnerability while reflecting on extreme events that have occurred during the public health emergency caused by the novel coronavirus.
Presenter Bio:
Nnenia Campbell is a research associate with CU Boulder’s Natural Hazards Center (NHC) and Deputy Director of the Bill Anderson Fund (BAF). Her research interests center on the intersections between social vulnerability and resilience, particularly among marginalized communities. With funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, she leads an initiative at the NHC to develop rapid expert consultations related to COVID-19 and concurrent disasters for the Societal Experts Action Network, which is coordinated by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Her work with the BAF supports inclusion and leadership among historically underrepresented minorities pursuing doctoral degrees in fields related to hazards and disaster research and practice.
Pandemic Response Office
CU Boulder has created a the Pandemic Respons Office to leads public health efforts. The office works to coordinate and lead the campus-wide approach to COVID-19, transition the COVID-19 approach from emergency response to ongoing operations, identify processes for an effective implementation of initiatives among multiple offices with various priorities and serve as a subject matter expert for public health communication and guidance. Learn more.
Help One Another and Protect Our Herd
This is an extraordinary time in history, one that is stressful and unsettling for many of us at CU Boulder. Rest assured, the health and safety of all of our community members is our top priority. When we protect our herd, we can stay together on campus. What can you do to keep yourself and others safe and healthy? Find out here.
Buffs Together
Buffs Together seeks to rally our campus community together to assist fellow Buffs and others during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university is committed to helping students, staff and faculty navigate the financial hardships caused by the pandemic by matching up to $1.6M of gifts to the Student Emergency Fund and the Staff and Faculty Emergency Fund.
The initiative also connects Buffs to volunteer opportunities related to supporting those impacted by the pandemic and aims to gather and share stories of good deeds being done during these challenging times by research faculty, students and staff.
Helping Entrepreneurs Through COVID-19
The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship is helping entrepreneurs and small businesses during this crisis by providing connections to mentors, insights from our faculty, and eventually through student support on projects. Learn more.
Who to Contact
COVID return to work hotline for common questions regarding testing, services and illness prevention related to the common cold, the flu and COVID-19.
Email: healthinfo@colorado.edu or Phone: M–F, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 303-492-5101, select option 9.
Technology issues or concerns: call the Office of Information Technology at 303-735-4357 (5-HELP).
Student health questions: contact your health care provider or Medical Services at 303-492-5101 (24/7 nurse line available) for advice and recommendations.
Student mental health questions or concerns: Call Counseling and Psychiatric Services at 303-492-2277 (24/7 support available).
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program: Call 303-492-3020.
For families: New Student & Family Programs will be happy to assist you. Call or text 303-492-4431 or email families@colorado.edu.
Employment and payroll questions: Call Human Resources at 303-492-6475.
After reviewing the sections above and still have additional questions about how COVID-19 affects your studies or work with CU Boulder you can use the Ask a Question form.
Additional Resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website provides additional information about health guidelines, national statistics, travel recommendations and more.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (DPHE) website has information specific to Colorado, including cases, guidelines, statewide orders and more. They also have resources to help identify local COVID-19 testing sites nearby.
Faces of Leeds – COVID Edition
Uplifting stories of Leeds Buffs helping others during the pandemic.
Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco (Mgmt’21)
When COVID-19 impacted the campus community, A-B leveraged her student government experience to work directly with Dean Sharon Matusik as the head of her student task force, the COVID Cabinet. Learn about A-B and other Leeds undergraduates.
Sangati Shah (Mgmt'23)
Graphic Design Artist for CU Boulder Housing and Dining Services
When the FGX trips were canceled due to COVID-19, Sangati coordinated a virtual cooking class with Learn from a Chef, so everyone could get a taste of cuisines from the countries in which they were planning to travel. Read about Sangati and other Leeds undergraduates.
Beth Schwartz
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Leeds School of Business
When the campus went remote as a result of COVID-19, Beth was inspired to use her passion for fitness to lead weekly virtual workouts for Leeds faculty and staff. Read more about Beth and other faculty and staff.
Casey Bergeron (HRMgmt ’17)
Clinical Programs Manager at DaVita
Dialysis patients are some of the greatest at risk of COVID-19. Casey Bergeron and her team at DaVita Kidney Care have been working tirelessly to make sure these specific patients get the care they need during the pandemic. Learn more about Casey and other alumni.
Daniel Knowles (Fin & Info Mgmt’22)
When sophomore Daniel Knowles and two of his friends began to notice the effect of COVID-19 on the local businesses of their hometown of Boulder, they started brainstorming ways to help their community and founded GyftCO. GyftCO connects struggling Boulder businesses to the greater community by providing an outlet for them to sell discounted e-gift cards to customers. Read more aboiut Daniel and other Leeds undergraduates.
Andrea Straccia
Director of Leeds First-Year Experience
When CU Boulder announced the creation of First Year Academic Experiences for incoming students in fall, Andrea’s team expanded Leeds’ Residential Academic program and onboarding to support the success of Leeds’ entire class of 2024.
Ryan McMunn (Mktg and Mgmt’02)
CEO of Tricam Industries, CEO and founder of BRIC Language Systems, and founder of Leroy Street Capital
After Ryan and his wife experienced and recovered from COVID-19, they wanted to help others. They sourced hundreds of masks and donated them to UCHealth Boulder, the Anschutz Medical Campus, and to teams at their own businesses. Read more about Ryan and other alumni.
Tracy Jennings, PhD, MBA
Senior Instructor and Teaching Professor
When Leeds faculty needed to transition their classes online and reduce the spread of the virus on campus, Tracy quickly stepped in to support her colleagues by offering remote teaching trainings, creating an online content resource hub and more. Read about Tracy and other faculty and staff.