COVID-19-Ready ENVD Experience

Health & Safety Protocols

ENVD will follow safety guidelines set forth by CU, the CDC and Boulder County Health.

All students, faculty and staff must maintain at least a 6-foot distance.
Faculty should maintain at least an 8-foot distance from students when lecturing.
All individuals must wear a mask at all times when in the building and/or engaged in outdoor class activities.

Disinfecting wipes will be stocked in all classrooms for faculty and students to use to wipe down podiums, desks, etc. prior to or after use.
Windows must be kept open when possible to allow for and enhance airflow.
One-way circulation must be followed when navigating the building.

Course Format

Using the new outlined safety protocols, your instructors have developed appropriate and innovative strategies to provide you with an exciting learning environment.

Seminar & Lecture Courses

All large ENVD lecture and seminar courses will be taught remotely. Course content will be delivered to students synchronously during the scheduled days and times of the course, through a remote platform.

To enhance your remote and online learning experience, we have created a Remote Lecture Hub specifically for instructors to record and live-stream their lectures.

Studios

Given the safety guidelines, your instructors had to redesign the studio experience. Studio courses will be taught using the hybrid model, using a combination of in person, online and/or remote instruction.

Studio instructors will reach out to their class rosters to provide you with more information and what to expect in your studio.

Building Use & Circulation

The ENVD building and the spaces within it are being transformed to accommodate the new safety guidelines, allowing for you to work in small groups and collaborate safely. We are excited to offer new functional spaces where students and faculty can practice safe distancing while working together.

In addition, there will be a new circulation path as you move about the building. Wayfinding signage will be used throughout the building to help guide you.

View building use & circulation map

To allow for more studio space, the CLC will dedicate the east side of its space for studios. The open maker space area will be available for reservable/flex space.

View CLC map

Creative Labs & Maker Space

The creative labs will still be available for making, checkouts and printing. To accommodate social distancing and health protocols the operation of these facilities will look different.

Computer labs will be closed for in person use, however remote computer access will be offered.

Digital Media Center (DMC)

Large-format printing and 3D printing will be operated as a service model. You will be able to submit your files for review and printing. Once your prints are finalized, you will be notified when you are able to pick up your work.

The photography studio will accept reservations allowing for an extended passing period for sanitation of equipment.

Large equipment items such as cameras, laptops and tablets will be available for student checkout and will be sanitized after each use. Smaller items such as studio supplies will not be available for student checkout.

Creative Labs Center (CLC)

Similar to the DMC, 3D printers, the CNC, woodshop, metal shop and laser cutters will operate as a service model, allowing you to submit your files and be notified when your work is ready to be picked up.

More information on how to transfer your files and communicate with the staff members will be provided before the first day of classes.

Incoming Students Frequently Asked Questions

We are welcoming students back to campus for a COVID-19-ready fall semester. CU Boulder’s Road Map to Fall 2020 addresses the specifics of creating a student experience designed to keep our community safe, ensure access and quality for our students, and move our community forward. We have compiled answers to frequently asked questions for first-year students and for all undergraduate students in Environmental Design.

The quality of education from Environmental Design will continue to be world-class with in-person events and more online resources to meet your design interests. For the first time, you will be able to live in a learning community among other incoming ENVD students while having access both remotely and in-person to key resources that will further your success in your studio and tech classes. You will have access to flexible working spaces, first-year mentoring and academic support, and site visits to advance your education and ensure a strong first-year experience.

No, these events will be virtual this fall to ensure a wider participation of students, staff and faculty. One of the main goals for this day is for you to meet your Environmental Design peers, faculty and staff. You will be invited to online webinars, student panels and other fun interactive sessions. More information will be emailed to you on behalf of the New Student and Family Programs Office by early August.

Environmental Design first-year students have been pre-enrolled into 11 credits out of the 14-16 recommended credits for the first semester. The New Student & Family Programs Office will notify students of the updated enrollment windows by mid-July. You will need to enroll in one additional course, either general education or other course, that will be identified with your advisor. Enrollment for first year students will begin on July 20 and you can select your enrollment window through the Buff Portal. If you need to make a change to any of your pre-enrolled courses, you will need to meet with an advisor. All pre-enrolled courses have a drop hold which requires advisor approval before being moved around. Once your enrollment window closes, open enrollment for all students will be available again on Aug. 3. This is another opportunity for students to revise their fall course schedule, if appropriate. Please contact your academic advisor if you have any questions.

Starting on July 16 (enrollment periods display in Buff Portal).

A typical first-year Environmental Design student’s schedule includes two 8-week design studios, two Environmental Design lecture courses, a technology course, a Research Colloquium and a General Education course. Review the Major Curriculum Guides here.

CU expects to receive AP and IB scores mid- to late-July, and the Admissions Office will post any AP or IB earned college credit to student records by the end of July.

Contact your academic advisor for assistance.

Possibly, but students may experience some limitations in their ability to switch around their classes due to cohorting. You will need to work directly with your academic advisor to change or drop an ENVD course. You will not be able to make the change yourself due to a drop consent on each of the ENVD classes.

Students may contact the Admissions Office to see if they are eligible to change major and/or college.

To support safety and reduce the number of people each student comes into contact with, we will be housing students based on their academic program. This will allow students to live and take classes with the same small group. Our new cohorts will support student interaction, connection and safety due to their intentional “community within a community” design. You will have the opportunity to connect with other Environmental Design students who share similar professional and extracurricular interests and create opportunities to collaborate on class projects. For Fall 2020, most Environmental Design first-year students will live in Willard Hall. This residence hall is central to campus and located next to the Center for Community. If you have a question about your housing or room assignment, please contact the Housing Office.

The Housing Office will be notifying students throughout the summer, with all students receiving their room assignment on or before August 3. See the Housing FAQ for more information.

First-year freshman students who are commuting to campus will also be cohorted, which means they will also have a local community through Commuting Buffs.

Housing is unable to offer any assignment changes before move-in. Please refer to the housing updated timeline for the dates assignment information. At this time, room change options after move-in have not been determined. Please contact the Housing Office for additional questions.

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) is your first-year experience. All students who have accepted their offer of admission are automatically enrolled into ELP. This program is designed to provide academic and social community programs that advance your education and collegiate experience through collaboration and support from students who have already completed their first-year in ENVD. All of our programs are opt-out versus opt-in which means you have a choice in which programs connect to your individual interests and needs. Students who participated in 0 events last year walked away with an average GPA of 2.98 after their first-year and students who participate in 6+ events per semester, had an average GPA of 3.65. This mentor team wants to see you succeed. If you have further questions in the meantime, email dylan.west@colorado.edu or check out our page for further information. Those who participate in 18 events over the academic year, uphold a 3.5 gpa by end of Spring 2021 and maintain full-time standing (12 credits or higher) will be eligible for a $500.00 studio supplies scholarship for their second year.

Designers Without Boundaries is a Scholarship Student Support Service program intended for first-generation students, historically underrepresented students and student allies of these populations. The mission is to enrich the academic experience of students through inclusive excellence and provide opportunities to build community with other students, staff and faculty in meaningful ways that promote a collaborative, cooperative and supportive environment. Incoming first-year students who identify as students of color, are Pell Grant eligible, and/or are first-generation students can apply to DWB through the general CU scholarship application or can contact Fernando.Martinez@colorado.edu for more information. Learn more.

The blend of in-person, hybrid, remote and online courses that will be offered in fall 2020 does not diminish the quality and value of a degree from CU Boulder.

The main accreditation criteria for our courses remain the same whether they are taught in person, online or remotely: our courses must involve regular and substantive instructor interaction with students. With remote and online teaching, faculty and instructors are still able to:

Provide regular instruction and interact regularly with their students.
Be proactive and available in providing information or responding to students’ questions about the content of the course.
Provide full and substantive assessments and regular feedback on students’ coursework.

Faculty across campus continue to incorporate best practices for teaching and learning in various teaching modalities into the design of their courses.

In addition, the Center for Teaching & Learning has partnered with Continuing Education, the Office of Information Technology and the Office of Academic Innovation to offer workshops and provide resources and individual consultations for faculty on effective, evidence-based practices for remote and online teaching.

We are also prioritizing classes for in-person delivery whose academic outcomes are difficult to achieve virtually (e.g., computer labs, performance classes, studios).

Finally, the Boulder campus is going to great lengths to modify our campus operations in a way that will allow us to safely provide on-campus experiences for our students. The Boulder campus continues to make significant investments in our COVID-19 health and safety infrastructure in order to provide a safe learning and working environment for our students, staff and faculty.

Continuing Students Frequently Asked Questions

CU Boulder’s Road Map to Fall 2020 addresses the specifics of creating a student experience designed to keep our community safe, ensure access and quality for our students, and move our community forward. We have compiled answers to frequently asked questions for first-year students and for all undergraduate students in Environmental Design.

Classes will begin on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, and continue through Wednesday, Nov. 25. Fall break will be shortened (Thursday, Nov. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 29), and then all in-person teaching will shift to remote after Fall Break. The last day of classes is Monday, Dec. 7, followed by Reading Day on Dec. 8 Final exams will take place from Dec. 9-13.

To reduce post-travel mixing between people after fall break, while still maximizing time for in-person teaching.

No. The time period after fall break represents less than 10% of on-campus instruction.

Courses will be offered in a mix of five different modes: in-person, remote (synchronous), online (asynchronous), hybrid in-person/online and/or remote, and hybrid remote/online. Most Environmental Design courses will be hybrid. Due to space constraints, large lectures will be remote.

Curricular adjustments for current/continuing students should be in place by mid-to-late July, and the Registrar’s Office will be notifying students once schedules are set.

Yes. The passing period between classes will be increased to 20 minutes. The Registrar’s Office is updating start/end times of currently scheduled classes to accommodate this extended passing period. The Registrar’s Office will be notifying students once schedules are set.

Continuing students will be able to make fall schedule adjustments starting on Aug. 3 (enrollment periods display in Buff Portal).

Faculty are revising course syllabi to share this (and other) information. All in-person learning must be calibrated so that classrooms meet physical-distancing requirements. Classes of more than 50 students will not be able to meet in-person if all students are present in the classroom on the same day/time.

Environmental Design is prioritizing courses needed for major and minor requirements.

Environmental Design will offer enough fully remote and/or online options so that students who cannot learn in-person can make progress toward their degrees.

Many Environmental Design courses offered this fall will be available via remote/online format. After August 1st, review your course schedule in Buff Portal to see updates to the instruction mode for your current fall course enrollments. If you need to revise your course schedule in order to have all remote/online courses, contact your academic advisor.

Environmental Design will offer enough fully remote and/or online options so that students who are unable to participate in-person can make progress toward their degrees. Immediately contact your academic advisor and faculty members to develop a plan on how to move forward.

Resources for your academic success will continue to be available. Our Academic Coach, Alex Harper, will be available for drop-in support to all students in Environmental Design as well as our Peer Advising team. Alex has worked on supporting students through efforts of test taking, studio prep, management of time, note taking and learning in technology courses, and additional resources as needed. This is a service we invite all ENVD students to take part in and you can make an appointment with Alex via email at alexis.harper@colorado.edu Additionally, tutoring, office hours and peer advising will all be available through remote and/or online modes.

Virtually, as was done for most of the spring 2020 semester, typically through Zoom (video chat or telephone). Make an appointment with your academic advisor via Buff Portal Advising.

Starting on July 16 (enrollment periods display in Buff Portal). If you have design classes and have not gotten them evaluated yet, please contact dylan.west@colorado.edu to ensure you get those courses evaluated and confirm you are enrolled in the appropriate courses for Fall 2020.

No.

No, the extended Pass/Fail policy was for spring and summer 2020 only. However, the timeline for students to choose the Pass/Fail grading basis is changing from the third week to the 10th week of the semester (for 16-week courses not 8-week courses). The deadline to make that change on Buff Portal for the fall 2020 semester is Friday, Oct. 30. Please remember, Environmental Design’s Pass/Fail policy only allows students to apply up to 6 credits of Pass/Fail credit to their Environmental Design degree during their entire academic career (not per semester). After a student has earned 6 credits of Pass/Fail, the additional credits will not be eligible to meet Environmental Design’s graduation requirements.