Campus Building Access

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, we are implementing updated access control plans for campus building access that emphasize safety and building security while still providing convenient access for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Most academic buildings with scheduled classes will be open and unlocked between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, to allow non-affiliates access to scheduled events and other activities.
- Doors unlocked between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. are electronic doors only. Manual action doors will remain locked at all times and be available for exit only.
- CU students, faculty and staff will continue to have extended access (from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.) to these same academic buildings via Buff OneCard swipe.
- A few buildings may maintain slightly different hours based on class schedules and staffing.
Prior access preferences established on Buff OneCards for students, faculty and staff will remain in place. Students, faculty and staff who normally have weekend and after-hours access to specific buildings will still have access to those buildings.
CU affiliates needing special access to a specific building are asked to contact their building proctors, C-CURE operators or department chairs to request the authorization/access needed on their Buff OneCards.

University Libraries, the Recreation Center and the UMC publish their respective hours on their websites.

Three tips for Accessing a Building with Your Buff OneCard

Always have your Buff OneCard.
Depending on the type of card reader, make sure you are either
swiping with the stripe on the back of your card facing to the right, or
tapping the card on the proximity reader with your photo facing toward you.
Proximity readers will only work with Buff OneCards issued after Sept. 2, 2016. If you need a new Buff OneCard, you can request a new card online or email boc@colorado.edu.

If You Need Help Entering a Building

You will need to request a new card online or by emailing boc@colorado.edu. You will be given a time to pick up your card at the Buff OneCard office which is in Room N180 in the Center for Community (C4C) building. The office can be reached at 303-492-0355 or boc@colorado.edu.

Those who forget Buff OneCards or keys, but usually have building access will be granted entrance into their offices/buildings. If you experience problems with accessing a building with your Buff OneCard, you can contact Access Services 303-492-6609 during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After hours, you can contact the Operations Control Center (OCC) at 303-492-5522 or occ@colorado.edu. The OCC is operational 24 hours per day.

Other Questions

CU affiliates needing special access to a specific building, lab or after hours not previously granted on their Buff OneCards are asked to contact their building proctors, C-CURE operators or department chairs to request the authorization/access needed is added to their Buff OneCards.

A select few buildings will maintain their own business hours during which they are unlocked. This includes the University Memorial Center, Regent Administrative Center, Center for Community (C4C) and Wardenburg Health Center. Select research buildings without scheduled live classes may also operate under different protocols. Follow the links below for information on other specific facilities:

Office of Research and Innovation (RIO): https://www.colorado.edu/researchinnovation/
Wardenburg Health Center - https://www.colorado.edu/healthcenter/hours-and-contact
University Memorial Center - https://www.colorado.edu/umc/hours
Center for Community: https://www.colorado.edu/living/dining/dining-hours
Village Center Dining and Community Commons: https://www.colorado.edu/living/dining/dining-hours
All campus dining facilities https://www.colorado.edu/living/dining/dining-hours
Regent Administrative Center: Registrar’s office; Bursar’s office; Admissions office.
University Libraries: https://www.colorado.edu/libraries/
Athletics will maintain control of the hours of operation for its buildings independently.

Certain buildings may be exempt from standard access controls pending direction from campus executive leadership. If building proctors or programs have questions or concerns, please contact Andrew Kosinuk at the CU Police department.

These protocols are being put in place to support campus efforts focused on ensuring campus safety, research protection, and the return to a more traditional in-person, on-campus experience. These protocols should also:

Help minimize confusion about when building access requires Buff OneCard swiping
Streamline cleaning processes by having campus buildings on one schedule
Limit potential for criminal activity in sparsely populated buildings

Faculty and staff should have access via their Buff OneCards to the buildings and spaces they can normally access after-hours.

Non-CU Boulder campus affiliates will be able to access most academic buildings on campus between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Those seeking building access outside these hours will be asked to call the CU Police Department (CUPD), which will work alongside the Operations Control Center and building proctors to vet non-affiliate access. If approved, a CSO or police officer will provide access. Community Safety Officers (CSOs) will be on duty from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day, and will work with Access Services to evaluate open-door assistance requests from non-CU Boulder affiliates.

Holiday and break building access

During breaks, CU affiliates can access most buildings on campus Monday-Friday 7am-7pm with a Buff OneCard. After 7pm and on weekends, you will need to have previously been granted Buff OneCard after-hours access permissions.
During university holidays, building access will be restricted to only those who have previously been granted Buff OneCard after-hours access permissions.

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Campus Building Access

Three tips for Accessing a Building with Your Buff OneCard

If You Need Help Entering a Building

Other Questions

Holiday and break building access