What Will Fall 2020 Look Like?

Before Starting the Semester

Before returning to campus, all students and employees must complete the required pre-arrival COVID-19 training. Buffs are required to commit to CU Boulder and public health guidelines—including restrictions on large gatherings—to support the health and safety of our campus and the Boulder community.

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Before Starting Each Day

Staff filling out health form

Daily Health Form

Completion of a daily health form is required for all faculty, staff and students each day you intend to be on the CU Boulder campus. Here are the five things you need to know about the form:

It’s required. All students, staff and faculty must submit the form every day you plan to be on campus (both inside and outside).
It only takes a few seconds. Set a daily reminder on your phone or calendar and create a shortcut on your phone
It helps track and limit. By asking questions about body temperature, symptoms, close proximity to someone who may have COVID-19, and COVID-19 tests results (if applicable), we are able to track the virus and limit the spread. People at risk for the illness may be asked to stay home or see a doctor.
Knowledge is power. Checking in through questionnaires is a public health best practice in the fight against COVID-19.
It’s confidential. All personal health and medical information will remain confidential. Once your form is complete you will receive an immediate response about whether you should come to campus or stay home and contact your medical provider.

Returning to Class

CU Boulder will offer a mix of in-person, online, remote and hybrid courses. Every class is taught using one or more of the following instruction methods:

In-person

All students and instructors attend class in person while adhering to all enhanced health and safety measures.

Online

This is self-paced.

Students & instructors will not be online simultaneously or on scheduled days.

Majority of coursework will be completed through Canvas and other learning systems.

Remote

Students & instructors will meet over Zoom, Lecture Capture or Canvas on scheduled days and times.

In some cases Canvas may be used to submit coursework or take tests.

Hybrid In-person

Students participate in a mix of in-person and online or remote modes.

You may have rotating attendance with groups of students attending in person some days and online or remote attendance on other days.

Or you may have lectures remotely and labs in person.

Hybrid Remote/Online

Students participate in a mix of scheduled remote classes (scheduled days) and online coursework (self-paced coursework).

Classroom Technology

An additional 406 classrooms will be equipped with remote-capable lecture technology.
A personal capture service allows instructors to create high-quality videos, screencasts and slideshows.
The Resource Alignment Implementation Team (RAIT) has secured one-time funding to provide Dell laptops to CU Boulder instructors and lecturers who have specific, identifiable teaching responsibilities and have currently unmet personal technology needs.

See an up-to-date list of hybrid-capable classrooms, including their COVID-19-adjusted capacities and hybrid technology availability.

OIT has guides for students with information and resources for using technology to continue participating in class activities remotely, when classroom instruction is disrupted due to an emergency.

Class Disruption Guides

Calendar & Schedules

Semester Dates

In-person & Online

Aug. 24–Nov. 25
A regular 16-week semester will begin on Aug. 24, with some courses, as appropriate, offered in eight-week sessions during the overall semester.
Move-in Dates: Aug. 17–20

Fall Break & Move-out

Fall break: Nov. 26–27. No classes on these days.
Move-out: TBD

Remote Only

Nov. 30–Dec. 13
Teaching and exams after fall break will be conducted remotely to allow students to travel home and remain there until the spring semester begins.
Remote Finals: Dec. 9–13, 2020

How We’re Implementing Academic Physical Distancing

Extending class scheduling to use the entire day, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., to decrease student density on campus.
Class meeting times have automatically been adjusted to accommodate increased passing periods and modes of instruction.
Faculty and students may find that they are teaching and learning in spaces not previously used as classrooms and at more late-afternoon and evening times.
Required syllabus statements related to COVID-19 classroom behavior—that applies to all classroom settings—will be sent by the Office of Undergraduate Education to all fall 2020 instructors.

Classroom view Classroom smaller setting Stand behind line Wait here signs Labs

Cohort Model for First-Year Students

We are implementing a First-Year Academic Experience for all incoming first-year students, including housing assignments and enrolling first-year students in classes to form academic cohort groups. The goal is to have students with common academic interests and common courses share living spaces.
The cohort model provides a smaller, residential college experience within a larger university setting and will allow first-year students to start off strong, complete required courses and work toward earning their degrees while staying safe on campus.
Academic cohorting in the first year starts the natural cohesion that often emerges after students enter into upper-division courses specific to their majors.
Students will communicate with resident advisors (RAs) through one-on-one virtual Buff Chats and will have opportunities for hall-specific events and programming.
Commuter students will be enrolled into the Commuting Buffs first-year peer mentoring program. Commuter students will be assigned to a "community cluster" with other first-year commuter students as a way to build community and meet fellow Buffs. Commuter students will also participate in the First-Year Academic Experience through their college, school or program.

How This Will Work

First-year students will take courses as a cohort in or near their assigned residence hall.
Cohort design will be variable based on the academic experience and living environment.
Cohorts may vary from 25 to 150 students depending on academic interests and the courses in which students are enrolled.
Smaller cohorts will exist within a larger cohort that, in most cases, will represent the residence hall.
Courses will focus on academic progress toward general education requirements and major requirements.
Courses will be offered in a variety of in-person, distance and hybrid formats.
First-year students can still schedule elective courses outside of their cohort, primarily as online options.

Residence Halls

Quarantine & Isolation Options

We are reducing the density of students within all of our residence halls and adding self-isolation and quarantine space for the students living in the halls. You can find details on the Protect Our Herd website as well as in the Housing & Dining FAQs.

Residential Hall Activities

Virtual Meetups
Students living in the residence halls can meet their fellow Buffs through virtual meet-ups. Join a meet-up based on your affinity, interests and region to connect with peer leaders, offices and other incoming students. Buff Meet-ups will occur on Zoom throughout the first two weeks of Fall Welcome.

Residence Hall Welcome Events
Students living in the residence halls will participate in in-person and virtual floor meetings. You will learn more about CU Boulder policies, hall-specific information, creating an inclusive community and Fall Welcome. RAs will host a second floor meeting the week of Aug. 24—check with your RA for more information.

Campus Dining Services

Dining options will be open to the campus community, with select options available only to students who live in our residence halls and have a meal plan. Dining locations opened the week of Aug. 17, and everyone is expected to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance at all locations.

Open to the Campus Community

Retail markets, restaurants and cafes will be open to the campus community with various payment options accepted, including:

Campus Cash
Credit/debit cards
Munch Money (not accepted at Starbucks)

Please note that block meal plans will not be available for purchase.

Open to Students with Meal Plans

Meal plans are available only to students living in residence halls
All dining centers, the Alferd Packer Grill in the UMC and our grab-n-go locations will be open only to residence hall students with meal plans
Dining centers and grab-n-go will accept meal swipes
All dining options will be grab-n-go only and some may require ordering ahead

Ordering Ahead

Campus community members can use the Nutrislice app or the Nutrislice website to view menus, place an order and schedule a pickup.

How It Works

Review the menu
Place your order
Pay with Campus Cash or a credit/debt card (where accepted)
Pick up your food to eat outside of the dining area

To download the app, search for Nutrislice through your phone or tablet’s application platform.

For up-to-date information, visit the Dining Services webpage or check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Summary of Payment Options

Students living in the residence halls
Meal plans, Munch Money, Campus Cash, credit/debit cards
Bear Creek and Off-campus students
Campus Cash and credit/debit cards
Faculty and staff
Campus Cash and credit/debit cards

Recreation Center

The Student Recreation Center opened on Monday, Aug. 10, for students only. Access for faculty and staff will be reevaluated in the coming months.

Use of the Rec Center will be capped at 20–30% of the building capacity.

To gain entry to the Rec Center, members must:

Have an appropriate face covering (worn at all times inside the Rec Center)
Rec Center membership
Valid Buff OneCard

Reservations

In order to use the following spaces, students must reserve a time online in advance. Students can make a reservation three days in advance through the Fusion portal.

Main weight room
Annex weight room
Climbing gym
Indoor pool

The Rec staff will clean and sanitize the facility multiple times throughout the day. The Rec will close from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. daily for thorough cleaning and sanitizing of the building and equipment.

Significant modifications have been made to meet health and safety guidelines, including operating hours, facility layout, reservations for some areas, the maximum facility capacity and cleaning procedures.

You can find details on these changes and patron expectations on the recreation website.

Closed Facilities

Main Rec Center

The following facilities will be closed for fall:

Ice rink
Buff pool
Turf gym
Racquetball courts
Front-desk equipment rentals
Mat room

Will Vill Rec Center

The Williams Village Rec Center is open for students living at Williams Village and Bear Creek.

Students on treadmills at the Rec Center

Person sanitizing exercise equipment in the Rec Center

Transportation

Buff Bus

Limited seating. Buff Bus capacity will be significantly reduced because of physical distancing requirements. Ridership will be monitored closely to ensure physical distancing.
Longer wait times. Buff Bus riders should plan for longer wait and commute times. Consider alternative forms of transportation like cycling and walking.
Cover up. Face coverings will be required during Buff Bus transit and while waiting for the bus.
Sanitized transportation. Buff Bus employees are maintaining daily onboard cleaning and sanitation protocols in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Buff Bus Transit App Schedules and Routes

RTD Bus

Longer wait times. Riders should expect longer wait and commute times. Consider alternative forms of transportation like cycling and walking.
Cover up. Face coverings will be required while waiting for and while using RTD bus transit.
Check the schedule. RTD and HOP continue to operate many routes on reduced schedules.

Rider Alerts

Activities & Events

Students at Farrand Field

Buffs are able to take part in campus life, resources and services with health and safety modifications like virtual visits and events, prescheduling and limits on capacity to ensure your health and safety.

Campus activities and events will scale based on health and safety conditions, beginning with things like scheduled trips and visits, and remote programming (for example, esports) with clubs and organizations.

Faculty & Staff

Remote Work

We encourage the continuation of remote work for all who can successfully work remotely through the fall so we can decrease the density on campus and mitigate the exposure of those whose work requires being on campus.
Leadership of each unit with a physical presence on campus will be required to complete a risk mitigation plan and receive approval for that plan before personnel can return to campus.
Consistent with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment guidelines, we will enable employees who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 infection to work remotely.

Resources for Working Remotely

Child Care

For parents who have child care responsibilities due to COVID-19 alongside their work responsibilities, the university continues to support remote working when possible. We are also providing paid leave through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act when working remotely is not an option. Please visit the Human Resources website for more details and child care support.

Human Resources

The Human Resources department offers many ways for faculty and staff to find resources for self-care. From workshops and webinars to the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, learn more about support services available to all CU Boulder employees.

Students

Student on laptop outside

Technology & Support

CU Boulder’s IT Service Center is available by phone or email to support students who have questions and need help with technology and remote learning. Get help with email and IdentiKey, Internet connectivity, telephone service and accessing Canvas or Zoom.

Learn About Remote Learning Guidelines for Students

Students who need help obtaining technology can find help in three ways:

Student Emergency Funds: We have limited funds available to support CU Boulder students facing temporary financial hardship due to COVID-19.
Students in financial need: The Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement works with OIT and Property Services to supply a limited number of refurbished computers to students who demonstrate financial need.
Mobile Hotspots through University Libraries: Norlin Library is offering a new program that provides free off-campus internet access.

Textbooks

Textbooks orders are available online only. You can order your textbooks through the CU Bookstore.

Disability Services

Students working with Disability Services can learn about accommodation resources for remote learning, tips for taking online classes and how to prepare for remote testing.

Health & Wellness

The Division of Student Affairs provides many health and wellness services for our students. From counseling to recreation, learn more about support services available to all CU Boulder students.

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