Published: Jan. 3, 2021

Planning to spend time on campus? Here are some things to know before you visit.

student on campus wearing masksComplete your Buff Pass check-in before coming to campus

For each day you intend to be on campus, remember to complete your Buff Pass—CU Boulder’s confidential and easy-to-use daily health check-in system. Set a daily reminder on your calendar and create a shortcut on your phone. Learn more about Buff Pass. 

Bring your Buff OneCard 

Keep your Buff OneCard in your wallet or bag whenever you’re on campus. In addition to needing it for things like meal plans and campus cash, you will also need it to get into campus buildings and when participating in COVID monitoring tests.

Plan your commute

The Buff Bus and many RTD bus routes are operating in limited capacity, and students should plan for longer wait and commute times. Download the Transit app or check the Buff Bus website for routes and schedules. Remember to physically distance from others while waiting for and riding the bus. Wearing a face covering is mandatory on Buff Buses and all public transit. 

Biking is another great way to get around campus and Boulder. Bike registration is required to access campus bike station services. Students also have access to bikes through the Boulder B-cycle bike sharing program.

Check building capacity limits

High-traffic buildings, such as the Rec Center and University Memorial Center (UMC), have a capacity limit on how many people can be inside at a time.

  • The Herd Tracker in the Buff Pass gives people insight into occupancy and traffic in all of our campus buildings. Users can search for a specific on-campus location and click the location tile for a detailed view. Users can then filter by day of the week to see when locations are most and least visited.
  • Students can also check current occupancy rates on the UMC website before visiting. If you have a class that meets in the UMC, plan to arrive early in case you need to wait to enter the building. 
  • Reservations are required to use all areas of the Rec Center. Learn more about reservations and Rec Center facility hours.

For more information on building access on campus, visit the COVID-19 webpage.

Pack a snack or review campus community dining options

If you’ll be on campus for a while, remember to bring a water bottle and consider bringing snacks and a lunch. Dining centers (C4C, Village Center and Sewall) and grab-n-go locations are only open to students with meal plans.

Alferd Packer Grill, retail markets, restaurants and cafés will be open to the campus community with various payment options accepted, including:

If Boulder County maintains its status at Level Orange or better on the COVID-19 dial, individual dine-in reservations for students will be offered through NutriSlice at UMC 235 or in the Village Center Multipurpose Room. Learn more about dine-in options.

Other dining centers will provide grab-n-go/order ahead options only. Use the Nutrislice website or app to order food ahead of time and schedule your pick-up time. 

Schedule a space for studying or eating

Whether you’re eating lunch or studying between classes, there are spaces on campus for students to reserve. Review study locations and learn how to reserve a space. Take note—the first time you log in to the system to reserve a space, you will need to wait until you receive an email confirming you have been approved.

Here are a few reminders for using campus spaces:

  • Be mindful and respectful if others around you are studying.
  • Clean up and disinfect your space before you leave.
  • If you want to eat in a study location, be sure to read and follow the posted signage, ensure you are the only person in the space while eating, and sanitize the space before and after eating.

Find things to do

Looking for something to do or ways to take a break from studying? 

Remember to Protect our Herd by wearing a face covering, staying 6 feet from others and washing your hands (or using hand sanitizer)!