Announced at the end of May, the CU Boulder community is making preparations for a COVID-19-ready campus for the fall semester, with classes beginning on Aug. 24. Three groups were established to assist in the implementation of the Road Map to Fall 2020:
- COVID-19-Ready Campus Team
- Academic Instruction Team
- Resource Alignment Team
These teams are hard at work building the infrastructure and procedures that will be necessary to mitigate risk and facilitate research and teaching this fall. As part of this iterative process, the teams are committed to sharing regular updates on their progress.
News from the COVID-19-Ready Campus Team
- Campus is developing a program to provide a base package of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies for non-residential campus buildings. The package includes: two reusable cloth masks for each student, faculty and staff member; hand sanitizer stations and refills for main building entrances and high traffic areas; disposable wipes for classrooms; and spray bottles of disinfectant cleaning solution and paper towels to provide building proctors for use in offices, labs or areas not routinely serviced by custodial staff.
- A second order of 40,000 reusable cloth masks has been placed, with a total of 80,000 now on order by the campus with the intent to provide two such masks to each student, faculty and staff member.
- The bus transit subgroup is working on guidance for Buff Bus capacity.
- The Facilities Task Force, provost’s office and registrar are working together to further identify different types of spaces to accommodate fall classes, such as non-traditional spaces, improvements to existing spaces, hotel spaces, and/or climate-controlled tents.
- The University Libraries will begin a new service for contactless requests and pick up of materials. Requests can be submitted starting July 15, and pickups can be scheduled as early as July 21 for the west entrance of Norlin Library. More detailed information is coming soon.
News from the Resource Alignment Team
- Following the arrival of 1,000 portable high-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA,Ìý filtration units, campus has also taken delivery of 300 sheets of Plexiglas for installation of barriers. Cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer dispensers are also beginning to arrive.
- Given the limited availability of resources, the Resource Alignment Team discussed giving priority to purchases that would provide the greatest benefit/impact to the greatest number of people. Requests that may be more unit-specific or unique for a smaller population will still be considered, but may not receive campus funding.
News from the Academic Instruction Team
- The third edition of academic instruction guidance from this team was sent on to deans, chairs and directors on June 30. Topics included academic scheduling, community and senior auditors, academic technology, Zoom best practices, teaching support, how classroom space is being made COVID-19-ready and other faculty frequently asked questions.
- The team is now preparing the fourth edition of academic instruction guidance. Topics will include advising, provisions for international students and more.
Do you have a question or comment about implementation team work on the Road Map to Fall 2020? Submit a question or comment.