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Sept. 21, 2020

Earlier today, Chancellor DiStefano announced that effective at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, and for at least two weeks until Wednesday, Oct. 7, the University of Colorado Boulder will operate under temporary remote-only instruction for all undergraduate, graduate and law classes. This includes labs, studio and performance classes, unless they are requested by department chairs and designated by deans for in-person instruction.

I am writing to give you more details about how this will affect teaching and on-campus research for the next two weeks.

If you are teaching an in-person lab, studio or performance class, coordinate with your chair or director on whether that class, for pedagogical reasons, must continue in person during the upcoming two weeks. The default is remote mode unless you and your chair/director decide the class must be offered in person and that request is approved by the dean. Chairs and directors must submit any requests for lab, studio or performance classes to be taught in person to their dean by the end of Monday, Sept. 21. 

If you are teaching an in-person or hybrid in-person class, communicate clearly with your students before Wednesday, Sept. 23, about how the class will shift to remote mode or, if the class is approved for in-person teaching, how it will continue to meet in person. I recommend multiple means of communicating with your students, including a class email and a notice on your class Canvas page. You should also be in close communication with TAs, learning assistants and/or tech co-pilots who work with your class about plans for remote or in-person mode. 

There will be no pause in instruction, and you should not cancel any classes. If you are teaching an in-person or hybrid in-person class and wish to shift to remote learning sooner than Wednesday, please coordinate with your students to advise them of any changes. If you need assistance transitioning your in-person course to remote instruction, please refer to for pedagogical assistance, and for remote teaching technology.

On-campus research will continue and is not affected by this shift to remote instruction. Â鶹ÒùÔº who hold research positions (such as graduate research assistants) or who must engage in on-campus research or creative work as part of their degree programs may continue to conduct this work on campus. Staff who have been working on campus should continue to report to work as they have been doing.

In-person teaching at CU Boulder has proved to be safe, with no known instances of COVID-19 infection traced to classroom transmission. In addition, I know how much you and your students value your in-person teaching and learning experiences. But we are taking this action in concert with Boulder County and the City of Boulder to minimize the spread of COVID-19. If we can continue to bring down the rate of positive cases, we hope to return to in-person learning on Wednesday, Oct. 7. 

Please consult the FAQs for more information regarding specific questions you and your students may have. FAQs will continue to be updated in the coming days. If your question is not answered, contact your chair or director. Chairs, directors and school/college administrators should send queries to Senior Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Assessment Katherine Eggert.

I realize that a change in instructional mode in the middle of the semester is unsettling and may be a hardship for faculty and students alike. Our decision to make this transition is with the health and safety of our whole community in mind. You have my deepest thanks for all you are doing to care for your students and to maintain excellent pedagogy during these trying times. My office stands at the ready to support you however we can.

Take care of yourselves.

Russ

Russ Moore
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs