UNC Plans In-Person Fall Semester Return Aug. 24
June 9, 2020
The University of Northern Colorado is preparing to safely resume in-person instruction Aug. 24 with the start of its fall semester. Campus leaders are also determining flexible course delivery options to ensure campus health and safety while maximizing learning outcomes for students.
Decisions on whether individual courses will be held in person, online, or through some combination are expected by the end of June. The intent is to finalize and publish the class schedule in early July to allow students time to register or adjust their schedules. While the university is optimistic it will offer in-person instruction throughout the entire academic year, contingency plans also will be in place in the event course delivery methods have to be modified to aid in community health concerns or comply with public health orders.
“Every decision being made is informed through active coordination with state and local public health officials as well as guidance from the CDC,” UNC President Andy Feinstein said in an email sent Tuesday to students, parents, faculty and staff. “We are committed to protecting the health and safety of students, staff and faculty when we come back together this fall.”
During the summer, Re-Entry and Logistics task forces are meeting regularly to address priorities and needs. To date, they have completed a space inventory and are determining classroom configurations for spacing and traffic flow through buildings to comply with social distancing guidelines. Other safety measures the campus community can expect to see in the fall is signage reminding individuals to maintain six feet between one another and plexiglass barriers at retail operations. The Student Health Center, which is developing contact tracing protocols in the event of a diagnosis on campus, is now providing COVID-19 viral and antibody testing for the university community.
Feinstein added that while the classroom experience may have to look a little different this year as UNC adapts to COVID-19, the university’s approach will always reflect its commitment to providing an exceptional academic and co-curricular experience. “The services we provide and the centers available to our campus community – cultural, student support, counseling, advising, health and wellness – will remain a vital component as we enter the fall semester. Our planning and preparation take into consideration how to better support you, our campus community, and how we can create flexible ways to engage with each other.”
Feinstein and members of his cabinet have been attending virtual town halls with admitted students and their families to answer questions. He announced that similar town halls will be held in July for current students. Those dates will be announced by June 19. In addition, the UNC Coronavirus website continues to be updated at unco.edu/coronavirus, where weekly video recordings of UNC’s operational update are posted.
