Fellow Bears:
Throughout 2020, UNC has worked together to be responsive and flexible in the face of uncertainty, and we remain committed to keeping our community connected, safe, and supported with every decision we make. In preparation for winter break, and in consultation with representatives across the academic community as well as state public health officials, the university has explored various spring semester options with the safety of our students, faculty, and staff uppermost in our minds.
We have decided spring semester will start as planned on January 11 with no changes to the academic calendar and will provide flexible course delivery options as we have done during the final weeks of the fall semester. Faculty who have in-person or hybrid courses (mixed face-to-face) may choose to modify the first two weeks of the semester should they feel that online instruction will serve their learning outcomes and students’ needs during this time. As the semester progresses, we will monitor COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates and will reassess campus operations and course delivery options for any necessary adjustments.
Faculty are encouraged to post their course delivery plans for the start of the spring semester via Canvas as soon as possible and notify students by email to confirm this information no later than January 8. Provost Mark Anderson will provide more detailed information and guidance via email to faculty later today.
During the fall semester, UNC faculty have worked hard to help students, and adapt to the ongoing circumstances we have faced as a result of the pandemic. I firmly believe they will continue to deliver courses prioritizing their students’ health, wellbeing, and learning experiences, and will use campus resources such as the Center for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning (CETL) to enhance online curriculum development and delivery.
During winter break and as we start the new semester, UNC housing will remain open. Many of our students rely on their on-campus housing and prefer to remain on campus in order to access support and services throughout the academic year. More information will be shared directly with students who currently have housing contracts or have inquired about moving in next semester.
Similar to communication efforts this past fall, a spring operations website will provide more details as they become available and will be published by the end of this week. UNC will continue to update information about Colorado and Weld County on our County and State COVID-19 Status page and will keep students, parents, faculty, and staff informed via our COVID-19 Weekly Digest online, our Coronavirus website, and through email.
I want to thank each of you for your hard work, perseverance, and ongoing efforts to keep the UNC community safe and healthy. We can all take pride in UNC’s efforts over the past year, and I appreciate your continued suggestions, ideas, and wisdom as we move forward into 2021. I wish each of you a safe and joyful winter break with opportunities to rest and recharge, and I look forward to welcoming each of you back to campus in 2021.
Rowing, Not Drifting,
Andy Feinstein
President
