The last day of in-person learning for the semester will be November 13.
The University of Colorado at Boulder has made the decision to end in-person instruction early on its campus for the remainder of the semester due to rising COVID-19 numbers.
The move comes after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment shifted Boulder County to a more restrictive "Safer at Home Level Orange" on the state's COVID-19 dial beginning Friday, November 6. The new level is based on rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases and the percentage of positivity among tests in Boulder County and further limits gatherings and capacity at restaurants, retailers, offices, gyms, and other facilities from previously scaled-back limits.
As a result, CU officials have decided to transition to remote learning for the remainder of the semester beginning November 16. The university said this shift allows students living on and off-campus the opportunity to move home before the scheduled Thanksgiving break. The university's plan had been to conduct in-person learning through November 25 followed by a shortened Thanksgiving break, after which students would finish the semester remotely.
To provide additional flexibility for our students and their families, #CUBoulder is transitioning to fully remote learning for the remainder of the semester beginning Monday, Nov. 16, ahead of the originally planned shift after the Thanksgiving Holiday. https://t.co/yGk5pL2FMi
— CU Boulder (@CUBoulder) November 5, 2020
To facilitate travel home, the university is expanding on-campus COVID-19 testing starting November 9 and encourages students planning to leave Boulder to get tested 48-72 hours prior to travel.
Residence and dining halls will remain open for students who choose to remain on campus and show a demonstrated need to stay. Those who remain on campus will be required to continue weekly monitoring testing.
Plans remain in place for the spring semester to begin January 14, with both in-person and remote operations, which will last throughout the term. However, spring break will be replaced by the later-than-usual start to the semester as well as wellness days on February 17 and March 25.
The university said tuition will not be adjusted based on the shift to remote learning, nor will fees be reduced or refunds given on services.
In September, students at the university were the subject of heightened restrictions related to COVID-19. At the time, Boulder County prohibited gatherings of more than two college-aged students within the city of Boulder after it discovered the majority of COVID-19 transmission within the county was due to social gatherings among students who didn't comply with public face-covering and social distancing orders.
