Office of the Provost - Spring 2021 information and reminders

Jan. 12, 2021

Dear instructional faculty and academic advisors:

Welcome to the spring 2021 semester and thank you for all the work you are undertaking in preparation for the new academic term. Below are key reminders and resources for your reference as the semester begins.

  • Friday, Jan. 15, will follow a Wednesday class meeting schedule (excluding law classes). This balances out instructional weekdays and contact hours for each course this semester, given the adjustments to the spring academic calendar. The registrar has sent a series of communications and reminders to students, but instructors in classes that meet on Wednesdays should also send reminder communications to students about following the Wednesday class meeting schedule on Friday, Jan. 15.

  • Instructors should communicate with their students before the first day of class about how the first day of class will be conducted (give a Zoom link, define asynchronous participation, etc.).

  • The eighth edition of Academic Instruction Guidance from Dec. 7, 2020 includes further information on instruction protocols and syllabus statements, as well as a brief look at summer and fall 2021. 

  • The FAQs for instructional personnel for spring 2021 include additional information about class conduct, academic resources and the spring academic calendar.

  • The provost has granted to the deans of each college and school the option of making available a “spring pause,” a week-long relaxation on exams and graded course work in March in lieu of spring break. Faculty in these schools and colleges are not required to follow this option in their courses, but they may choose to do so.

    • In any course employing the “spring pause,” classes must be held that week (with the exception of the wellness day on March 25), vital content should be shared in those classes, and students will be accountable for attendance in class and for all material covered. 

    • Travel is discouraged to avoid the chance of spreading the virus.

    • For more information, contact your dean, chair or director.

  • The campus has recently opened Buff Info, a new campus information center staffed with dedicated professionals trained to answer questions on topics related to Ƶ Boulder.

    • Buff Info liaisons may be reached at 303-492-INFO (4636) or via email, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

  • Protect Our Herd is the campus COVID-19 website for information on symptoms, testing and safety tips. Click on this tab for faculty and staff. Also, COVID-19 Updates & Resources is an expansive go-to for status updates, campus data and more.

  • Download the to use every time you come to campus and for COVID-19 testing at campus locations. 

  • Join the weekly campus COVID-19 meetings, which resume for the semester on Jan. 19.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. I appreciate your dedication and flexibility, and I wish you the best for a successful start of classes.

Sincerely,

Katherine Eggert
Senior Vice Provost and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning and Assessment
Professor of English