Chancellor Venkat Reddy and campus leaders addressed campus in the third virtual Town Hall of the summer on June 24.
Chancellor Reddy and a panel of campus leaders provided updates on topics including the fall semester, returning to on-campus work, strengthening UCCS’ culture of diversity and inclusion and more.
President Mark Kennedy also joined the session to offer remarks on navigating the challenges COVID-19 has presented to higher education, recent work to deepen the University of Colorado’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and statewide efforts to advocate for resources for Colorado’s higher education institutions.
Updates presented by Chancellor Reddy and campus leadership included several key takeaways.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Roughly 50% of classes will be offered on-campus in the fall, according to guidance from the El Paso County Public Health. Learn more >>
- Students will learn about the mode of delivery for each of their classes in mid-July by logging into their student portal. Learn more >>
- On-campus offerings will prioritize first-year classes and classes that require specialized equipment or in-person interaction. Learn more >>
- Classrooms will be equipped with sanitizing supplies and intensified cleaning protocols will be in place. Learn more >>
- Students, faculty, staff and visitors are expected to wear face masks while spending time on campus. Learn more >>
- Faculty members will not be required to wear face coverings while teaching so long as they maintain a 12-foot distance between themselves and students, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Learn more >>
- Amenities such as the Kraemer Family Library, the Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center and dining halls will be open with social distancing and other health guidelines in place. Learn more >>
- Fall enrollment is down 14.9% from this time last year, an improvement from last week and last month. Faculty are encouraged to contribute to retention efforts for current students who have not re-registered for the fall semester. Learn more >>
- Work will resume on campus on a phased basis. Phase 1 will begin July 13 and will bring essential services and some critical services back to campus. Phase 2 will begin July 27 and will restore other campus and academic services. Phase 3 will begin August 10. It will welcome back students and resume academic and student activities. Learn more >>
- Employees who can continue to work remotely in the fall will continue to do so. Employees who are high-risk are encouraged to work with their supervisors and the Office of Human Resources on accommodations. Learn more >>
- Furloughs will take effect on July 1, 2020 and are scheduled to remain in place until June 30, 2021. If the university’s financial status improves, furloughs will be lifted sooner. Learn more >>
- UCCS will provide Chromebooks, loaned free of charge and equipped with microphones and webcams, to incoming students. Learn more >>
As he closed out the session, Chancellor Reddy remarked, “In so many ways, the success of our university during this challenging time depends on all of us pitching in – just as the success of larger movements for acceptance, diversity and inclusion depend on all of us, doing the work, together.”
“Above all,” he continued, “we have learned that resilience and resourcefulness are the keys to a brighter future. Sheer resilience is going to get us through this – and knowing that we are not alone. We are all in this together. And we will get through this together, just as we always have.”
Members of the UCCS community who would like to submit additional questions for response may do so online. They may also fill out a survey response to the event.