Fellow Bears,

We know that the last couple weeks have presented each of you with unexpected news. Classes that met face-to-face just days ago are going online for the rest of the semester, and you are not sure what that experience is going to be like. Many of you have left campus and you may not feel sure about when you will return to see friends, faculty and staff, and support networks that lift you up—or you are still here and not sure when everyone will be able to join you on campus again. Maybe you are trying to figure out when and how you will be able to retrieve belongings you left behind. We understand that each new development may make you feel as though your world has been turned upside down—you might be scared, lonely, confused, and concerned about what these unusual, uncertain, and unprecedented times hold for you and our community. 

We get it. Administrators, faculty, and staff have been feeling many of the same emotions. It is important to know that we are all in this together. Although we cannot be together right now, we are a strong and resilient Community of Bears.  

Spring Break is coming to an end and courses will transition to alternate delivery next Wednesday, March 25. Courses that were already taught online will continue on Monday, March 23, as scheduled. We want to take this opportunity to reach out and share information about some of the services we are making available to support you as this transition occurs and answer some of the questions we have been hearing most frequently.  

So many people at UNC have been working hard to make this transition as positive an experience as possible. We hope you will join us in thanking them—and show patience while they continue to work through issues that are still unresolved. There will surely be additional issues to address in the coming weeks. We promise that we will continue to provide critical campus services and support for you—wherever you are.

In the weeks to come, we urge each of you to take responsible steps to sustain your health and safety. Practice social distancing to prevent the spread of this disease—and help flatten the curve. None of us is invincible. Many of you are living with roommates and family members who might have heightened risks. Continue to look out for one another—for your family, friends, loved ones, and neighbors. Stay connected through social media. And, importantly, continue to work hard in your classes to finish the spring semester strong. You can do this – and we are here to help.

If we can do more to support you during this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us personally. You can also continue to access up-to-date information and guidance through UNC’s Coronavirus Information and Resources website, Daily Operational Status Update call recordings, the coronavirus@unco.edu email account, and our Coronavirus phone line (970-351-4848).

Go Bears!

President Feinstein's signature 

Andy Feinstein
President                              

Katrina Rodriguez
Vice President for Student Affairs 

Health and Safety Resources

  • Counseling Center: We want each of you to be attentive to your mental health during this time. Anyone in need or simply wanting to speak with a counselor can call or email between the hours of 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.; counselors are on-call during business hours. To access these services, please email UNCCounselingCenter@unco.edu or call 970-351-2496. Those calling or e-mailing are encouraged to leave a name and phone number and their call will be returned as soon as possible. For students living out-of-state, please contact the Counseling Center for assistance with accessing available services. Access to after-hours services is also available, by calling 970-351-2496 and pressing “2”. 
  • Student Health Center: Your physical health and safety is also important. For students who remain in Greeley, the Student Health Center will continue to operate, but on reduced hours. For the rest of March, services will be available from 9 a.m.—3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please be sure to check for updates to clinic hours past the end of the month on the Student Health website. The site also has information about local clinics and urgent care facilities in the local community. Visitors are encouraged to call in advance to avoid waiting in confined spaces with others who may be ill or have underlying health issues. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, as always, please call 911.
  • Assault Survivors Advocacy Program (ASAP): ASAP will provide advocacy services and educational programs remotely. Advocates will work with students and staff to schedule phone and video meetings. While there may be a slight delay, messages will be returned as soon as possible. You can reach an advocate through our 24/7 crisis line at 970-351-4040 or schedule an appointment via email at advocacy@unco.edu. 

 

Academic Resources

  • Access to Laptops: Information Management & Technology has prepared a number of laptops for students and personnel to borrow while classes are online. The laptops will be distributed at Michener Library from 1-4 p.m. Monday, March 23, and from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Tuesday, March 24. Please enter from the north entrance of Michener Library. Only limited areas of the first floor will be open during laptop distribution. Precautions will be taken to minimize contact between people, including social distancing and controlling group size. Students are encouraged to fill out a form indicating interest in checking out a laptop in advance. Completing the form does not constitute a reservation and laptops will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Tutorial Services: One-on-one sessions and supplemental instruction will be offered virtually beginning Wednesday, March 25 through Sunday, May 3. For more information, contact Melissa Hoffner at melissa.hoffner@unco.edu.
  • Writing Center: The Writing Center will continue to offer online, one-on-one consultation sessions using UNC's asynchronous eTutoring service. For an eTutoring session, you’ll make an appointment online, upload your document with specific questions and concerns, and receive individualized feedback from a trained writing consultant.
  • Disability Resource Center: Students are entitled to all of the same accommodations they had for in-person courses that will now be delivered in an alternate format. Existing and new appointments with DRC staff will be conducted by Microsoft Teams or phone. Students may schedule virtual or phone appointments by calling 970-351-2289 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • Center for Career Readiness: The Center for Career Readiness will provide services remotely beginning Wednesday, March 18. Staff will be available to meet with UNC students, recent alumni, and employers virtually. Students may schedule individual appointments through Handshake to be held by phone or online. Drop-ins will be held virtually starting Wednesday, March 25th and are offered Monday through Friday from 12-3 p.m. Please see the website for details on drop-in appointments. Staff are also available to review resumes, cover letters, graduate school essays and other materials via email at career.readiness@unco.edu. A career counselor will review materials and send them back with comments and considerations within one week. Presentations may also be delivered to groups virtually. To request a presentation for a group, please use this online form.

Housing, Dining, and Food Assistance Services

  • Housing: The Housing & Residential Education Department will continue to provide housing for students who need a place to live. If you currently need housing, please contact the Arlington Park Desk at 970-351-4888 for assistance. If you prefer to live elsewhere, you're always welcome to move out of the halls and check out during scheduled times. The Division of Student Affairs has communicated with all students who live in campus housing via email with information about when and how they may return to campus to retrieve their belongings and check out.
  • Dining: After spring break, dining services will be available for students who remain on campus, but hours and locations will be reduced. Holmes Hall will serve as the primary dining facility and is open in a limited capacity. The Gourmet To Go area will be open from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Monday through Sunday beginning Sunday, March 22. Students may come in to receive up to three to-go meals per day. Options will include something that can be heated up, along with some of the pre-packaged items normally offered. All retail operations will be closed, however dining dollars can be used in campus vending machines. If hours, locations, or other changes to operations are made, we will make sure you are notified immediately. Current operations and hours for dining services will be maintained on the Dining Services website. UNC Dining Services is following the direction of the Weld County Health Department and health inspectors have approved our current practices.
  • Bear Pantry: The Bear Pantry will reopen Monday, March 23 and is preparing “grab and go” bags containing basic food items for students facing food insecurity. To request a bag for pick up, email Bear.Pantry@unco.edu with your name and any dietary restrictions. Updated information about pick-up times and availability is posted on their website.
  • Campus Recreation: In compliance with CDC protocols and an order from Governor Polis, the Campus Recreation Center and its services have been closed for the rest of the spring semester. During this time, UNC’s Campus Rec Fit Well Instagram page will share workout routines you can do from home.
  • Office of Student Life: In this time of “social distancing,” the requirement to stay away from one another seems to be counter to what we as humans have been hard-wired to do—to seek out and support one another. The Office of Student Life is committed to continuing to provide campus programming that helps students find connections and a sense of belonging at UNC. Our delivery methods will look a little different for the foreseeable future, but rest assured we are working hard to identify ways for UNC Bears to connect and support one another for the rest of the semester and moving forward.

Additional Student Support

  • Student Outreach and Support: If you or someone you know is struggling with difficult situations like food or housing insecurity, mental health concerns, or personal crisis, you can connect with a case manager by emailing sos@unco.edu or submitting this form.
  • Student Legal Services: Students will still have access to consultations through Student Legal Services. To set up a phone or Skype appointment with Mr. Brandon Houtchens, Attorney at Law, please email dos@unco.edu.
  • Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance: OIEC staff will work with students and staff to schedule phone and video meetings to address concerns that arise. The office can be reached by phone at 970-351-4899 or email at titleix@unco.edu.
  • Cultural and Resource Centers: The Centers will continue to be a source of support, education, and networking. To increase cultural and identity awareness and inter-connectedness for the campus community during these times, the Centers will use online networks for continued outreach, coordinate online connection time, and deliver inclusive online resources and education for the campus. The Centers are committed to student success and will provide unique and engaging opportunities for students through this period. Beginning March 25, each of our cultural and resource centers will post activities, resources, and events planned for the duration of the semester on their individual websites. 

Selected Frequently Asked Questions from Students

What is going to happen to Commencement?

We understand Commencement is so much more than an event. It is a motivator, symbol, and well-earned moment of public recognition graduates deserve, especially for those who are first in their family to obtain a college or advanced degree. Under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and State of Colorado ordering the cancellation of large events, we have made the decision to not hold Spring Commencement in person in May. This was a difficult and even disheartening decision to have to make. While UNC cannot host Spring Commencement as planned, we are going to be creative and commit to celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2020. Graduates are encouraged to give their input through the survey we sent to their UNC email accounts on Wednesday, March 18. This is your opportunity to contribute your ideas. We'll find a good solution for our graduates!

Will I get my money back for my cap and gown?

Herff Jones, the cap and gown vendor that supplies our rentals, will refund your cap and gown rental costs. They are working on a streamlined way for graduates to cancel orders and request a refund through their website. We will send that link to graduates once it is live, but you may also call the customer phone number to request a refund at 1-800-837-4235.

I am a student worker. What will happen to my job?

We know many of you depend on the money you earn through your work on campus. On Thursday, March 19, Human Resources sent emails to all student workers and their supervisors outlining the University’s commitment to pay student workers through April 30, 2020. Some students will continue to report to work on campus and others may be permitted to work from home. Those whose work does not allow for either of these options will still be paid through April. Please refer to the email that was sent for additional information and look for specific guidance from your supervisor in the coming days.

UNC is encouraging me to not return to the residence halls and I am staying elsewhere for the rest of the semester. Will I get my money back for housing and dining?

The President’s Cabinet is currently working on a plan and will provide additional information soon—no later than March 27. This is a very complex issue and we are gathering guidance and information from myriad sources including Financial Aid offices, Colorado’s Department of Higher Education, peer institutions, and the Federal Government. We know an answer is important to our students and their families or support groups. We ask for patience as we work through this issue.

Additional FAQs, including student-specific FAQs and answers are posted on the UNC Coronavirus Information & Resources page.