Dear Auraria Campus community,

To ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the Auraria Campus is planning to adopt a teaching and learning model that supports a robust array of on-campus and online classes for the fall 2020 semester. Social distancing protocols projected for Denver this fall indicate that we will not be able to hold the same number of in-person courses on campus. Each institution, in collaboration with AHEC, will make every effort to safely accommodate the many classes that require a face-to-face learning experience while also greatly expanding and enhancing their online offerings. We believe this mixed model will allow the Auraria Campus to prioritize the health of our campus community members and do our part to contain the COVID-19 virus, as well as continue to offer high-quality and flexible education to as many students as possible. 

To make this happen, each institution will be sorting their classes into three tiers: on-campus required, on-campus preferred, and online-ready. Priority for on-campus instruction will be given to those courses in the “required” tier. Once those classes are accommodated, each institution will assess those in the “preferred” tier. For on-campus offerings, each institution intends to spread out class times and have fewer students in physical classroom spaces. Students, faculty, and staff, along with all people on the Auraria campus, will be required to adhere to safety guidelines. 

Students will be notified throughout the summer by their Registrar’s Office or their academic department if a course they have registered for is impacted. It is anticipated that the vast majority of these notifications will be sent in early June to students’ institutional email addresses.

We all want to be back on campus and settle into our normal routine with classes this fall. As campus leadership, we are focused on the health and safety of our entire Auraria Campus family and our responsibilities as critical members of the Denver community. We will remain informed, strategic, and realistic as we navigate the months ahead. We are grateful to our students, faculty, and staff for their patience and flexibility as we plan for the safest delivery of classes possible, while also providing the highest quality education.  

Appreciatively,

Everette Freeman | President |  Community College of Denver 
Janine Davidson | President | Metropolitan State University of Denver
Dorothy Horrell | Chancellor | University of Colorado Denver
Colleen Walker | Chief Executive Officer | Auraria Higher Education Center