CU Boulder is beginning the process of returning to research and creative work operations on campus starting with a soft launch May 26. 

Our plans prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, researchers, staff and community. Please be patient as we gradually support more research and creative work on campus. 

Note: Any work that can be done remotely should continue to be done off-campus.

Our return will take place in phases. Phase 1 (limited work on campus), starting May 26, will incrementally increase on-campus research and creative work while introducing safety and monitoring processes that can evolve as we transition to less restrictive phases over the coming year. 

Planning for Phase 2 (expanded work on campus) and Phase 3 (full operations) is already well underway. A faculty-led committee has developed general guidance and criteria for selecting what research and creative work and field work will resume through these phases.

Research Continuity FAQs

As we return to campus, we will integrate guidance shown to manage the spread of the virus, especially:

  • Maintain appropriate social distancing, including limiting density of people

  • Wear a required face mask

  • Clean local work area and practice hand hygiene

  • Complete daily health questionnaire and report illness if sick

These guidelines will be reinforced through a Skillsoft training that will be required of everyone returning to work on campus. To access this training, visit mycuinfo.colorado.edu, click on Skillsoft, then CU Boulder, then search for CU: COVID-19 Safety and Awareness—CU Boulder​. 

Requests to return to on-campus research and creative work or field work will be initiated by the Principal Investigator completing the Request to Return form. Criteria to be considered include: criticality of the research; implications of further delay; the full range of risks associated with returning to the activities; and target occupancy densities at a range of levels (room, floor, building, campus, etc). This form will be forwarded to your chair/institute director who will evaluate the request based on the above criteria. 

Requests approved by the chair/institute director will be reviewed by the deans/associate deans and then by the vice chancellor for Research and Innovation. You will be notified by email with the decision. Requests will be reviewed on a weekly basis starting Wednesday, May 20 with decisions communicated by the following Monday. If the chair or institute director has questions about the request, it may result in a delay in completing the review. Please be patient as we work through this process.

  • To support returning to campus research and creative work or field work, cleaning kits are being prepared for PIs to use in buildings and labs. These kits will include gloves for cleaning, cleaning supplies, sanitizing supplies for surfaces and hands, paper towels and CDC guidelines for prevention of virus spread and cleaning protocols.

  • Campus Medical Services will coordinate contact tracing based on illness reporting by the individual, supervisor or colleague. Communication and cleaning will be arranged based on their findings.

  • Campus is exploring on-campus COVID-19 testing. However, at this time, if individuals who have been on campus are sick, they should seek COVID-19 testing from their primary care provider. Additionally, they must complete an illness reporting form, which will be available as part of the daily health questionnaire.

The Office of Contracts and Grants is submitting proposals, accepting awards, issuing subawards and addressing Sponsor, PI, department and other sponsored research needs as usual. The Council on Government Relations also has an up-to-date listing of funding agency-issued COVID-19 related guidance.

 The Council on Government Relations (COGR), an association of Research Universities and Affiliated Medical Centers and Independent Research Institutes, is compiling Federal Agency Guidance, Institutional Guidance and Additional Resources.