From Dean Anaya: COVID-19 Update
March 16, 2020
Dear Colorado Law students, faculty, and staff,
As the COVID-19 situation rapidly develops I know this is aÌýchallengingÌýtime for ourÌýcommunity. TheÌýwell-being of each of you is of foremost concernÌýto theÌýuniversity, campus, and law school leadership.
As stated in the Chancellor’s message on March 16, the campus is takingÌýadditionalÌýsteps to address the situation.ÌýRemote teaching and learning will continue as previously anticipated. However, operations on campus, and at the Wolf LawÌýBuilding, are being further reduced. Only critical servicesÌýemployees should be working on campus, effective Wednesday, March 18. As stated by the Chancellor, "[c]ritical services employees are those individuals who perform activities and tasks that must be done on campus and cannot be deferred during an emergency." All other employeesÌýshould transition to remote working. Note that the Chancellor's message does not differentiate betweenÌýfacultyÌýand staffÌýemployeesÌýin this regard. Juli Carey—our dedicated staff HR Manager—and Jen SullivanÌý—Ìýour Senior Assistant Dean forÌýAdministration and a key leader in the lawÌýschool'sÌýresponse to the situation overall—are working to identify and orient critical service employees. Juli will also follow up onÌýremote working expectations.
Given this development, the law school building will be closed, effectiveÌýWednesday,ÌýMarch 18. However, it will continue to be accessible to those with a BuffOne card,Ìýin accordance with the earlier-established protocol. ÌýIn his recent message the Chancellor advises,Ìý"The university continues to evaluateÌýaccess to buildings. Additional changes will be communicated through building proctors."
Please note also that the Wise Law Library will be closed effective Wednesday, March 18.
The campus and law school are deeply concerned with the personal and academic well-being of students during this trying and uncertain time. Campus leadership is in the process of discussing how to further support students in this regard. I will keep you posted.
We have created aÌýwebpage with law school-specific updatesÌýregarding COVID-19 and how it affects our community. Information is changing quickly, so please continue to monitor this page for the latest updates. Make sure also to consult theÌýcampus’s webpageÌýfor campus-wide updates and health information.
I fullyÌýunderstand the escalating unease and uncertainty beingÌýfelt by the members of our community, including in highly personalized ways. The campus and law school’s responses to the COVID-19 threat are done on the basis of the best available knowledge and professional advice, and with your health and safety as our top priority. At the same time, we must each do our part to blunt the threat, byÌýheeding the advice now well-known ofÌýhygiene and unfortunate physical distancing, and byÌýcontinuingÌýto take care and (from a certain physical distance) care for each other.
Be Well,
S. James Anaya
Dean and University DistinguishedÌýProfessor