Spring Break FAQ

Email highlights

• Spring break is Saturday, March 20 through Tuesday, March 30, 2021
• All students must complete the Spring Break Travel Survey by Friday, Feb. 19.
• Students are encouraged to avoid travel
• Students who do travel over spring break, must follow the return-to-campus protocols, which include a negative COVID-19 test and seven-day quarantine.
• Campus amenities and dining will remain open over spring break, and there will be fun, engaging and safe social opportunities for students who decide not to travel.
• Most of the FAQs apply to undergraduate students

Dear DU students,

We recognize you and your families have questions about how the University of Denver will approach spring break—specifically travel over the break—in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is an incredibly dynamic situation and we wanted to wait to make choices about our spring break policies and protocols. Thank you for your patience.

Based on the current conditions here in at DU, in Denver and nationally, our spring break policy is that students may leave campus or travel for spring break. However, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are encouraging students to relax, recharge and remain on campus or at home here in the Denver area over break.

All undergraduate and graduate students (as well as DU faculty and staff) are required to complete the Spring Break Travel Survey by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 19. You can find the survey on your PioneerWeb homepage. If you do not complete the survey, we will assume your intention is to travel during the break, and you will be required to follow the return-to-campus protocol outlined in the FAQ below.

Additional information about how we will manage the return back to campus after spring break—for those who opt to travel and otherwise—can be found in the FAQ section below.

Spring Break 2021 - FAQ

What do I need to do before spring break?

All students must complete the spring break travel survey available now on PioneerWeb by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 19. The results of the survey will help DU identify which community members will remain on campus over spring break and which intend to travel.

We also ask for your honesty and transparency, as doing so will help us mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and keep one another—and ourselves—safe.

Is spring break cancelled?

Spring break is not cancelled for most DU students. There will be no spring break for undergraduate and graduate students in the Sturm College of Law.

When is spring break?

Saturday, March 20 through Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Classes resume on Wednesday, March 31. Again, there is no spring break for undergraduate and graduate students in the Sturm College of Law.

I want to stay on campus, but I don’t want to be stuck in my room. Will there be any on-campus spring break programming or safe events?

Yes. We highly encourage students to remain on campus—and we also want the break to be fun, relaxing and restorative.

Student Life and Inclusive Excellence is collaborating with the DU Programming Board to create spring break programming for students to socialize and recharge safely. Please check CrimsonConnect for activities, programs and events occurring during the break.

You may also consider taking an interterm class. Find the current listing of interterm classes here.

If I do travel for spring break, what are the protocols for returning to campus?

You will be required to submit proof of a negative test for COVID-19 (you may take your COVID test upon return to campus), and you must complete a seven-day quarantine. This quarantine may be conducted at home for those living off campus or in your on-campus residence hall or congregate housing for those living on campus or in fraternity or sorority housing.

You will need to attend all your classes virtually during the required seven-day quarantine if you travel over spring break.

If I live in fraternity or sorority housing, may I travel for spring break?

Everyone is permitted to travel for spring break if they choose. The same return to campus protocols apply to all students who choose to travel.

What if I don’t travel out of state but visit the mountains or other Colorado locations over spring break?

Whether you travel out of state, within the state, or not at all, if you miss a scheduled test on the testing schedule you have been following since the start of the winter term, you will need to follow the return-to-campus protocol. You are also required to follow the return-to-campus protocol if you spend at least one night away from home or campus.

You will be required to submit proof of a negative test for COVID-19, and you must complete a seven-day quarantine.

If I decide to remain on campus, do I need to follow the return-to-campus protocols?

If you stay on campus, you are required to continue the COVID-19 testing schedule you’ve been following since the start of the winter term. You will not need to complete a seven-day quarantine unless you travel. 

I am not traveling over spring break. Do I need to follow the return-to-campus protocols?

No. You only need to follow the return-to-campus protocol if you miss a scheduled test on the testing schedule you have been following since the start of the winter.

How is the University tracking who travels over spring break? What about non-residential students?

All residential and off campus students must complete the spring break travel survey available now on PioneerWeb by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 19. (Faculty, staff and graduate students who expect to be on campus are also required to complete the survey.)

Will the residence halls close over spring break?

No. The residence halls will remain open over the course of the break.

Will the dining halls and Community commons remain open over spring break?

Yes, all normal dining options will be open over spring break. The results of the spring break survey will determine whether these amenities will have reduced operating hours or not. These details will be shared with the community as soon as they are available.

Will all DU amenities be open over spring break, e.g., the Ritchie Center and Anderson?

Yes, all standard amenities will be open over spring break. The results of the spring break survey will determine whether these amenities will have reduced operating hours or not. These details will be shared with the community as soon as they are available.

Do I need to fill out the daily symptom monitoring survey if I travel away for spring break?

No. You only need to complete the daily symptom monitoring if you are physically on campus. Please take care of yourselves, and each other, and let my colleagues and I know if we can be of any help to you as winter term continues.

Warm regards,

Todd Adams
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs