Student Update on Coronavirus: March 25, 2020

Dear Students,

We’re excited to see you soon, online and hard at work on your spring quarter classes. While we continue to collaborate on some of these details with colleagues across campus, here are a few updates to help ease your transition to online learning and the first day of classes on Monday, March 30. (Except for our Sturm School of Law students who have been working hard online already, major props to you.) Meanwhile, you can find some general tips here.

• Textbooks are available through the DU Bookstore. For textbooks as well as personal items, the bookstore is offering free shipping with no minimum purchase to students living off-campus. For students remaining on campus, appointments to pick up materials may be made by emailing DU@bkstr.com. Rental returns for the winter quarter also are free, and they’ve extended the non-return period to April 13. You can find free shipping labels, book lists for spring quarter, and other resources here.
• DU Libraries at your service. The Libraries provide access to millions of articles, videos, and e-books online. Search Compass from the main library page or view the complete list of databases. For information on how to access library resources remotely, please see Research Guides and Off-Campus Resources Guide. Librarians are available to chat with students to provide help finding and using resources.
• Tech support continues 24/7. IT@DU has prepared a list of technology resources to help students prepare to seamlessly continue their online learning from a distance. This toolkit will help you to attend classes remotely, prepare in advance for any additional disruptions to campus operations, and communicate with instructors and classmates during both normal operations and large-scale disruptions. IT Support is also available by calling 303-871-4700. You can also request help online or search the IT online knowledge base.
• Access to campus is now restricted. We have restricted access to campus for anything other than “essential” business, due to the statewide stay-at-home order in place through April 11 (or otherwise advised). This means that most buildings are closed until further notice and that your ID card will not work to open them.
• Meal plans for residential students. During Spring Break, grab-and-go meals (lunch and dinner) from Halls Dining Room are free to all students living on campus during this time. Spring quarter meal plans are still being developed. Stay tuned for offerings, including NEW delivery options!
• Fee considerations. If you believe you are eligible for a refund that is not yet reflected on your bill (i.e., activity fees, room and board, health services) please contact Student Financial Services atbursar@du.edu.
• Community life. A team of students and professionals are working hard to produce a vibrant community life for you all, even while we may be physically apart. Stay tuned for offerings and keep checking our newsletters and social media posts for those communications. Now is also a great time to get (re)acquainted with CrimsonConnect, our new online Student Engagement Portal. You can log in online at crimsonconnect.du.edu with your first.last@du.edu email address and password, or through the mobile app CrimsonConnect DU available in the GooglePlay and Apple Stores. (If you previously downloaded to an iPhone, be sure to install the updated version from the Apple Store). Get started with some video tutorials here. 

Thank you for your resilience as we adjust to our “new normal.” As we support you wholeheartedly, we are eager to discover the unexpected ways we all will learn from this experience and relate to one another in new ways.  

Sincerely,

Liliana Rodriguez
Vice Chancellor for Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence