Return to Campus – Spring 2021 – Department of Art & Art History

Department of Art & Art History COVID-19 Updates and Guidance

The Department of Art & Art History has been working to prepare for the return to campus and the fall semester. COVID-19 has brought unique demands to the educational environment, and we are re-creating our courses, programs, and facilities to meet the challenges of an evolving and changing situation.

Our goal has been to create a safe physical environment as we can be based on the best practices provided by public health officials. The timeline of the semester and the modalities of learning will be different this fall, but the goal remains to provide a rigorous environment for the study of the visual arts. This page is a compilation of the current information about the fall semester, information on how the department is addressing COVID-19, and what it will mean for your education.

If you have further questions, please contact us at info@art.utah.edu

University resources

A number of University-wide safety guidelines are in place for the fall semester. These include mandatory face coverings, maintaining at least 6 feet of social distance whenever possible, and frequent hand washing/sanitizing. More information is available at Return to Campus: Student Information. The University’s COVID-19 Central website is also updated regularly.

All University of Utah students will be required to complete online training that will cover proper sanitation, hygiene, and social distancing practices. After training is completed students will be asked to sign an attestation stating they will adhere to all safety protocols. The training is available at Return to Campus: Required Training.

The Department has focused its safety efforts on the following items.

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University of Utah Fall 2020 Modalities of Class Instruction

In the Schedule of Classes for Fall 2020, you will notice that the University of Utah has changed how instruction for many courses will be delivered, and it has categorized courses into five (5) modalities of instruction. Courses offered through the Department of Art & Art History will be utilizing all of these modes. When signing up for a class, please note how it will be conducted.

Listed below are the five (5) modalities of instruction you will find in the Fall 2020 Schedule of Classes. Three (3) of these modalities include in-person instruction, and two (2) of these modalities involve remote instruction exclusively.

Classes using the following modalities of instruction include in-person instruction:

In-Person –a campus-based, entirely in-person class with a scheduled room and meeting time.
IVC-Hybrid –class is a mixture of in-person and synchronous online interactive video modalities.
Hybrid – a blending of synchronous in-person and asynchronous online modalities (ex – dividing your class in ½ and not all at the same time).

Classes using the following modalities of instruction include remote instruction only:

IVC (Interactive Video Conferencing) – synchronous delivery using web video technology. The class has a scheduled meeting time, with Canvas as the class location providing learning materials and links to join the class video meetings.
Online – a class facilitated online, primarily through Canvas, with greater than 80 percent of the required learning activities taking place asynchronously. An online course does not have required locations or meeting times; although, regular, substantive instructor-student interactions are an expected part of the teaching and learning process.

Because online components will be part of many classes, students will need access to a computer and a good internet connection. The Marriott Library has computers, hot spots, and other electronic equipment available for student check-out.

Academic Calendar Adjustment for Fall 2020

Another significant campus-wide adjustment to note is that the two weeks from September 27th through October 11th, all classes will be taught either IVC or online, regardless of their instructional modality. This is to help encourage safety during the week prior and during the Vice-Presidential Debate. During this time, the Art building will not be able to be used for any instruction, creative, or office work.

All in-person instruction will conclude Wednesday, November 25th, and all classes, final exams, and critiques will be delivered in online modalities through the end of the Fall semester, which concludes on December 11, 2020.

Please reference coronavirus.utah.edu for university policies concerning Covid-19 updates and information
Always clean shared equipment surfaces with sanitizer before and after use.
Surface cleaning between classes: students will be provided sanitizing wipes to clean their own personal space. Facilities do not have the capacity to clean all classrooms.
Sanitizers and shop towels are located in all community lab spaces, including computer labs, seminar rooms, tool room, laser/large format printing room, main art office for copier and water cooler, photo lab, print shop sculpture area, painting studios.
Personnel must wear eye protection in studio/lab spaces when social distancing is not possible during in-person instruction.
The Department office will have a Plexi cover at the window to allow extra protection between staff and students as well as hand sanitizer and/or spray available.

Guidelines/Procedures for personnel movement in the Art & Sculpture buildings

Exterior doors at North-East and North-West of building 038 ART are designated as ENTRANCE ONLY.
Exterior ADA entrance and exit are located at North-East of building 038 ART.
Exterior doors at South-East and South-West of building 038 ART are designated as EXIT ONLY.
North-West Stairwell has been designated as “UP ONLY UNLESS IN EMERGENCY.”
Left-hand door to North-West Stairwell has been designated as “DOWN ONLY” for basement/FAMB access.
South-West Stairwell has been designated as “DOWN ONLY UNLESS IN EMERGENCY.”
Wayfinding signage will be posted in hallways directing personnel to “UP ONLY” or “DOWN ONLY” stairwells.
Students are asked to wait outside classrooms until outgoing students have left the space and space has been cleaned. Students may enter the classroom once space has been cleaned and the professor indicates it is time for students to enter space.
Double doors to room 158 Auditorium are designated as entrance only, the rear door of Rm. 158 Auditorium is designated as an exit only.
Outgoing students in Rm. 158 are instructed to leave the auditorium through the rear door when classes are over.
Double doors accessed from the North (elevator) end of the art building to Rm. 273 are designated as entrance only, double doors on the South end of Rm. 273 are designated as an exit only.
Hallways must be kept clear of equipment to allow safe passage.
Hallways are divided by the yellow lines in an effort to indicate the area of safe passage.
Gittins Gallery will be open for students to relax while waiting for classes to begin.

Space Occupancy

In-person classes, classroom capacity is determined by classroom size and the ability to maintain a 6-foot space between students.
Interactions in decreased group sizes that enable all physical distancing guidelines to be maintained; physical interactions in groups of 20 or fewer.
Space occupancy numbers are posted on classroom doors or inside spaces containing multiple lab spaces.
Posted occupancy numbers reflect the number of students per space.
Faculty occupancy for each space is 1-2 in addition to student occupancy.
Please make note of occupancy numbers and adhere to social distancing guidelines set forth by the University of Utah.
Restroom occupancy will be limited to 1 personnel at a time, restroom stalls will be limited to maintain social distancing guidelines.
Classroom computer work stations will be limited to social distancing guidelines by computer keyboard, mouse removal, or use of screen lock.
Personnel must wear eye protection in studio/lab spaces when social distancing is not possible during in-person instruction.

Alvin Gittins Gallery

The gallery will be open Monday through Friday – 10 AM to 2 PM, only when there is an exhibition.
A maximum of 20 people is allowed in the gallery at one time.
You must wear a mask while in the gallery.
Hand-sanitizer is located just north of the gallery in the hallway, next to the Art building entrances.

There will be schedulable studio and lab times available in several of our creative spaces: woodshop, ceramics, photography studio and darkroom, and Owen computer lab. Each space has been optimized for social distancing and has necessary sanitizing supplies. Students will be required to clean their spaces as they enter and exit. Personnel must wear eye protection in studio/lab spaces when social distancing is not possible.
Only students enrolled in a course are allowed to schedule time or be in the studio/lab spaces.
Appointment scheduling information will be provided by your instructor through Canvas.

There are lockers available on all three floors of the Art Building, available to major and non-major students. If you find an open locker (no lock and cleaned out), please put your lock on it and come to the office (RM 161) M-F 9 AM to 4 PM to let us know which one you will be using.
Ceramics and Sculpture lockers will be assigned by your instructor.
ALL LOCKERS MUST BE CLEARED OUT PRIOR TO THE THANKSGIVING BREAK. No exceptions. In case there are any changes during the holidays, you will have all your supplies with you.
We will have a new online system up and running for the Spring semester.

Building Hours:
Monday through Friday – 7:30 AM to 9 PM, Ucard access only on weekends. Office Hours:
Monday through Friday – 10 AM to 2 PM, reach us by email as well. CFA Academic Advisors:
Schedule an appointment Print Cards & Other Purchases and Fees:
We are still determining the safest way to handle these transactions.