Back to School: Fall 2020 Campus Info

With the health of our students at the center of our work, we are proud to offer a mixture of in-person studio courses, hybrid courses, and remote classes structured to reflect our commitment to promoting public health while fulfilling our fundamental mission of transformative undergraduate and graduate education.

Equipped with guidance and ideas from our leading scholars, innovative students, and expert staff, we will welcome students to the Ann Arbor campus, classrooms, and residence halls. Most students will have the option of choosing whether to return to Ann Arbor for a hybrid learning experience or study from home in a fully remote mode.

Highlights from the Stamps School’s “Campus Return” plan include:

• De-densification measures that restrict classroom and student occupancy to reduce the number of people in any given space
• Strict adherence to the U-M mask-wearing policy
• Re-designing spaces and experiences to allow people to maintain social distance of 6 feet
• Signage, wayfinding, and training designed to promote social distance, de-densification, and mindful interactions
• Increased disinfection for high-touch spots
• New disinfecting policies, protocols, and supplies for students, faculty, and staff to join in the shared responsibility for keeping our workspaces and equipment safe.

Learn more about the Stamps School’s Campus Return plan and policies in this Google Document.

The fall semester will look and feel very different due to the challenges of COVID-19, and will bring with it new protocols and strategies that are necessary to keep our community safe. Here at Stamps, we will ask all of you to join in prudent health and safety actions that will embody our commitment to caring for one another.

Public Programs

The Penny Stamps Speaker Series will continue in an online-only format for the fall 2020 semester. Season details to be announced in late August, 2020.

Stamps Gallery will be open to University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students during the Fall 2020 academic term on Tuesdays and Fridays, 2 pm-7 pm starting with the first exhibition of the academic year, opening on September 15, 2020. All visitors must have a valid M-Card to enter Stamps Gallery. We are unable to welcome the general public to this space at this time, although Stamps Gallery plans on hosting virtual programs for the general public. Information on virtual public programs and exhibitions to be announced in late August, 2020.

Stay Up-to-Date

There are three important websites to bookmark for up-to-date information about your public health-informed fall semester:

• The Stamps School of Art & Design’s Community-Wide COVID-19 Policies and Updates
• The university's Maize and Blueprint website
• The School of Public Health’s coronavirus news page
  
  

Additionally, faculty, staff, students, and families will find the following resources helpful:

• The Stamps Undergraduate Student Advising Canvas Site [undergraduate students and faculty only]
• The Stamps Graduate Student Canvas Site [graduate students only]
• The Stamps Studios Canvas Site [students, faculty, and staff only]
• The Stamps Parents & Families Canvas Site [parents and families only]
• The Faculty/Staff Canvas Site [faculty and staff only]
• The Stamps Instructors Canvas Site [faculty and instructors only]

Building Hours, Access, and Navigation

Currently, only authorized personnel have access to the Art & Architecture building. Beginning August 31, 2020, access to the Art & Architecture building (2000 Bonisteel Blvd) will be converted to “all valid MCard” entry only. This means that only individuals with a valid University of Michigan ID (MCard) may enter the building. No visitors are permitted.

Starting August 31, Art & Architecture building hours are as follows:

• Monday-Friday: 7 am-10 pm
• Saturday-Sunday: 7 am-7 pm

Please note: access outside of these hours will be for essential staff and emergency personnel only.

The Art & Architecture building will also have six designated entry / exit points:

• Entrance A: Northwest entryway, also known as the “column entrance”
• Entrance B: Northeast entryway, on the “Work Commons” side of the building
• Entrance C: Southwest entryway, facing the Fuller Road Parking Lot, near the Woodshop
• Entrance D: Southeast entryway, facing the Fuller Road Parking Lot, near the Art & Architecture Auditorium
• Entrance E: Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Wing North
• Entrance F: Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Undercroft: 1 door (near the bike racks)

Prior to the first class of the semester, all students should familiarize themselves with our school map and virtual tour. While entryways will be clearly marked with external signage, our building can be very complex to navigate and due to de-densification measures, staffing assistance with this navigation will be lighter than in a usual year. It is important that everyone has a sense of their pathways to class prior to arrival to the building. Here are some tools to help you do just that:

• Art & Architecture Building Map
• Stamps School Virtual Tour

Stamps Main Office

The Stamps School Main Office, located on the second floor of the Art & Architecture Building (2000 Bonisteel), will be open with limited hours. Starting September 28, 2020, the Stamps Main Office will be open during the following times:

• Mondays: 1pm-5 pm
• Tuesdays: 8 am-5 pm
• Wednesdays: 1 pm-5 pm
• Thursdays: 8 am-5 pm
• Fridays: Closed. Scott Creech, Human Resources Generalist, will be on site working from his office (2029 A&A) to provide emergency support.

When the Stamps Main Office is open, please note the following break periods where you can expect closure:

• 10-10:15 am
• Noon-1 pm
• 3-3:15 pm

The office might also need to be closed for brief periods outside of those times for unexpected needs. Visitors to the main office will be asked to adhere to all social distancing protocols and will encounter a plexiglass barrier installed at our front desk.

Compliance Reporting

Students, faculty, and staff at both the Stamps School and Taubman College will be encouraged to report non-emergency building compliance concerns via our “Art + Architecture Building Compliance Issues” form. This form may be filled out anonymously, if desired.

Responses will be monitored for trends and proactive solutions will be implemented for recurring issues. Coordination between the chiefs of staff of Taubman and Stamps will occur on a regular basis to share what is being reported and to identify next steps.

Issues may also be brought to the attention of HR and Dean’s office staff.

Faculty, staff and students will also be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) for consultation regarding concerns of bias, harassment, ADA non-compliance, and other issues that may fall under OIE’s mission.