Updates & Messages

What's New

Reminder: Jan. 31 Return to Campus

As a reminder, campus is in remote status from Jan. 18 – 28. Campus will welcome students, faculty, and staff back on Monday, Jan. 31.

White House Launches At-Home COVID Test Website

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. The tests are free.

Free KN95 and Surgical-Grade Masks

The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is offering KN95 and surgical grade masks for free at public libraries and other community sites across the state.

Booster Requirement

A COVID booster shot will be required for all students, faculty, and staff beginning Jan. 31, 2022. If it has been less than six months since your last COVID vaccine, you will be required to get the booster within one month of eligibility. Booster shots are available at the Health Center at Auraria.

Mental Health Resources

Caring for our mental health during these uncertain times is essential. Below are resources available to students, faculty, and staff.

Mental Health

• You@CUDenver: Tips and tools for taking care of your health, education, relationships, and more. Free for students, faculty and staff.
• Nod: Opportunities and ideas for student connection. Free for CU Denver students.
• Counseling Center: Therapeutic individual, group, couples and crisis counseling for CU Denver students. This service is free and confidential.
• Colorado Crisis Services: Confidential mental health support hotline available 24/7.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Free confidential support available 24/7 for people in distress, including suicide prevention and crisis resources.
• CU Denver Psychology Clinic: High-quality, compassionate therapeutic services offered in a confidential setting.
• Phoenix Center at Auraria: Free, confidential services for survivors of interpersonal violence.

Training and Support

• CU Denver Red Folder: Resources and guidance for faculty and staff on how to identify and respond to students in distress.
• Mental Health First Aid Courses: Free, 8-hour certification course for faculty, staff, and students.
• You Can Help a Friend: Free, 1-hour, online course for students.
• You can Help a Student: Free, 1-hour, online course for faculty.
• CU Denver CARE Team: The Campus, Assessment, Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team provides support and resources to students who are struggling. Anyone can submit a CARE Report if they are concerned for a student’s wellbeing.

Important Reminders

Get tested—It’s Free and Protects Our Community!

All CU Denver community members and their families can get tested for free on campus or in the community. Through our partnership with COVIDCheckColorado, you can sign up to get tested at various locations.

COVID-19 Case Self-Reporting Process

All CU Denver community members are required to fill out this COVID-19 self-report form if they:

• Have had exposure to a COVID-19 confirmed case
• Are having or have experienced COVID-19-like symptoms
• Have received a positive COVID-19 test result

Mandatory Weekly Testing Requirements

If you submit for a vaccine exemption, you have been automatically routed into a mandatory COVID-19 weekly testing program through Primary HealthBio. To be recorded as compliant with this program in CU Denver’s database, you must get tested weekly and do the following three things:

• You must be tested at one of the on- or off-campus locations listed here.
• You must use your university email address to sign up for a testing appointment.
• You must schedule your appointment through this link.

*As a reminder, unvaccinated individuals MUST wear a mask everywhere indoors on campus at all times, including in private offices.

If you do not schedule your test, you will not be allowed on campus and you will be placed on leave without pay until you complete the required testing. If an employee continues to fail to get tested as required, their supervisor will be notified and they may be subject to additional corrective and disciplinary action, including possible termination.

Students who continuously violate the terms of the mandatory testing program will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. A regular pattern of failing to get tested, refusing to wear a mask while on campus, or failing to regularly complete the daily attestation will result in sanctions, including but not limited to summary suspension, permanent removal from campus, and or expulsion.

Updated: COVID-19 Policies for Events & Activities

All participants at indoor events must wear masks. Vaccinated event attendees can remove their mask if they are actively eating. Food is permitted at seated, indoor events if some distancing can be accomplished. Banquet rounds of 4 instead of 8 are recommended. Food cannot be self-serve (buffet style), and those serving food must be masked and vaccinated. Receptions are not permitted at this time. Beverages can be enjoyed indoors by briefly lifting your mask during an event or meeting. Outdoor events and activities are generally permitted. If your event will include 250 people or more, political presence, or media, please notify events@ucdenver.edu.  Click here to view more event guidance.

Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases in Classrooms and/or Office Settings

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we’d like to update CU Denver faculty and staff teaching in classrooms or working in office settings on how the Contact Tracing Team responds to positive cases of COVID-19.  

If You Haven’t Already, Get Your COVID Vaccine

If you haven’t been vaccinated, we encourage you to get your COVID vaccination as soon as possible. All CU students, faculty, and staff are required to get the vaccine if you are on campus this academic year.

Free vaccinations are available on campus at the Health Center at Auraria in the Plaza Building, room 111. Scheduling hours through the fall semester are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday. Please also see the CDPHE website for all the locations that offer free vaccinations across the state. 

Events & Eating on Campus

Masks are required in all indoor spaces on campus. Events can continue to be held indoors and outdoors. If you’re offering food, it needs to be outdoors or grab and go. Beverages can be enjoyed indoors by briefly lifting your mask during an event or meeting. Events with food cannot be self-serve (buffet style). If someone is serving food to attendees, they must be masked and vaccinated. This also applies for off-campus events.  At this time, we highly encourage campus members to host events outdoors if possible.

Disability Accommodations 

Because of the ongoing requirement for unvaccinated individuals to wear masks on campus, individuals with disabilities may need accommodations. Students  encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Resources at disabilityresources@ucdenver.eduand employees can contact Human Resources at HR.ADACoordinator@ucdenver.edu.   

Reminder: Mask Requirement on Campus

Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others, according to the CDC. Due to the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, all individuals regardless of vaccination status are required to wear masks while indoors on campus. Vaccinated individuals may remove their masks indoors when able to maintain 10 feet of social distancing. Faculty and staff with private offices with a door may work mask-free when alone. Unvaccinated individuals MUST wear a mask everywhere indoors on campus at all times, including in private offices.

Compliance with this guideline will be monitored by campus ambassadors. Violations will be reported to employee supervisors or the Office of Student Conduct.