Safe Return to Campus

Yes.

• Our goal is to maintain our mission of providing high-quality, accessible, enriching education while keeping people safe.
• We are subject to and will follow city, state, and federal guidelines regarding in-person learning. These protocols are developed by public health professionals and aligning with this guidance will ensure we’re following the latest science and are consistent with community practices. 
• Safely providing access to in-person learning continues to be a priority and is key in fostering mental health, developing emotional intelligence, social and organizational skills crucial in career development.
• MSU Denver had the benefit of a later start to the semester than many other schools.
• CDC guidance and public health experts maintain Covid-19 transmission can be safely limited, even during an uptick.
• MSU Denver’s data- and science-based approach has been effective in safeguarding the health of our community while fostering in-person learning: keeping positivity rates on average less than 2% through the fall semester, fostering the vaccinations of more than 90% of on-campus students and 99% of faculty and staff and preventing any outbreaks on our campus.
• To help mitigate the evolving impacts of the pandemic, MSU Denver has recently revised its health and safety protocol, enacting a vaccine booster mandate, increasing access to testing, doubling down on masking requirements, daily health assessments and the reporting of any positive tests.

Individuals are encouraged to evaluate options and make decisions based on your personal health situation. Departments and supervisors are encouraged to evaluate needs to continue serving students and meeting our mission while keeping people safe. 

• For students, course and modality adjustments are available and can be coordinated with academic advisors in accordance with the academic calendar. Students are also encouraged to stay in close contact with faculty.  
• For faculty and staff, accommodations may be available per our Alternate Work Arrangements resources and the Healthy Families Workplace Act to assist employees in caring for themselves and loved ones. 

We are closely monitoring all departments for any disruptions and will make necessary adjustments if warranted.  

We are in close communication with city health officials and experts and will continue to follow their guidance.          

• Vaccine boosters are required.
• Masking is required indoors.
• Symptomatic and exposed individuals should get tested.
• Health assessment should be performed before coming to campus.
• Handwashing should be frequent
• Positive cases should be reported to the Health Center at Auraria.
• If you’re sick, stay home.

Review the full Health & Safety Protocols here. 

Previous Covid-19 variants were more likely to be transmitted by unvaccinated individuals, however, the Omicron variant is highly transmissible, regardless of vaccination status, rendering unvaccinated screening testing less effective.   

• They have been proven to limit the severity of the disease if transmitted; AND to limit the transmission of other variants 
• To help ensure workforce capacity to fulfill our mission  
• To safeguard much-needed hospital capacity and help reduce the strain on our healthcare system.  

Yes. MSU Denver requires masking indoors for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals per the following:

• Masks should cover both the nose and mouth; bandanas and gators are not permitted. Surgical, KN95 or N95 masks are strongly recommended.
• Face shields will be permitted as an alternative face covering, only with appropriate medical documentation from a licensed physician.
• Masks are not required outdoors but may be advised in large group settings.
• All students in classroom, instructional settings must wear masks at all times. Instructors who are vaccinated may remove their mask while teaching if 12 feet of distance is maintained. 
• Outside of instructional settings, vaccinated individuals may remove masks indoors only when actively eating or drinking or in an enclosed room alone. 

Students who have a documented medical condition that precludes wearing a traditional face mask should contact the Access Center to discuss their needs. Faculty and staff should consult with their supervisor or HR.

With appropriate medical documentation from a licensed physician, a face shield will be permitted as an alternative face covering. If approved, it is the individual’s personal responsibility to attain their own face shield. All individuals are required to wear face covering and a face shield will only be allowed with appropriate documentation.

Surgical masks available at the Jordan Student Success Building (JSSB) Welcome Desk. Contact [email protected] if you need some masks for your department.  Supplies are limited. We are working to secure more KN95 masks.

Free KN95 and surgical-grade masks are also available at various locations across Colorado, including public libraries, fire stations and rec centers, with a limit of five per person a month. More info on where to get free KN95 and surgical grade masks here.

All students, faculty and staff are expected to follow masking guidelines. Any issues with compliance should be reported to supervisors, chairs or deans.  Students may also reach out to the Student Covid-19 Compliance team with any questions. 

Human Resources has advised employees and supervisors to discuss how to accomplish goals and the University mission while adequately serving our students. Supervisors are empowered to staff their offices as necessary to facilitate their work while following health and safety protocol.

Resources to guide a safe return to campus are available in the Faculty & Staff Safe Return Guide.

Employee accommodations may be available per our Alternate Work Arrangements resources and the Healthy Families Workplace Act to assist employees in caring for themselves and loved ones. 

Please refer to the information in the Health & Safety Protocols site as well as the Student and Faculty/Staff Resources above.

For specific situations, faculty should contact their chairs; staff should contact their supervisors.

Students can always reach out to their advisor with specific academic questions or the Student Care Center for support.

If a student or employee receives a positive Covid-19 lab result, they should notify their advisor or supervisor and the Health Center at Auraria immediately.

• During normal business hours (Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) call 303-615-9999 
  
• After hours, please use the Covid-19 After-hours Positive Case Reporting Form 

Review the full FAQ on Covid-19 reporting and testing protocols here.

• • Perform a Daily Health-Assessment and do not come to campus if you have ANY symptoms unless it’s to obtain a Covid-19 test.  
  • Schedule a free test at the Health Center at Auraria here.  
  • Report positive test results using the Covid-19 Positive Case Reporting Form. If a student or employee receives a positive Covid-19 lab result, they should notify their advisor or supervisor and contact the Health Center at Auraria immediately. Following a positive test, the Health Center will contact an infected student’s professors to provide their timeline for return to campus. 
  • Students should connect with faculty on how to best stay up to date with class syllabus and course requirements. The Student CARE Team is also available to assist students should there be any concerns. 

Get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a more protective KN95/N95 mask, wash your hands frequently, perform a health assessment daily and do not come to campus if you have any symptoms.

If you are symptomatic or have been exposed to Covid-19, stay home until you receive test results, which should be within 48 hours.  

For optimal at-home testing results, test on the second day of symptom onset.  

Report positive test results immediately using the Covid-19 Positive Case Reporting Form.    

Please visit the Student Guide.  

Please visit the Faculty & Staff Guide.

Yes, all students and employees are required to be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19, within 30 days of eligibility as defined by the CDC.

• Covid-19 vaccine boosters have been shown to significantly increase the level of protection against the Omicron variant by greatly reducing the risk of severe infection, hospitalization and death.
• Boosters will not only help us protect ourselves and our community, safeguarding much-needed hospital capacity, but will help us maintain services essential to accomplish our mission, reducing the severity of symptoms experienced by impacted faculty and staff.

Please visit our COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Requirements page for more information.

All students, including currently online-only students, and employees.

Students often change their learning modality from fully online, to hybrid, to fully in-person; therefore, all students will be required to be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19, including those enrolled in online–only courses.  

Students: Feb. 15

The deadline for all students to get boosted is February 15, or within 30 days of becoming eligible to receive a booster, as defined by the CDC. If an individual is not yet eligible to receive the booster they are considered compliant.  

Employees:

All faculty and staff will be required to be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19.  

An updated, automated process for consent and verification of vaccination status for employees is in progress.  

Students: No action is needed to verify vaccine booster status unless you are contacted directly via email. 

• Vaccination status for most students will automatically be verified through the State of Colorado’s immunization database and no action is necessary.  
• Only students whose information is not included in the State of Colorado’s immunization database will need to provide proof of vaccination and booster. Those individuals will be contacted directly via their MSU Denver email with submission instructions.  

Employees: No action yet needed

An updated, automated process for consent and verification of vaccination status for employees is in progress.  

Yes, faculty, staff, and students will be able to request an exemption from the Covid-19 vaccine and booster requirement.

The details of an updated exemption process are being formulated with input from the Roadrunner community. Full submission instructions will be forthcoming via email and on the Safe Return website.

No action is required at this time. Individuals who received their initial primary Covid-19 vaccinations but who are not yet eligible for a booster shot, are NOT required to submit an exemption request. A booster shot is required within 30 days of eligibility.   

Yes, due to a revamped process, any unvaccinated individuals will be required to apply for exemption, regardless of previous exemption.  

Exemptions are required by law.  

Covid-19 primary vaccine doses and boosters are available at the Health Center at Auraria, Monday-Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visit the Health Center at Auraria Covid-19 webpage for more information on eligibility, scheduling and more.

• Schedule a testing appointment through this link only.  
• Register with your MSU Denver email address and select the 5th Street Garage as your testing location.  
• If all daily appointment slots are filled, MSU Denver students, faculty and staff can “walk-in” to receive a Covid-19 test at the garage location.  

Individuals who are eligible to get the booster and who contract Covid-19 should wait two weeks after recovering before they get the booster shot.  Please contact the Health Center at Auraria with individual health questions. 

No, the vaccine + booster requirement does not apply to visitors at this time.

Testing is highly recommended but not required before returning to campus. 

Students: No, unvaccinated students are not currently required to test weekly. 

The decision was made in consultation with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment:

• • Because the Omicron variant is as likely to be transmitted amongst the vaccinated as the unvaccinated, according to the CDC, rendering screening testing of only the unvaccinated ineffective in mitigating the spread of the disease.
  • To maximize testing availability for symptomatic and exposed individuals with the greatest health risk.

Each variant presents its own, unique implications and we will evaluate and adjust mitigation strategies accordingly.

Unvaccinated student employees are still required to test weekly to meet Denver Public Health requirements. 

Employees: Yes, unvaccinated employees are required to test weekly. 

Screening testing for the small number of unvaccinated employees will continue, to ensure compliance with City and County of Denver Public Health Orders.  

The decision to suspend screening testing for students was made in consultation with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment:

• To maximize testing availability for symptomatic and exposed individuals with the greatest health risk.
• Because the Omicron variant is as likely to be transmitted amongst the vaccinated as the unvaccinated, according to the CDC, rendering screening testing of only the unvaccinated ineffective in mitigating the spread of the disease.

Screening testing for the small number of unvaccinated employees will continue, to ensure compliance with City and County of Denver Public Health Orders.  

Less than 1% of employees are currently required to complete screening testing weekly, imposing a very small demand on testing capacity. 

If you are experiencing symptoms or concerned about exposure, free on-campus testing is available at the Fifth Street Garage:  

• Schedule a testing appointment through this link only.  
• Register with your MSU Denver email address and select the 5th Street Garage as your testing location.  
• If all daily appointment slots are filled, MSU Denver students, faculty and staff can “walk-in” to receive a Covid-19 test at the garage location.

No. Unless you are symptomatic or have potentially been exposed to Covid-19 there is no reason to regularly test. This helps free up testing capacity for those most in need and mitigate the spread of the disease.