COVID-19 Policies, Topics & FAQs

Slow and steady return of essential in-person activity continues on campus, but remains limited at this time. Our hybrid model remains in effect, and many units continue to operate remotely. Units planning for return are charged with overseeing a safe return to campus schedule that is appropriate to their operations and function. See your supervisor/unit head with questions.

Numerous parking options help you choose what works best for your schedule, including a new part-time rate and daily visitor parking in addition to monthly, reserved and student parking. Find details on the parking website.

Yes, the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center is open, and you can read about current rules and protocols on their website.

The campus is continuing to closely follow state and local public health guidance, as well as monitoring our campus health through the self-reporting and contact tracing process. This information helps inform our operational decisions as a campus, and we are prepared to pivot from our current model if/when needed.

Yes. The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz has been disbursing CARES Act funding to students since May 1. The Financial Aid webpage provides details on how to apply. Read the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Disclosure for more information on these funds and how they were distributed.

Find the FAFSA form and more information on the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office website.

 

While on campus, contractors and vendors must follow the same campus protocols set forth for our faculty, students, staff and community.

 

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Learn how to add your phone to activate exposure notifications.

If you are symptomatic, do the following:

• Let your supervisor or professor know, submit a CU Anschutz self-report form, and stay home. You may register for testing, as detailed here, and you will be contacted with further instruction and support.
  • Follow the recommendations of the CU Anschutz Contact Tracing Team, public health agency and/or medical provider. Please do not return to on-campus activity until officially cleared to do so.
  • If unsure whether to self-report, please follow this guide.
  • Contact Cody Coburn, RN, CU Anschutz Occupational Health Division Manager, with questions at cody.coburn@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-4663.
• CDPHE recommends that you self-isolate if you have a positive COVID-19 test, have symptoms of COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19. Unless you are tested and confirmed to be negative for COVID-19, you should assume that what you have is COVID-19, and follow guidelines listed here.

Employees or students who are well, but who have a sick family member or other household member at home with COVID-19 (or any other acute respiratory illness), should notify their supervisor and refer to the CDC’s guidance on precautions for caring for a sick family member or partner.

• The CU Anschutz Occupational Health Division can assist with this assessment. Contact Cody Coburn, RN, CU Anschutz Occupational Health Division Manager, with questions at cody.coburn@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-4663.

CU Anschutz students, faculty and staff can also sign up for testing for children/minors or household members. Find details and sign-up instructions here.

The campus protocols webpage contains information and FAQs on masks, physical distancing, vaccination requirements and other protocols.

 

Find information on COVID-19 testing for CU Anschutz employees, students and household members through COVIDCheck Colorado here. 

Additional testing resources:

• Free at-home tests for all U.S. residents through COVIDtests.gov
• Binax over-the-counter test kits through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 
• UCHealth testing by appointment
• Children’s Hospital Colorado testing by appointment
• Free community testing sites across Colorado

Read about the mandatory testing program here.

If you have been around someone who has COVID-19, you should get tested three to five days after you were exposed, even if you are fully vaccinated. If you develop COVID-19-like symptoms get tested as soon as possible.

Submit a self-report form, and await further guidance from the CU Anschutz Contact Tracing Team.

If you receive a confirmed test, you must immediately self-isolate. A public health or medical professional will be in touch to review the timelines for when you may be released from self-isolation. 

Please let your supervisor or professor know, and self-report your status. This is especially important in enabling us to monitor the impact of COVID-19 within the community and beyond and to provide support.

Contact COVIDCheck Colorado, by using the customer service information on their website.

CU Anschutz students, faculty and staff can also sign up for testing for children/minors or household members. Find details and sign-up instructions here.

If you are identified as a close contact of a positive or presumptive positive case related to campus contact, you will be contacted directly by the CU Anschutz Contact Tracing Team to be advised of next steps, which could involve testing.

Please check the campus protocols page for the latest information and guidance for events, gatherings & activities on campus.

Continue to use remote meetings where appropriate. While on campus, follow current protocols for meetings and events.

See the campus protocols page for more information.

Space requests can be submitted in EMS and will be confirmed if current campus guidelines are met.

EMS is also open to submit space requests for classroom and common conference spaces through June 2022.

Confirmations for activities occurring after December 2021 will not be issued until spring academic classes have been assigned to rooms and guidelines have been determined for non-academic activities.

Building and room COVID capacity information is available here, as well as in the EMS system. COVID occupancy information is also posted in buildings and rooms on campus.

Yes. Outdoor events of more than 45 attendees must undergo the same application and review process as is in place for indoor events. Please submit the Application to Host an In-Person Activity form, at least one full business week prior to your event date, for your request to be reviewed. 

See the campus protocols page for current event guidance.

Food is allowed only outdoors at this time and cannot be self-serve (buffet style). Those serving food to attendees must be masked and vaccinated.

Events with 45 or more attendees require an application and review. 

Alcohol approvals are required and the process remains as it was pre-pandemic.

Please reference CU’s sensitive expenditures guidance here for details on allowable event expenses, food and beverage, funding sources and necessary approvals.

See the campus protocols page for current mask requirements.

Yes. Visitors and guests, including contractors and vendors, are allowed on campus, provided they follow the same campus protocols as students and employees. Sponsoring units or individuals must ensure visitors and guests are informed of and adhere to campus protocols.

Any event involving paid registrations is required to use Cvent or the CU Storefronts to collect online payment. Any fundraising event or event with paid sponsorships is required to use Cvent to collect online gifts or sponsorship payment. No exceptions. Please contact ecomm@cuanschutz.edu with questions.

Off-campus University events of more than 45 people require approval by the dean or vice chancellor of the school or unit organizing the event, regardless of whether university funds are being used. Contact the dean’s/vice chancellor’s office directly with such requests. Approved events deemed university-sanctioned may be booked directly through the event venue. 

Off-campus University events of 45 or fewer attendees do not require approval, and may be booked directly through the event venue.

In all cases, attendees must follow protocols in place at the event venue and local public health authority.

Contact events@cuanschutz.edu with questions.

If you are symptomatic, do the following:

• Let your supervisor or professor know, submit a CU Anschutz self-report form, and stay home. You may register for testing, as detailed here, and you will be contacted with further instruction and support.
  • Follow the recommendations of the CU Anschutz Contact Tracing Team, public health agency and/or medical provider. Please do not return to on-campus activity until officially cleared to do so.
  • If unsure whether to self-report, please follow this guide.
  • Contact Cody Coburn, RN, CU Anschutz Occupational Health Division Manager, with questions at cody.coburn@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-4663.
• CDPHE recommends that you self-isolate if you have a positive COVID-19 test, have symptoms of COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19. Unless you are tested and confirmed to be negative for COVID-19, you should assume that what you have is COVID-19, and follow guidelines listed here.

You can find mental health resources and information in the following locations:

• Campus mental health resources page
• Faculty & Staff Mental Health Clinic
• Department of Psychiatry’s COVID-19 Support website
• Student & Resident Mental Health website
• HR website
• State of Colorado’s COVID-19 help website

View Our Mental Health Resources Flyer

Students, faculty and staff who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive are to report that status. CU Anschutz will work with public health authorities if there is danger of significant exposure to individuals who were in direct contact in the workplace with anyone who has reported a positive COVID-19 test result. CU Anschutz is prohibited by law from sharing the content of any reports, including the name of the individual who made the report.

Find an overview on PPE ordering, shipping and procurement here.

Contact your supervisor/unit head, and your unit’s HR business partner, with concerns about returning to campus.

You may also visit our workplace adjustment webpage to learn about our process for responding to concerns and access our form for requests related to current work arrangements.

If you are high-risk or uncomfortable returning to work, please contact your supervisor/unit head, and your unit’s HR business partner.

You may also visit our workplace adjustment webpage to learn about our process for responding to concerns and access our form for requests related to current work arrangements.

Learn more about HR’s policy on paid administrative leave here.

Visit the HR website for resources on child and elder care. Please do not bring children to the workplace or classroom.

Yes, find complete mask guidelines on the campus protocols page.

No, masks are not provided by the campus. Please bring your own with you to campus. PPE is provided in some clinical settings and laboratories on campus.

Read more about mask requirements on campus on the campus protocols webpage. 

See CDC guidance on masks.

 

The CDC recommends that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently. A well-fitting, high-quality mask is important for good protection. A face shield is not an acceptable substitute. View CU Anschutz face mask guidance, and learn more on the CDC website.

Read more about mask requirements on campus on the campus protocols webpage.

Find an overview on PPE ordering, shipping and procurement here.

Visit the campus protocols webpage for information on masks, building access, vaccine requirements and more.

The daily health questionnaire/attestation is no longer required for those fully vaccinated.

Unvaccinated individuals must continue to complete the daily health questionnaire every day to be on campus. Access it through this easy-access link daily prior to arrival on campus, or scan the QR code posted on building signage to access. Once you complete the daily questionnaire, you may make your way to your workspace.

An employee should always follow the policies and procedures of the facility or site they are reporting to on a given day. Please contact the affiliate whose facility you will be working in that day for clarification on their policies or procedures.

You will receive detailed instructions from your supervisor/unit head or COVID official detailing protocols for return and any unit-specific guidelines.

Ask your supervisor/unit head where to find centralized cleaning supplies in your area.

Details on janitorial services and protocols, as well as hand sanitizer stations and other available resources for cleaning on the facilities management website.

Keep up with the latest guidance for Coloradans here.

CO HELP is Colorado’s call line for the novel coronavirus. People who have general questions about COVID-19 can call CO HELP at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911, for answers in many languages, or email them at COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English. You can also go to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s COVID-19 website.

Find the latest on travel here.

If you choose to travel, ensure you plan ahead, understand current travel requirements and COVID conditions at your destination. Take precautions before, during and after your trip. The CDC travel website offers detailed guidance on domestic and international travel requirements, including a real-time travel recommendations map to help you evaluate conditions by destination.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 five days after return from travel, and to monitor for symptoms. You may return to campus while awaiting results, unless you are symptomatic or may have been exposed. Schedule testing through COVIDCheck Colorado here, and find more testing options here.

Self-report if you have COVID-19 symptoms, test positive or may have been exposed,whether on campus or off. Our contact tracing team will follow up with support and guidance.

Travelers are strongly encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 five days after return from travel, and to monitor for symptoms. You may return to campus while awaiting results, unless you are symptomatic or may have been exposed. Schedule testing through COVIDCheck Colorado here, and find more testing options here.

Self-report if you have COVID-19 symptoms, test positive or may have been exposed,whether on campus or off. Our contact tracing team will follow up with support and guidance.

Follow CDC recommendations for returning from domestic travel. 

The CDC cautions individuals not to travel internationally until fully vaccinated, and notes that international travel poses additional risks. If you do travel internationally, follow CDC recommendations for returning from international travel.

Yes, employees, students, badged affiliates and POIs must have completed vaccine verification or file an exemption by September 1, 2021. More information on the CU Anschutz vaccine verification process is available here.

COVID-19 boosters are required for all eligible students and employees starting January 24, 2022. Boosters must be documented in the vaccine verification system. Learn more here.

Yes, COVID-19 boosters are required for all eligible students and employees starting January 24, 2022. Boosters must be documented in the vaccine verification system. Learn more here.

Yes, employees, students, badged affiliates and POIs were to have completed vaccine verification or filed an exemption by September 1, 2021. More information on the CU Anschutz vaccine verification process is available here.

COVID-19 boosters are required for all eligible students and employees starting January 24, 2022. Boosters must be documented in the vaccine verification system. Learn more here.

Yes, you can submit your verification form within the system by selecting "Vaccine in Process." When 14 days have passed since your final dose, you will need to re-submit your verification form.

Yes, you can fill in your original vaccine details and return to the verification form once you have received your booster to add your booster information.

Yes, employees and affiliates can submit their verification form within the system by selecting "Vaccine in Process." When 14 days have passed since their final dose, they will need to re-submit their verification form.

All COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) will be accepted. As of June 1, 2021, these are: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Oxford–AstraZeneca (Covishield), Sinovac and Sinopharm-BBIBP.

CU Anschutz Environmental Health & Safety may accept verification of additional COVID-19 vaccines on a case-by-case basis, as they are approved by the WHO.

The university reserves the right to require that an individual receive a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, even if that individual may have been previously vaccinated with a non-WHO-approved vaccine.

 

Students and employees may request exemptions to the vaccination requirement, per the CU Anschutz COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Religious exemptions are not available for students. Learn more here.

 

Consolidated Services Admin (CSA) employees will select the CSA Consolidated Unit affiliation and follow CU Anschutz processes.

Academic Services Admin (ASA) employees whose work brings them to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus will select the CU Anschutz Medical Campus affiliation and follow CU Anschutz processes. ASA employees who work on the CU Denver campus 100% of the time will select the ASA Consolidated Unit affiliation and follow CU Denver processes.

All faculty or staff who may be physically present on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus or may access any university facility, or whose employment activities may require in-person interaction with other CU Anschutz employees, students, patients, study subjects or members of the public – including external conferences (regardless of location) - are required to fulfill the university vaccination requirement. Compliance with this policy is required regardless of the individual’s frequency on campus or interaction with others; even a one-time visit or interaction requires compliance.

Positions or programs that require on-campus presence or interaction with others will not be allowed to be performed remotely in order to avoid compliance with this policy. However, positions that have been previously approved by a supervisor as being 100% remote - without any current or future presence at any CU Anschutz facility or in-person interaction with any employee, student, patient or study subject of the CU Anschutz Medical Campus - are not required to comply with this policy.

Students who may be physically present on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus or may access any university facility, or whose academic activities may require in-person interaction with other CU Anschutz employees, students, patients, study subject or members of the public – including external conferences (regardless of location) - are required to fulfill the university vaccination requirement. Compliance with this policy is required regardless of the individual’s frequency on campus or interaction with others; even a one-time visit or interaction requires compliance.

Students, residents and employees in the School of Dental Medicine must both upload their vaccine verification through the school’s compliance portal and complete the university’s vaccine verification process.

Students must complete the CU Anschutz vaccine verification process detailed here. 

If filing an exemption request they must submit the exemption form to their school or program, and submit an exemption request using the vaccine verification system. Religious exemptions are not available for students. Students can then forward their confirmation email to their school or program.

Yes, those who will be physically present on campus must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 1, 2021, including those who have been infected with COVID-19.

CU Anschutz will review submitted vaccination verifications on a case-by-case basis for those who have received a non-WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine. As of June 1, 2021, these are: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen, Oxford–AstraZeneca (Covishield), Sinovac and Sinopharm-BBIBP.

During the review process, students will be required to adhere to the following on-campus protocols: complete the daily health questionnaire before coming to campus, wear a mask at all times, maintain 6 feet or more of physical distance from others, self-report and stay home when sick, quarantine in accordance with up-to-date Centers for Disease Control guidance, and may be subject to frequent asymptomatic COVID-19 testing at their own cost and expense.

1. Download the .tif image you received in your vaccination verification email to your computer, in an easy to find location.
2. Right-click the .tif file that you want to open.
3. Click "Open With", and then click "Choose Program".
4. In the Programs list, click "Microsoft Office Document Imaging".*
5. Check the box to "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file", then click OK.

1. Download the file to your computer.
2. Double-click the file and it should open in preview or any other application that supports this file format.

Complete the vaccine verification and select 'Other Clinical Trial Vaccine Participant'. You will be contacted for verification.

No. If an employer asks an employee to provide proof that they have been vaccinated, that is not a HIPAA violation, and employees may decide whether to provide that information to their employer. Learn more here.

Yes. Public and private employers including universities may mandate COVID-19 vaccination for students and employees. Learn more here.

Those who wish to exercise an exemption may find more information about how to do so at CU Anschutz here.

Yes, units may request proof of vaccination from their students, employees, visitors and guests.

 

The University adopted its COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the campus community including the patients that are treated by its faculty and staff in University, UC Health, and Children’s Hospital clinics. The University determined that a mandatory vaccination requirement for its employees and students is the best way to accomplish this goal. 

The university’s Campus Administrative Policy 3012 allows individuals to be exempted from the policy for religious or medical reasons.

The facts and circumstances of each exemption request are considered by a review committee which includes individuals from the legal office and Human Resource for employee exemption requests or the relevant School/College or Program for student exemption requests to determine whether the exemption request meets the legal and policy requirements that allow for individuals to be exempted from the vaccine requirement. The committee may consider other circumstances in its review such as whether the individual has received vaccinations for other diseases in the past. For employees, the committee also evaluates whether  the accommodation sought (not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine) poses an undue burden on the University. 

A review committee consisting of individuals from Occupational Health and the Legal office also reviews each medical exemption request individually  to determine whether the request meets the policy criteria, relying primarily on the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and FDA, ACIP and relevant state laws, including 6 CCR 1011-1. A medical exemption is allowed if the individual is unable to receive any COVID-19 vaccination based on established contraindications or if known effects of the vaccine may cause a serious or life-threatening complications of an individual's medical condition.  Individual's requesting exemption for medical reasons must provide sufficient detail regarding their medical history to allow determination whether these criteria are met.

CU Anschutz strives  to be a public health leader in Colorado and beyond, and implement campus policies that remain reflective of its values and mission. 

Please email vaccine@cuanschutz.edu with questions about this process.

No, fully vaccinated students and employees no longer need to complete the daily health questionnaire, and can refer to the campus protocols webpage for information on campus protocols. 

Those who are unvaccinated must complete the daily health questionnaire, as well as adhere to these protocols.

 

Please find the latest guidance on masks and distancing on the campus protocols page.

 

Yes, you must continue to self-report if you may have been exposed, test positive or develop COVID-19-like symptoms, even once vaccinated. The Contact Tracing team will follow up with appropriate guidance.

The suspension on university-sponsored domestic and international travel for those fully vaccinated has been lifted. Read more about university-related and personal travel here.

All Coloradans age 5 and older are eligible. Find more information here.

All Coloradans age 12 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster in Colorado. 

COVID-19 boosters are required for all eligible students and employees starting January 24, 2022. Boosters must be documented in the vaccine verification system. Learn more here.

Find the latest Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment guidelines here.

Those eligible may schedule their booster through UCHealth My Health Connection, another medical provider or any vaccine provider.

Some Colorado community vaccination sites are allowing drive-up or walk-up vaccination. 

Find more information on Colorado’s vaccine website.

There is no cost to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster, and you cannot be turned away based on current medical insurance coverage status.

More information is available here.

COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective after large-scale clinical trials. 

Learn more about safety, development and clinical trials from the CDC, and find answers to your questions on Colorado’s vaccine FAQ page.

No. The vaccines do not contain the live virus that causes COVID-19, so they cannot make you sick with COVID-19. 

Get the facts, and learn about the benefits of getting vaccinated from the CDC.

Common side effects may include pain and swelling on the arm where you got the vaccine shot. They may also include fever, chills, tiredness and/or headache. 

Learn more about what to expect after your vaccination here.

Severe allergic reactions were not common during COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. The CDC provides detailed information on allergic reaction concerns, as well as recommendations on safeguards to be put into place at vaccination provider sites including on-site monitoring of all vaccine recipients.

If you get a COVID-19 vaccine and think you may be having an allergic reaction after leaving the vaccination site, call 911 immediately.

• UCHealth COVID-19 Vaccine Website
• Children’s Hospital Colorado Vaccine Website
• State of Colorado Vaccine Website & FAQs
• CDC Vaccine FAQs