COVID-19 & the CU Anschutz Community

May 21, 2021

Spring Commencement Plans

We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2021 next week, as convocation programs and recognition activities take place online and in person. 

The main spring commencement ceremony will take place virtually Friday, May 28, at 2:00 p.m., and details on all recognition events are on the spring 2021 commencement website.

Countdown to Campus Changes: Know What to Expect June 1

Changes are coming to campus, starting June 1. This guidance is not intended to suggest a full return to on-campus operations as of June 1, but rather to help our community navigate continued steady and cautious return.

Here are some highlights:

• Badge access will continue on all exterior doors, but movement restrictions within university buildings will be eliminated, except where applicable during pre-COVID operations. 
  • Each person must badge-in individually; please do not hold the doors for others.
  • No action is required to reactivate your badge, unless it has expired, in which case you need to contact the Security Badging Office.
• Masks will be recommended but optional, both indoors and outside, for those fully vaccinated. Masks will continue to be mandatory for unvaccinated individuals at all times except when outdoors and 6 feet or more from others. 
  • An important exception to this mask policy will be applicable in clinical environments, where masks continue to be required regardless of vaccination status. 
  • Anyone may choose to continue wearing a mask, even once vaccinated, and units may choose to implement more conservative mask policies if desired.
• Physical distancing requirements will be eliminated, indoors and outdoors, for those fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals must maintain 6 feet or more of distance between themselves and others at all times, inside and out.
• Parking options include monthly and part-time parking passes, as well as daily visitor parking. Details below and on the parking website.
• No more daily health questionnaire/attestation required for those fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals will continue to complete the questionnaire to be on campus.
• Self-reporting will continue to be required, regardless of vaccination status, and contact tracing will continue.
• University-sponsored travel will be allowed for those fully vaccinated, with appropriate approvals. For international travel, this includes formal approval of your planned destination. The process for requesting travel approval is currently being updated; more information will follow.

Supervisors and unit heads may choose to implement stricter requirements, particularly pertaining to mask wearing and physical distancing, as deemed appropriate for maintaining the health and safety of their areas. 

Supervisors and unit heads may also ask their employees and students about vaccination status in order to facilitate planning; it is wholly up to the individual whether to voluntarily provide information about their vaccination status, and they may choose to decline.

Vaccination Requirements

All CU Anschutz students, faculty and staff are asked to be fully vaccinated no later than September 1, 2021. 

Students with in-person coursework this summer must be fully vaccinated before beginning on-campus activity. Your school, college or program will work with you to collect proof of vaccination or exemption.

You are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The total timeframe for becoming fully vaccinated may be as long as 6 weeks or more, so please plan accordingly.

Medical or religious exemptions will be allowed, and guidance will follow in the coming weeks on how to obtain exemption. Those who qualify for exemptions must continue to complete the daily health questionnaire, wear a mask and maintain physical distancing, and may be subject to regular COVID-19 testing.

How to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine

Schedule your free COVID-19 vaccine at your earliest convenience if you have not yet done so. 

There are many options for obtaining the vaccine. Learn more using the links below:

• UCHealth
• Children’s Hospital Colorado
• Colorado vaccine providers

Need help finding a vaccine? Visit cocovidvaccine.org or call 1-877-CO-VAX-CO (1-877-268-2926).

Parking Options & Shuttles

Numerous parking options on campus allow you to choose what works best for your schedule. An electronic Parking Agreement form makes signing up, renewing or switching parking options easy. Find complete details and FAQs here.

New Part-Time Rate: $42/month for up to 10 days/month of parking in gated permit lots; also includes employee RTD EcoPass.

Monthly, Reserved & Student Parking: Parking rates and permits for other parking options remain unchanged; details on the parking website.

Parking Agreement Form: Submit a new CU Anschutz Parking Agreement form, available electronically here, if you previously canceled your permit parking.

Daily Visitor Parking: $1/hour with a maximum daily rate of $8 for parking in visitor lots.

Shuttles: The CU Anschutz Rail Shuttle to the RTD Fitzsimons Station is running 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays, with stops throughout campus. The Intercampus Shuttle from CU Anschutz to the CU Denver Lawrence Street Center is not currently in operation.

Campus Resources & Reminders

• No-cost COVID-19 testing is available to CU Anschutz employees and students, and household members including minors age 2+.
• Students can share input and ideas with university leadership with the CU Anschutz Listens form.
• Keep up with Colorado’s latest COVID-19 guidance.