COVID-19 & the CU Anschutz Community

May 28, 2021

Gratitude Abounds: Be Part of Our Virtual "Thank You" Wall

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CU Anschutz community has united in common purpose and become stronger than ever.

Keeping our campus open in a limited but impactful manner throughout the pandemic has been possible because of you – you and your peers, colleagues and members of our community who followed protocols and carried forward our mission as a world class health sciences destination. 

We have created a virtual thank you “wall” where students, faculty and staff can express gratitude, appreciation and encouragement for our people and experiences that have moved us during these extraordinary times. 

We invite you to visit the wall and add your voice to the mix. Let us continue to move forward as a campus, together, with gratitude, empathy and enthusiasm.

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 and some interior doors. 
• Each person must badge-in individually. Even if the door is open, or someone is holding the door for you, please run your badge on the card reader for authorization.
  • 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.
  • Exception: Masks are required in conference rooms and classrooms when attendance exceeds the approved posted COVID-capacity, regardless of vaccination status.
    • More guidance on wearing masks in large gatherings, as well as information about scheduling and events, will be coming soon.
  • Masks will continue to be mandatory for unvaccinated individuals at all times, except when outdoors and 6 feet or more from others, or when working alone indoors in a fully enclosed space.
  • 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 time frame for becoming fully vaccinated may be as long as 6 weeks or more, so please plan accordingly. We understand there may be timing issues for those students beginning coursework soon, so please assure you have started the process and let your school know.

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.