Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

We hope you enjoyed your well-deserved time off for fall break and the extended holiday and used the time to be with loved ones, relax, and focus on your well-being. As we look ahead to the final weeks of the fall semester, we’d like to acknowledge the latest public health order on wearing masks indoors—which CU Denver has and continues to require for all students, faculty, and staff while indoors on campus—and encourage everyone in our campus community to get their booster shot as soon as possible. Booster shots are offered on campus at the Health Center at Auraria.

As news reports have shared this month, COVID cases have been on the rise in Colorado and a new variant has been detected. Effective Nov. 24, Mayor Hancock announced a new face covering order for Denver as part of a coordinated approach to prevent the region’s hospital system from collapsing. Face coverings are required indoors for everyone age two and older in all public indoor spaces, including common areas of apartment buildings, offices, gyms, shops, cultural facilities, and restaurants. Face coverings are not required while seated at a food service establishment or actively eating or drinking.

Safety Protocols Remain in Place on Campus

At CU Denver, our on-campus containment strategies are working and will remain in place. As a reminder, all individuals regardless of vaccination status are required to wear masks while indoors on campus. We’ve reached out to Denver Health for further guidance on the public health order and will provide updates as needed. Anyone unvaccinated must wear a mask at all times while on campus.

For students living in our residence halls, masks are required in common areas and in the cafeteria, unless you are actively eating or drinking. Masks are not required in your own residence hall room, though we encourage all suitemates to get tested regularly.

It’s incumbent upon all of us to keep following safety protocols, just like we’ve been so diligent in observing for the past several months. Wear masks indoors. Wash your hands often. In group settings, eat outdoors when possible. For the small number of students and employees who haven’t been vaccinated, please sign up as soon as possible.

Booster Shots Highly Recommended

According to the CDC, a booster shot can help increase the effectiveness of a primary COVID vaccine. For previously vaccinated individuals, booster shots are highly recommended and are now available on our campus at the Health Center at Auraria. If you’re already fully vaccinated and it’s been at least six months since your Pfizer/Moderna shots or two months since your Johnson & Johnson shot, you are eligible for a booster shot.

Rapid Tests Available on Campus This Week

If you traveled for Thanksgiving or spent time in group settings, we highly encourage everyone to take advantage of free testing on campus this week. We will be hosting a pop-up site for rapid testing in the Student Commons building room 1401 during the following times. Bring your campus ID and expect to wait up to 15 minutes.

• Tuesday, Nov. 30, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

All CU Denver community members and their families can get tested for free at the Health Center at Auraria. Through our partnership with COVIDCheckColorado, you can sign up to get tested at various other locations.

Actively Monitoring COVID Conditions

As you may have seen in the news over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated a new COVID variant named Omicron. The variant has yet to be detected in the United States. We will continue to monitor regional COVID conditions, adhere to public health guidance, and keep you posted of any campus operational changes.

We are proud of our Lynx response to the ongoing pandemic, and we thank you for all your efforts to keep our campus safe. We must continue to work together to stay healthy for ourselves, our campus community, and our friends and family.

Chris Puckett
Managing Associate University Counsel & Co-Chair, Lynx Together Task Force

Pamela Jansma
Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences & Co-Chair, Lynx Together Task Force