Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals can continue to wear a mask if they prefer. This should not be discouraged. The campus has additional KN95 masks available at the Lynx Central Main Desk located in the Student Commons building

Even with their own mask, some employees may continue to feel that because of their personal situation they need a workplace adjustment. For example, an employee who is immunocompromised or who has a high risk family member living with them may feel the need to request a change their physical work space, a change to how they engage with the public, or a request for a larger classroom to provide more space between an instructor and students.

If an employee would like to request an adjustment, we encourage that they first work with their supervisor/chair, if possible. Associate Vice Chancellor teri engelke is available to talk with supervisors on how they can support their employees and provide workplace adjustments and can be reached at teri.engelke@ucdenver.edu. Human Resources will conduct outreach and see if they can assist in finding ways to address the concerns.

Currently, masks are optional on campus, regardless of vaccination status. However, we highly encourage individuals to wear masks to help protect the community.

Mask mandates are driven by physical location. Dual-campus employees and students must follow the guidelines of the campus where they work or attend school.

No, beginning Monday, March 7, masks will be optional on campus. An instructor should not require everyone to wear masks to attend class. Instructors are free to wear face coverings and request social distancing (i.e. ask that students not sit in the front row). If faculty/staff members need workplace modifications because of masks being optional (i.e. requesting a larger room for additional distancing), they should contact their supervisor/chair and/or submit a request via a form on the Human Resources website.

No. Beginning Monday, March 7, masks will be optional. Individuals can continue to wear a mask if they prefer. This should not be discouraged. If this results in communication problems, individuals are expected to be patient and provide opportunities for engagement.

If you test positive for COVID-19 either on a rapid (or at home) test, or on a PCR test - take the following steps immediately:

1.   Isolate and follow CDC guidance. DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS WHILE ISOLATING.

2.   Inform your professor(s) or inform your supervisor, if you are an employee of your absence. 

Use the CU Denver referral form if you know of anyone who needs support or if you have a concern about something related to the spread of COVID-19.

Mental Health and Related Assistance for Students, Faculty, or Staff:

• You at CU Denver can connect you with many excellent online resources.
• The CU Denver Student and Community Counseling Center provides counseling and mental health services via telehealth and online video calls from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call 303-315-7270.
• The CU Denver Psychology Clinic provides telehealth psychotherapy services. To receive a callback about scheduling an initial appointment, call 303-315-7080 and leave a voicemail with your contact details.
• The Health Center at Auraria has counselors who can help with undue stress or anxiety, for no charge. Call 303-615-9999 and schedule a consultation.
• Colorado Crisis Services provides 24/7 free, confidential, immediate support for any mental health or substance abuse concern. Call 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255 to speak to a trained professional.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) can help you find treatment options for substance use disorders.
• The Phoenix Center at Auraria provides free and confidential assistance to survivors of interpersonal violence (relationship violence, sexual violence, and stalking), as well as their friends, families, and concerned others. The full range of the victim services program will be accessible while the campus is operating remotely. Confidential appointments will be conducted via Zoom or telephone and can be scheduled here. The confidential helpline remains available 24/7 at 303-556-2255.
• The Arthur and Helen E. Johnson Colorado Depression Center, operated by CU Anschutz, offers telehealth services. 
• Red Folder - How to Identify and Respond to Students in Distress
• CU Denver CARE Team
• Loving Lynx

For CU Employees Specifically:

• The Real Help Hotline  provides access to professional counselors who can provide immediate crisis counseling or help you find additional local resources It’s a free and confidential service and it’s available 24/7.
• The Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) offers free confidential counseling session by appointment on a range of issues, from addiction to stress and grief. Call 1-800-821-8154 for questions or appointments.
• See additional resources on our Human Resources page by clicking on the “Crisis/Mental Health Resources” tab.

CU Denver is following guidance specific to higher education from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are also consulting with the Colorado School of Public Health, CU Environmental Health and Safety and local public health agencies and monitoring data on COVID-19 trends.

At this time, there is no routine testing program for unvaccinated individuals.

It is highly recommended that unvaccinated individuals test often and protect themselves and others by wearing a mask whenever possible. 

If you have questions, reach out to the CU Denver Vaccine Verification Team.

Public Health Response Director, Lacey.Klindt@ucdenver.edu

Students, staff and faculty are recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but it is currently not required

 

If you test positive for COVID-19 either on a rapid (or at home) test, or on a PCR test - take the following steps immediately:

1.   Isolate and follow CDC guidance. DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS WHILE ISOLATING.

2.   Inform your professor(s) or inform your supervisor, if you are an employee of your absence. 

Use the CU Denver referral form if you know of anyone who needs support or if you have a concern about something related to the spread of COVID-19.

If a student in your class or an employee in your unit informs you they have tested positive for COVID-19, remind them they must stay home, and they can use the CDC Isolation and Exposure Calculator to help determine how long to isolate.

It is NEVER ok to share the name of a positive student or employee to the class or work unit. 

If you have a question about a student or employee’s status, email the Public Health Response Director: Lacey.Klindt@ucdenver.edu

If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 you should notify your close contacts of an exposure. 

A close contact is someone who was less than 6 feet from you for more than 15 minutes or more in the 2 days leading up to feeling sick (or testing positive if you have no symptoms).

Visit the CDC website for more information.

No. We are, however, continuing to monitor the aggregate vaccination data to ensure our community is as protected as possible. If we identify large trends of individuals who are not vaccinated, we will implement policy changes for that population as needed.

No. This is confidential health information protected by FERPA. We are, however, continuing to monitor the aggregate vaccination data to ensure our community is as protected as possible. If we identify large trends of individuals who are not vaccinated, we will implement policy changes for that population as needed.

The Health Center at Auraria offers COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. Additionally, local pharmacies and healthcare providers offer COVID vaccinations that may be more conveniently located.

If you got vaccinated in Colorado and are unable to match your information in the CIIS database, please email cdphe.ciis@state.co.us with a request stating that you want your information added/ updated in the Colorado Immunization database and include a copy of your vaccine card, legal first and last name, address, sex, DOB, and phone number. A return email should be received in 6-8 business days. If no communication or follow-up is received, please contact the COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 1-877-268-2926.

If you received your vaccination outside of Colorado, it will not be reflected in the CIIS database.

You can check your vaccine record in CIIS here.

Visit the events webpage for the most up to date guidelines

Just as we trust our students and employees to self-disclose their vaccination status, we will also use the honor system for campus guests and visitors. These individuals should follow the same safety protocols as CU Denver students/employees, according to their vaccination status.

Yes. Facilities Management audits air handling units for all CU Denver buildings at the start of each semester to ensure optimum performance. Facilities Management also conducts routine preventative inspections to verify that air handling units function properly. Building ventilation systems are monitored on an ongoing basis via Siemens Building Automation System, which allows Facilities Management to maintain proper system function at both building and room levels.

All CU Denver and Auraria-owned buildings have upgraded their building mechanical systems to include highly efficient air filters that mitigate the transmission of infectious aerosol or airborne particulates. These filters provide our buildings air quality that is comparable to that of a hospital.

Additionally, relative humidity for CU Denver buildings is maintained between 40 and 60 percent, which further helps to slow the spread of aerosols.

All students and employees obtain their CU Denver ID cards through the ID Station at the Tivoli, which offers online photo submissions. The ID Station is open for in-person services Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Reservations are recommended, although they will also accept walk-ins. Check the ID Station website for up-to-date information.

Newly enrolled students will receive an email from the ID Station with detailed instructions for completing this process.

Contact Human Resources at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu to discuss your situation.

See the Child Care and Elder Care Resources with Human Resources

We determined that requesting permission to access Colorado’s CIIS database was the easiest and safest way to verify vaccine status. We currently use the same process to verify COVID-19 vaccine status for students. We ONLY receive information about whether someone is matched in the database and whether and when that person has received the COVID-19 vaccine. We cannot and will not have access to any other vaccine information in the CIIS database for employees.  Uploading vaccine cards requires additional software changes and requires CU Denver to maintain that information with little ability to verify “actual” vaccine administration. Even if a person viewed every single vaccine card that would be uploading, we could not verify whether they were genuine or valid.  Using the CIIS database provides the best information and actual verification that a vaccine was administered.

As of May 2021, Denver Public Health (DDPHE) has lifted occupancy restrictions for offices, which may resume operations at 100% capacity.

If you don't feel well, please work with your supervisor to get remote work approval (if feasible for your job) or use sick leave.

No, the university will not reimburse employees for using their own IT equipment, internet, or cell phones while working from home.

• If you or someone you know has experienced discrimination, please reach out to the Office of Equity.
• If you or someone you know needs support or resources, please reach out to the Center for Identity & Inclusion team at cii@cudenver.edu or at (303) 315-1879.

Visit the CDC website for information on countering social stigmatization associated with COVID-19.

For an employee to qualify for FMLA leave, they must have a “serious health condition” and otherwise satisfy the FMLA eligibility criteria. COVID-19 will be considered a serious health condition for FMLA purposes depending on the circumstance and the documentation provided by a medical provider. Accordingly, an employee with COVID-19 or an employee who is taking care of a qualifying family member with COVID-19 may be authorized to take protected FMLA leave.

For more guidance about taking leave due to COVID-19, contact your HR administrator or visit the Human Resources website.

Visit the Learning Resource Center webpage to learn about which courses we provide online academic support and how to use our remote learning support options!

Find resources for remote learning on the Office of Information Technology’s website. You can also download common software here. OIT also has a helpdesk that you can use for support with common technology questions or issues.

“Zoom capable” means that if a class is on-campus or hybrid, but the student is sick or does not feel comfortable going to campus, they can opt into attending the class remotely via Zoom. Students who need this option should clear it with their instructor.

Both of these course formats are virtual, in that no on-campus attendance is required. The difference is whether class time is scheduled or unscheduled (synchronous or asynchronous). A remote class will have scheduled meeting times, and the class will meet via a videoconferencing technology such as Zoom. In an online class, students access the course material on their own schedule, usually following weekly or biweekly modules. For this reason, online classes do not have a “first day of class,” although you will definitely want to log into your class during the first week so you can make sure you are completing any assigned work on time.

If a student in your class or an employee in your unit informs you they have tested positive for COVID-19, remind them they must stay home, and they can use the CDC Isolation and Exposure Calculator to help determine how long to isolate.

It is NEVER ok to share the name of a positive student or employee to the class or work unit.

If you have a question about a student or employee’s status, email the Public Health Response Director: Lacey.Klindt@ucdenver.edu

Please work with your student with any makeup work and/or missed exams.

Please reach out to the COVID-19 Case Manager Lacey.Klindt@cuanschutz.edu or fill out a COVID-Support Navigation Form.

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with members of the Safe Return Teaching and Learning Implementation team, has prepared a Faculty Toolkit with a checklist to help faculty prepare to teach online and remote classes, a webpage devoted to Rapid Remote Teaching Resources, and a self-paced course on designing and teaching a virtual course that you can enroll in here.

Additionally, you can book appointments now with CETL staff for further guidance.

The Office of Information Technology also has a great webpage on Teaching Remotely. They provide access to resources from CU Denver and from other institutions.

Sign up for a training from the Office of Digital Education. Their Online Skills Mastery course is a great overview of teaching online. You can also check out their online teaching blog.

Want to go deeper? Become a Thinqstudio Faculty Fellow.

No. Faculty should not ask questions about a student’s vaccine status.

You can find Canvas and Zoom resources from the Office of Information Technology. Your Canvas course shell also contains links to Canvas guides and FAQs, at the bottom of the left hand bar. The Office of Digital Education frequently offers workshops on using Canvas and Zoom.

If the course is scheduled as on-campus or hybrid and the syllabi is clear about taking the exam on-campus, yes. However, if a student cannot come to campus because they are ill or in quarantine, you should work with the student to find an alternative. If your course is remote or online, no.

Please visit the University’s travel website.

International travelers should review the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( USE THIS LINK International Travel | CDC)  guidelines prior to travel. Upon return to the United States of America, international travelers should consider getting tested for COVID-19.

CU Denver does not set requirements for personal travel, but those who choose to travel are urged to take the following steps to protect themselves and those around them:

• Assess the risks and current restrictions in place for travel to planned areas as well as modes of travel, and understand that the nature of travel restrictions and self-quarantine may change quickly.
• Monitor the CDC’s COVID-19 travel page and U.S. Department of State travel advisories.
• Plan ahead and take health precautions while traveling.
• Maps are available showing countries and U.S. states where COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, as well as risk level by state and county.
• For international travel consult International SOS for up-to-date information about your destination. The University of Colorado membership number is 11BCAS000006. This resource may be used for business or personal travel. Please note that International SOS is not an insurance provider, but only an information resource for health and security risk assessment.
• You are encouraged to follow CDC guidance and, if you are unvaccinated, self-quarantine for 10 days following any travel.