July 27, 2021

Email to all faculty, staff and students

Dear faculty, staff and students,

With the fall semester fast approaching, we want to provide you with answers to questions many of you have regarding the COVID vaccine requirement for CSU community members, mask-wearing protocols and public health guidance moving forward.

While the spread of COVID-19 slowed in the spring and early summer of this year, the CSU Pandemic Preparedness Team has not wavered in its commitment to addressing public health concerns for our university.

We continue to be in frequent communications with county public health experts. We are monitoring university, local, state and national data and information, watching for changes in trends and following developments in public health and illness trends. And as a team, we communicate daily to plan for fall and adjust public health guidance for our community as necessary.

The information below may change. If and when it does, we will promptly communicate those changes to you.

As always, we will continue to strive to answer your questions and concerns about the impact of the pandemic on our academic, research and university life. 

Vaccine Information

University vaccine expectations if the FDA doesn’t approve a vaccine by start of classes

The university anticipates that a vaccine will be fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at some point in the fall, and then the requirement will be implemented.

Until the FDA has fully approved a vaccine, the university will continue to strongly encourage all of our students, faculty and staff be vaccinated.

Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to voluntarily submit information about their vaccine status now, in advance of the requirement pending FDA approval (students can submit their vaccine information now; the portal for employee information will be ready in August).

Until a vaccine is FDA-approved, submitted vaccine information will be used by the Pandemic Preparedness Team to assess the percentage of our university community that is vaccinated as we determine public health guidance.

Learn more at https://covid.colostate.edu/kb/vaccinations-for-csu-faculty-staff-and-students/.

Vaccine exemptions for students, faculty and staff

Exemptions will be available for those who do not get a vaccine. Once the FDA approves a vaccine, students, faculty and staff will be required to submit either their vaccine status or that they are taking an exemption. The university will not require documentation to validate reasons for an exemption.

Information about how to submit exemption requests and information will be shared with students, faculty and staff in the coming weeks.

For more information about vaccine exemptions, visit https://covid.colostate.edu/kb/vaccinations-for-csu-faculty-staff-and-students/.

Reporting vaccine status for employees and students

Students and employees will use different portals to submit vaccine and exemptions information.

Students who are vaccinated can voluntarily upload their vaccine information via the CSU Health Network portal.

Human Resources is finalizing a portal where employees can voluntarily enter their vaccine information and, once a vaccine is approved by the FDA, where they can register their exemption information.

Learn more about these processes at https://covid.colostate.edu/kb/vaccinations-for-csu-faculty-staff-and-students/.

Vaccine clinics on Main Campus

Larimer County is hosting vaccine clinics at Moby Arena. Students, faculty and staff can get a Moderna or J and J vaccine at these clinics on August 4, 19 and 20. For information about available times and to make an appointment, visit https://covid.colostate.edu/kb/on-campus-vaccination-clinics/.

Public Health Expectations, Masks, etc.

Public health guidance for fall semester

For the most recent public health guidance for Fall, please see this information and chart from the Pandemic Preparedness Team (https://covid.colostate.edu/pandemic-preparedness-team-broad-guidance-for-all-summer-and-fall-2021-activities/). This chart was updated on July 20 with new information.

Public health expectations for those who are not vaccinated and take an exemption

Those who are not vaccinated may be required to take extra public health precautions, such as wearing a mask.

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated and who are exposed as a close contact of someone who is confirmed to have COVID will be required to quarantine.

Public health requirements for those who are fully vaccinated and develop symptoms of COVID

Individuals who have symptoms of COVID and who are vaccinated may be required to isolate and follow other public health restrictions.

COVID Reporter

Anyone who experiences COVID-like symptoms, tests positive for COVID, or believes or knows they have been exposed to someone with COVID is required to report this information to the COVID Reporter at https://covid.colostate.edu/reporter/. This is also a reporting option for anyone with a public health concern about their living, academic or work space.

Mask requirements and requests for special requirements for specific units, offices, departments, offices, buildings, labs, etc.

All offices, departments, colleges, units, etc., must follow the Pandemic Preparedness Team’s guidance and University policy. Individual units, departments, etc., may not create their own mask policies.

Some areas of the university, such as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Health Network, are currently requiring masks, in keeping with county and state guidance that specifically outlines masks for medical settings. More information about masks at CSU is at https://covid.colostate.edu/kb/july-12-masks-no-longer-required-on-campuses-in-most-locations/.

We will continue to monitor public health guidance regarding masks and work with local authorities to provide university-wide guidance if our current guidelines change.

It should not be assumed that because someone is wearing a mask, they are not vaccinated. Anyone may choose to wear a mask regardless of their vaccine status, including that they:

• Are fully vaccinated but want to wear a mask
• Have a health condition or have close contact with someone with a health condition that prompts them to wear a mask as an extra precaution, even if they are vaccinated
• Have an allergy to vaccine ingredients and are unable to be fully vaccinated
• Hold religious or personal beliefs that lead them to decide not to get a vaccine

Resuming Work on Campuses

Employees returning to campuses from remote work

In early August, Human Resources will email employees with a link to the finalized telework/remote work policy, links to trainings on how to apply the policy, information about “office hour” Q and A sessions for supervisors, and a link to the voluntary vaccine information portal. For information about resuming work on campuses, please refer to https://hr.colostate.edu/flexible-work-arrangements/ and continue to check back often for added information throughout the next few weeks.

Thank you,

The Pandemic Preparedness Team