COVID-19 update: 3 steps for return-to-campus and much more
Highlights
- Your 3 steps for returning to campus
- Required testing protocol
- Changes to off-campus work & travel
Dear students, faculty and staff,
As we look forward to our return to campus for the winter term in early January, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following key changes to our campus access policies and procedures.ÌýPlease see the end of this message for ways to stay up-to-date on winter term adaptations, including via our Canvas course and the °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ COVID-19 dashboard. There is also information about an exciting national conference °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ is hosting on COVID-19 and higher education.
WINTER TERM RETURN TO CAMPUS STEPS
Please carefully read the steps below regarding return to campus for winterÌýand emailÌýCOVIDcoordinator@du.eduÌýwith any questions or concerns you may have.ÌýBefore returning and all during winter term,Ìýcheck your campus access statusÌýand testing schedule by logging into Pioneerweb and selecting winter campus access status. The access portal will indicate whether you have met the steps below.
Step 1: Flu vaccine
For the winter term, everyone mustÌýreceive a flu vaccine before returning to campus.ÌýThe deadline for submitting a flu shot record or an exemption form was December 15, 2020. If you have not yet received your flu shot, please get a flu shotÌýand provide documentation before returning to campus. Limited flu shots will be available by appointment at the HCC.
Those receiving flu shots off-campusÌýmust submit proof of the vaccination.
- Log into your My Health account atÌýmyhealth.du.eduÌýusing your °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ ID and PioneerWeb password.
- Click onÌý²Ñ±ð²õ²õ²¹²µ±ð²õÌý(on the left sidebar) and then click theÌýNew MessageÌý²ú³Ü³Ù³Ù´Ç²Ô.
- ³§±ð±ô±ð³¦³ÙÌýI want to submit my Flu (influenza) vaccine record to the HCC, click continue, and upload your record.
Vaccine exemptions
Medical exemptionsÌýrequire a letter or statement from your doctor indicating the clinically supported reason you should not receive the required vaccinations.
Personal or religious exemptionsÌýrequire submission of aÌýCertificate ofÌýExemption FormÌý±¹¾±²¹Ìýmyhealth.du.edu,Ìývia email toÌýinfo@hcc.du.edu, or via fax at 303-871-4242.
Attestation process
If you received your flu vaccination but are unable to provide adequate documentation of your flu vaccination, DO NOT GET ANOTHER vaccination. Instead, you may complete theÌýFlu Attestation Form.
- Download theÌýFlu Attestation Form
- Fill in the information about your vaccination, date, location, and place of service.
- Fill in the identification information and sign at the bottom of the form.
Step 2: 10-day quarantine
To reduce exposure and virus spread, you must self-quarantine for 10 daysÌýbefore your scheduled return-to-campus.
During that time, our expectation is that you will wear a face covering when outside your home, avoid touching your face, maintain social distancing, practiceÌýexcellent hand hygiene and minimize all but the necessary exposure outside of your home.
You MUST log your quarantine on the quarantine daily logÌý– please log into PioneerWeb and chooseÌýQuarantine Daily LogÌýon the top left. You should begin this 10 days before your planned return date. Once you have been cleared to return to campus you may do your daily symptom monitoring check via the Everbridge app or PioneerWeb.
Step 3: Negative COVID-19 test
Everyone must receive and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 testÌýwithin their 10-day quarantine period. Students, faculty and staff can receive a FREE COVID-19 test on campus. If you are in Denver, please plan ahead and take your test earlier in your quarantine window and at least 48 hours before your return date:
- ³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýNorth side of the Ritchie Center, offÌýBuchtelÌýBlvd.
- Testing hours:ÌýMonday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1Ìý–Ìý4 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.Ìý–Ìý12 p.m. Note that to support surge testing,Ìýfrom JanuaryÌý2 through January 24, the pod will be operational 7 days a week from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1Ìý–Ìý4 p.m.
To schedule an on-campus test appointment:
- Log into your My Health account atÌýmyhealth.du.eduÌýusing your °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ ID andÌýPioneerWebÌýPassword.Ìý
- Click on Appointments (on the left side bar) then click the Schedule an Appointment button.Ìý
- Select Required COVID-19 Testing and click Continue.Ìý
- Choose a time within yourÌý10-dayÌýpre-arrival quarantine to take your test
- Print or save your unique QR code and bring that to your scheduled appointment.
If you have difficulty making an appointment, please call the Health and Counseling Center at 303.871.2205 or email info@HCC.du.edu
Testing outside of °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡
Those receiving COVID-19 tests elsewhere must submit proof of the COVID-19 test. You must complete aÌýPCR nasal swab test. Other types of tests will not be accepted.
Submit proof of the test result by logging into your My Health account atÌýmyhealth.du.eduÌýusing your °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ ID andÌýPioneerWebÌýPassword.
- Click onÌý²Ñ±ð²õ²õ²¹²µ±ð²õÌý(on the left side bar) then click the New Message button.
- ³§±ð±ô±ð³¦³ÙÌýI want to submit myÌýCOVID-19 RT-PCR Test ResultsÌýto the HCC
- Upload your record
REQUIRED TESTING IN WINTER TERM
During winter term, everyone with campus access must test according to their individualized testing schedule. Your individualized schedule and compliance will be visible when you log into PioneerWeb in the Winter Campus Access Status portal. This testing is mandatory and failure to test during your assigned time could result in losing your access to campus or other consequences.
The protocol addressing the testing requirement and consequences for not adhering to the testing schedule isÌýdescribed in detail here.
Important to note:
°ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ will assign individuals to a testing group, which will determine their testing days each week. In all cases, individuals will have a 24-hour window on either side of their testing day to complete testing and comply with testing requirements.
Testing schedules and testing compliance will be available on PioneerWeb.
- Undergraduate students living in congregate housingÌýmust be tested twice per week with at least one Nasal Swab PCR test every two weeks. The remaining three tests may be Saliva PCR tests.
- Undergraduate students not living in congregate housingÌýmust be tested once per week with at least one Nasal Swab PCR test every two weeks. The alternative week test may be a Saliva PCR test.
- Graduate studentsÌýmust be tested once every other week and every other test (once per four weeks) must be the Nasal Swab PCR. The alternate test may be a Saliva PCR test.
- Lower contact faculty, staff, and other personnelÌýmust be tested once every third week and every other test (once per six weeks) must be the Nasal Swab PCR test. The alternate test may be a Saliva PCR test.
- Higher contact staff and personnelÌýmust be tested once per week and every other test (once every two weeks) must be the Nasal Swab PCR test. The alternate test may be a Saliva PCR test.
NEW!ÌýOFF-CAMPUS AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS
After you have successfully met the steps to return to campus, if you travel anywhere outside of Colorado during winter term, you are required to quarantine forÌý7 daysÌýoff-campus.ÌýThis requirement is in place because travel increases contact with people outside of your household.
If you have a job or field placement off campus, you may resume both on-campus and off-campus in-person obligations.ÌýThis policy will be reevaluated frequently – if conditions in Denver or in the region are concerning and those on campus are more favorable, we may need to reinstate restrictions on access to campus.
IN CLOSING
You can continue to monitor real-time COVID-19 information atÌý°ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡'s coronavirus dashboardÌýand report positive cases by calling 303-871-COVID. Be sure to check out all our winter updates in ourÌý. You can also visit the COVID-19 Help Center (January 2 – 15), located in the Colorado Women’s College Garden Room, Chambers Center on Ashbury.
All members of the °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ community are also invited to join °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ and schools from across the country in the °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡-hostedÌývirtual event,ÌýThe STAT Conference,Ìýon January 8.Ìý.
And finally, should you ever have questions about a particular term used relating to the pandemic, please visit our handyÌýglossary pageÌýon °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡'s coronavirus site.
Thank you for your continued commitment to a safe and healthy °ÄÃÅÓéÀÖ³¡ campus.
Sarah Enos Watamura, Ph.D.
University COVID-19 Response Coordinator