COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing

If you submit for a vaccine exemption, you will automatically be routed into a mandatory COVID-19 weekly testing program through Primary Bio. The testing program offers both on- and off-campus locations to conduct saliva or nasal testing (the type of test is dependent on the testing location) free of charge.

If you are part of the routine testing program, you will receive an email from Primary Health each week with the link to schedule your test. Please see below for important information regarding the testing program:

• You must be tested at one of the locations listed above. We do not accept results from locations outside of those listed.
• We do not accept rapid tests from any location.
• You must use your university email address to schedule an appointment
• You must schedule a COVID-19 test during each academic week (Monday through Friday) of the semester
• You do not need to wait for test results to be received before attending class or work; please plan to attend class or work while results are processing.

Additional details, including exact testing locations and available appointment times, will be communicated to you directly through Primary Bio. Failure to complete weekly testing may result in disciplinary action. For further questions regarding testing or vaccine exemptions, please reach out to the CU Denver Vaccine Verification Team.

Although not currently required, we 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.

If you test positive for COVID-19, take the following steps immediately:

1. Isolate and follow CDPHE guidance. A medical professional will be in touch to inform you of when you may end self-isolation. DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS.
2. Inform your professor(s) or inform the head of your unit, if you are an employee.
3. All students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 are to self-report their status regardless of where their test was performed and regardless of whether they have been physically present on campus.

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, then remind them they must stay home and ask them to fill out a COVID-19 Self-Report Form. The contact tracing team will assess the exposure risk and respond with any further instructions. It is not necessary to move class to remote instruction, arrange testing of other students or employees, or request cleaning unless instructed to do so by the contact tracing team. Please reference the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Guide for further information. 

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.

CU Denver provides free COVID-19 testing to students, faculty, staff, and members of their households through a partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado. Register here using your CU Denver employee/student ID and university email address.

Additionally, local pharmacies and healthcare providers offer COVID vaccinations that may be more conveniently located.

You can check your vaccine record in CIIS here.

Yes, the vaccine requirement applies to international students. International students who are not fully vaccinated by the start of fall semester should submit for an exemption through the vaccine verification and exemption process. They will then be routed into weekly COVID-19 testing until they are fully vaccinated (14+ days after their last dose). Once the individual is fully vaccinated, they should resubmit the self-disclosure form to ensure our records are updated. They will then be exempt from the weekly testing requirement.

Students, faculty, and staff who are 100% remote/online and do not plan to come to campus at anytime are still required to fill out the vaccine verification and exemption form. If you fall into this category and file for a vaccine exemption, please email vaccineexemption@ucdenver.edu so we can identify you as exempt from the weekly testing program.

CU Denver tracks vaccination data based on a web-based self-disclosure system. Through this system, all students, faculty, and staff must self-disclose their vaccination status or file for an exemption on the basis of medical, religious, or personal reasons.

For students, CU Denver can also confirm vaccination status for Colorado students with the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

Please email vaccineexemption@ucdenver.edu with questions about this process.

Per the latest county health guidance, there are no longer physical distancing requirements such as the previous 6-feet rules. Campus tour requirements differ, however, depending on your vaccination status.

Vaccinated individuals:

• Do not have to complete the daily health check
• Are not required to wear face coverings (effective August 1, 2021)

Unvaccinated individuals:

• Must complete the daily online health check
• Must wear face coverings indoors at all times
• Effective August 2021, must undergo COVID testing

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.

Click here to file for a vaccine exemption for religious, personal, or medical reasons. The vaccine exemption process requires non-vaccinated individuals to self-disclose their status and consent to weekly COVID-19 testing, effective at the start of the fall semester. Failure to complete weekly testing may result in disciplinary action.

CU Denver’s process allows exemptions to anyone who requests one for any reason; religious, medical, or personal. We trust our students and employees to act in the best interest of our community.

Please use this form and follow the steps below to complete this process by Friday, Aug. 27. 

Step 1
Click here to enter the COVID-19 vaccine verification system using your university credentials. 

Step 2
Ensure your name and Employee ID number are listed correctly.
Employees who are also students will see both Employee and Student IDs listed.

Step 3
Select your campus affiliation.

Step 4
Vaccination Record
Select “I want to verify vaccination information.” Enter your vaccine type and dosage date(s).

Find this information on your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or in your immunization record with your medical provider. If you are not 14+ days beyond your final vaccine dose, you will not be able to submit the form. Instead, please wait until the 14-day time period has passed before submitting.

OR

Exemption 

Select “I want to file an exemption.”
Medical, religious, and personal exemptions are accepted.

Step 5
Click the checkbox next to the attestation statement and hit “Submit” to complete the process.

• Central Services Admin (CSA) employees should select the CSA Consolidated Unit affiliation; these employees will follow CU Anschutz Medical Campus processes for verification and exemption.
• Academic Services Admin (ASA) employees whose work brings them to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus should select the CU Anschutz Medical Campus affiliation. ASA employees who work on the CU Denver campus 100% of the time should select the ASA Consolidated Unit affiliation; these employees will follow CU Denver processes for verification and exemption.

No. We will not ask for your vaccination status on your application for admissions. However, once admitted, you will need to provide proof of vaccination records.

No. You do not need to be vaccinated prior to applying to CU Denver. 

Yes. As COVID-19 vaccine eligibility continues to expand, the Health Center at Auraria will serve anyone who is eligible.

Minors will require a parent to be present in order to receive a vaccine.

Yes. The University of Colorado announced on April 28, 2021 that its four campuses and system administration will require all students, faculty, and staff to have COVID vaccinations before the start of fall semester 2021. CU’s president and campus chancellors made the decision after consulting state and local health departments, as well as CU experts. Learn more about this requirement.

If an online-only student is never required to visit any CU facility, then a COVID-19 vaccination is not required. All students who come to campus must be vaccinated or follow the routine testing or exemption process.

All faculty or staff who work on campus or have the possibility of having to work on campus are required to get vaccinated.

The COVID vaccines currently in use have Experimental Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We anticipate FDA approval in the near future, before the start of the fall semester.

Contact your state and local public health authorities to identify locations to get the vaccinations before you come to campus in August 2021. The vaccine is available to all adults age 16+ across the country.

CU believes that doing so will support the health and safety of campus communities and the cities that call our campuses home. It will lower the rate of infection. Additionally, a vaccination requirement will further the goal of having an on-campus experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth. Learn more at the CU System Vaccine Requirement page.