Updates & Messages

What's New

Faculty Teaching Resources

As our faculty plan to return to campus this fall, we understand some of you may have questions regarding teaching different types of course formats. To help you prepare, several campus partners are hosting academic technology trainings in the upcoming months. If you are in search of technology help, best practices, or individual consultation on a specific issue, you may schedule a time to meet with an expert. If you have access or enrollment questions or need help from a Canvas expert, you may contact the OIT Service Desk 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.

Memo from Jennifer Sobanet and Antonio Farias: Faculty/Staff Resources for Returning to Campus

We are thrilled to see more activity on campus as faculty and staff start to return to the office. We also know it’s been a while since we’ve had in-person routines and with that comes figuring out our “next normal.” We are here for you to support your transition back to the office and want you to feel as safe and comfortable as possible. Click here for a list of resources we want the campus community to know about.

Reminder: Get Your First Vaccine by June 30 in Time for Fall Semester

If you haven’t been vaccinated, we encourage you to get your COVID vaccination as soon as possible. For those planning to get a two-dose vaccination, you must get your first shot of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine by June 30 to allow for three or four weeks between shots, as well as two weeks following the second shot, to be considered fully vaccinated by the time the fall semester begins. All CU students, faculty, and staff are required to get the vaccine before the start of the fall semester.

The 5th Street Garage clinic, run by the Health Center at Auraria and COVIDCheck Colorado, offers both scheduled appointments and walk-up/drive-ups for anyone 12 years and older. Please note that minors ages 12-17 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Register here if you’d like to schedule an appointment.  

5th Street Garage Clinic Hours:  

• Monday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
• Tuesday, 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. 
• Wednesday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. 
• Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
• Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
• Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (beginning in June) 

*Note that the hours listed below may vary as some second dose clinics are scheduled outside of the stated hours. 

The last day for vaccines at the 5th Street Garage is Wednesday, June 30. Effective July 1, vaccines and testing will be moved to the Health Center at Auraria in the Plaza Building, room 111. Scheduling hours through the fall semester are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Friday.

The mass vaccination site at Ball Arena also offers Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Lyft and Uber Offer Free Rides to Vaccine Sites

The ridesharing services Lyft and Uber have teamed up with the White House to provide free rides to and from vaccination sites across the country. From May 24 through July 4, Uber is offering four free rides (up to $25 each) to and from vaccination appointments. Starting May 24, Lyft is funding free rides (up to $15) each way, to and from vaccination appointments.

Riding Transit During the Pandemic is Safe; Attend a Virtual Meeting to Learn More

Public health officials have said over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic that buses and trains remain safe modes of transportation, provided that customers follow the basics, which include wearing a face covering and practicing good hygiene. RTD recognizes, however, that people considering a return to the system still have questions. Please plan to attend “Welcome Back to RTD: A Conversation About Safety and Security,” a virtual discussion planned for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 24, and noon on Friday, June 25. Key RTD leaders in safety, security and operations look forward to fielding your questions.

New Student Convocation 

We are excited to announce that New Student Convocation will return as an in-person event this fall. This highly anticipated CU Denver tradition is a formal introduction to the culture, standards, and principles of our dynamic institution. The ceremony will take place on the Tivoli Quad at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 20, and will look a bit different than it did when it was last held in-person in 2019. A brief ceremony for students (livestreamed for remote viewers) will be followed by Playfair, a 90-minute interactive team-building experience. The day will conclude with a welcome lunch and resource fair on the Tivoli Quad.

Faculty and staff are highly encouraged to welcome our new students at Convocation. Those of you who join us for the ceremony will receive a ticket for lunch. More details to come. 

In the News: Fewer than 2% of Colorado’s COVID cases since mid-January involve people who’ve been fully vaccinated 

Colorado is seeing a decline in new cases of COVID-19, which public health officials have largely attributed to rising levels of vaccination. Fewer than 2% of the COVID-19 cases confirmed in Colorado since mid-January have involved people fully vaccinated against the virus, according to data released Wednesday that demonstrates just how rare it is to get the disease once protected. Read more in The Denver Post.  

Share Your Positive Return-To-Campus Stories

une 1 marked the start of our “soft return” to campus for CU Denver employees. We want to hear your positive stories about returning to the office. What did you miss the most? How does it feel to see your coworkers in person again? What positive disruptions will you carry forward? Submissions will be featured in the Lynx Together newsletter and CU Denver News. If you’d like to share a return-to-campus story, please email alex.dewind@ucdenver.edu.

Continue Following Safety Protocols

We’re still learning how vaccines affect the spread of COVID-19. After you’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions in public spaces, such as wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.

As a reminder, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated.

Take Advantage of Mental Health Resources

Caring for our mental health during these challenging times is essential. View common questions about mental health resources available to students, faculty, and staff.