Dear members of the UCCS community,
With the start of the summer semester, many of us are enjoying well-deserved vacation time. I hope you are all having a restful start to the summer.
In lieu of our monthly virtual Town Hall, I wanted to share a few updates with you and highlight important information from recent announcements.
Protective Measures for Summer and Fall 2021
We are making strong progress in combating COVID-19. Data from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment show that a majority of our in-state student population (67 percent to date) has either been partially or fully vaccinated.
Beginning this summer and moving into the fall, UCCS will relax some COVID-19 protective measures for the vaccinated campus community. Reduced capacities in classrooms will remain for summer, but capacities in other venues will adjust.
This “Cautionary” phase will last from June 10 to Aug. 1, or so long as the public health metrics in the county continue to improve.
During the “Cautionary” phase:
- Face coverings will be required for unvaccinated individuals when indoors and encouraged for every individual when indoors.
- Faculty and staff are required to respond to UCCS’ vaccination attestation. The attestation process will launch the week of June 28.
- All instructional modes will proceed as scheduled.
- Public spaces including dining halls, University Center, and the Ent Center for the Arts will operate at full capacity.
- Social distancing will be encouraged.
- Contact tracing and testing will be conducted for known exposures. Quarantine will be required for UCCS’ unvaccinated population if found to be exposed.
Beginning Aug. 2, or at a time when the vaccination attestation confirms over 70 percent of the UCCS population has received a vaccination, we will move into the “Protect the Pride” phase.
During the “Protect the Pride” phase:
- Face coverings will be required for unvaccinated individuals when indoors.
- Instructional modes will be as scheduled, which is primarily in-person. The majority of events, services and public spaces will operate at full capacity.
- Contact tracing and testing will continue for known exposures among UCCS’ unvaccinated population.
You may see the full details of our summer and fall planning in the chart below.
UCCS Campus COVID-19 Protective Measures For Summer and Fall 2021
| Goal Dates | "Caution" Phase June 10 – Aug. 1 |
"Protect the Pride" Phase Aug. 2 – Onwards |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger Points for Campus Safety Measures |
100-200 incidences per 100k in El Paso County or less than 50% of UCCS population vaccinated. |
Fewer than 100 incidences per 100K in El Paso County or 70% of UCCS population vaccinated. Mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated persons associated with contact tracing. |
| Precautions (Apply to all campus activities) |
Vaccination Attestation required. Masks required indoors for unvaccinated individuals. Masks encouraged indoors in public areas and classrooms for all. Communication about not coming to campus with symptoms. Contact tracing and testing for known exposures to unvaccinated population. |
Vaccination Attestation reported. Masks required indoors for unvaccinated individuals. Contact tracing and testing for known exposures to unvaccinated population. |
| ACADEMIC AREAS | ||
| Instructional Delivery | All delivery modes as scheduled. | All delivery modes as scheduled, primarily in-person. |
| Classroom |
Encourage social distancing. 50% of rated fire code capacity. |
Full capacity |
| Library | Study rooms at capacity. 100 cap per floor. | Full capacity – all floors open. |
| Research and Labs | Social distancing encouraged at full capacity with unlimited access. | Full capacity |
| VISITORS | ||
| Campus Visitors | Wellness check required for visitors. | Unlimited |
| Visitors to Residence Halls | Two campus visitors per resident permitted. Residence hall rules apply. Wellness check required. | No restrictions. Practice social distancing. Residence hall rules apply. |
| Family Development Center | Full capacity – LPHA contact tracing. | Full capacity |
| Office Staffing Model | Office staffing model transitions to meet campus mission. Fully vaccinated cohorts can operate at full capacity. | Full capacity |
| AUXILIARY AREAS | ||
| Retail Bookstore | Posted occupancy | Posted occupancy |
| Dining and Restaurants | Full capacity | Full capacity |
| Catering | Full capacity | Full capacity |
| Athletic Events |
Follow RMAC guidelines for athletes. Limited ticketing for indoor/outdoor events. |
Follow RMAC guidelines for athletes. Unlimited ticketing for indoor/outdoor events. |
| Wellness Center Visits | Some in-person and some remote health care and mental health and counseling visits. COVID testing, contact tracing and vaccinations available. |
All in-person care available. Optional remote care. |
| SCHEDULED EVENTS | ||
| Indoor Events Unseated | Unlimited ticketed event. Masks required indoors for unvaccinated individuals unless private closed event. |
Full capacity |
| Indoor Events Seated |
Unlimited ticketed event. |
Full capacity |
| Outdoor Events Unseated | Unlimited ticketed event. | Unlimited ticketed event |
| Outdoor Events Seated | Unlimited ticketed event. | Unlimited ticketed event |
| Conference Events | Unlimited ticketed event or event with guest list. Masking required for unvaccinated persons unless it is a closed private event. |
Full capacity |
| Ent Center for the Arts |
Unlimited ticketed event. |
Full capacity |
| RECREATION | ||
| Fitness Center, Gyms, Aquatics |
Full capacity with masks required indoors for unvaccinated individuals. Facility has contact tracing plan in place. |
Full capacity |
| Group Sports and Camps |
50-person cap per cohort group. Follow CDPHE guidance for children. Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) contact tracing. |
Full capacity |
| Outdoor Recreation at Alpine Field, Trails, S.O.L.E. |
100-person cap per cohort group. LPHA contact tracing. |
Full capacity |
| TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION | ||
| Travel |
Follow CDC guidance – No domestic travel restrictions. Personal Services Contract (PSC) setting approval levels. |
Follow CDC guidance – Personal Services Contract (PSC) setting approval levels. |
| Transportation Shuttles and Charters |
Follow CDC guidance. Operate at full capacity. Masks required for all individuals during transit. Increase ventilation when possible. |
Follow CDC guidance. Operate at full capacity. Masks required for all individuals during transit. Increase ventilation when possible. |
COVID-19 and Vaccine Resources
On the topic of vaccines and COVID-19, the Wellness Center is offering its next free COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Monday, June 14 from noon-1 p.m. Registration is required and is available here. For more COVID-19 resources, visit the UCCS COVID-19 information page.
Presidential Transition
Next, as the University of Colorado system announced earlier this month, Todd Saliman will serve as CU’s interim president in the wake of President Mark Kennedy’s departure. Todd currently serves as Senior Vice President for Strategy and Government Relations and the chief financial officer of CU. He will assume the interim president role full-time on July 1.
I know there is interest in UCCS faculty, staff and student representation on the search committee for the next CU President. As the CU System determines their timeline for the search, we will update you with more information.
Provost Update
In addition, Kelli Klebe, Dean of the Graduate School, has been named Interim Provost. Dr. Klebe has been with UCCS for more than 30 years and will begin the role July 1. The Provost search committee will reconvene this month to continue the search for UCCS’ next chief academic officer.
I am very grateful for your participation in this semester’s search, and look forward to your continued collaboration in the process.
Thank you
There is much to celebrate this summer. We finished the spring semester with aplomb, graduating 1,624 members of the Class of 2021 – our largest class ever. (A special thanks to all those who participated in the Picture on the Plaza celebration.) Vaccination rates continue to rise in El Paso County, moving us closer to a return to campus and the activities that we love. And we can all look forward to brighter days ahead.
Thank you for all that you do to make UCCS great.
Respectfully,
Venkat Reddy
UCCS Chancellor