Guided by the Jesuit principles of cura personalis (care for the whole person) and service to others, Regis University is preparing for a return to the new normal this fall with in-person classes, events and activities while adhering to public health guidelines to ensure a safe campus for all.
Regis returns to in-person classes with coronavirus vaccine and indoor mask requirements
Regis University’s fall semester is under way with in-person classes, athletics and student activities. To protect the health of our students and personnel, the following public health guidelines are in place:
Vaccine requirement: All on-campus students, faculty and staff are required to have a verified COVID-19 vaccine. Standard medical and religious exemptions apply. However, everyone is strongly encouraged to be vaccinated to keep our community safe. Unvaccinated people are 17 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated people. Breakthrough hospitalization cases in Colorado only account for about 1 percent of those hospitalized with the virus or its variants. Over 75% of Colorado adults are vaccinated.
Mask requirement: Face coverings are presently required indoors to further protect the community from the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, which accounts for 93% of new cases. Masks are highly effective in preventing the spread and do not cause negative health effects.
Cleaning protocols: Common areas and frequently touched surfaces are cleaned twice daily. The University also provides sanitizer dispensers in entry areas and wipes as needed in common areas. There are special protocols to high clean any contaminated area.
Beginning Monday, May 17, 2021, students may submit documentation of their completed vaccination or seek an exemption. For instructions, visit Student Health Services.
Important note: Students who received their vaccine at an on-campus clinic still need to submit documentation.
Beginning Monday, May 17, 2021, faculty and staff may submit documentation of their completed vaccination or seek an exemption. For instructions, visit OneRegis.
Important note: Faculty and staff who received their vaccine at an on-campus clinic still need to submit documentation.
All Coloradans 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine, and all Coloradans 18 and older are eligible to receive the Moderna or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
Covid-19 Cases
Fall 2021 (Beginning 8/1/2021)
Campus Cases: 7 | Recovered Cases: 26
Residential: 0 | Commuter: 7 | Employee: 0 | On-Campus Isolation: 0 | On-Campus Quarantine: 0
Current Campus Case Rate: 2.33%
Colorado Test Positivity Rate: 6.84%
Fall Semester Case Count: 33
Covid-19 Vaccination Rates
Student Vaccination Rate: 82.10%
Student Exemption Rate: 5.93%
Employee Vaccination Rate: 94.00%
Employee Exemption Rate: 4.41%
Total Campus Vaccination Rate: 84.59%
Total Campus Exemption Rate: 5.61%
Updated 10/6/2021
Current cases reflect the number of positive cases and are not yet recovered. Campus rate is calculated as current positive cases per 1,000 people per DPHE guidelines; based on ~2,500 people on the Northwest Denver campus during a typical weekday. Semester case count is the cumulative number of positive cases since traditional students returned to campus in January. All data based on campus cases reported to the university by students and personnel. Positivity rate is the percentage of total tests coming in positive in the entire state of Colorado, as reported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment at covid19.colorado.gov/data.
Symptom monitoring
All faculty, staff and students are expected to monitor their health, promptly test if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, and then self-quarantine until receiving either a negative test result (a PCR test if unvaccinated) or you are fever-free for 24 hours without medication and with symptoms improving.
Self-quarantine means staying off campus, or staying in your room if you are a residential student, until you receive a negative test and are symptom-free for 24 hours without medication. We expect an increase in viral and bacterial infections other than COVID-19, such as flu, but symptomatic individuals still must test for COVID-19 and self-quarantine to prevent spread.
Testing and positive case reporting
The University’s Student Health Service offers COVID-19 testing on the Northwest Denver campus. Students may make appointments via the online student health portal or call 303-458-3558. Faculty and staff may use SHS for a COVID test only and must call to make an appointment. SHS also can assist in getting a test at nearby centers: covid19.colorado.gov/testing.
Students: If you test positive, or a close contact like a roommate tests positive, contact the Dean of Students immediately or use the #CampusClear app or the COVID-19 Positive Test Result Reporting Form to report a positive test.
Faculty and Staff: If you test positive, notify Human Resources immediately, or use the #CampusClear app or the COVID-19 Positive Test Result Reporting Form to report a positive test.
If you test positive, immediately isolate yourself (do not physically attend class or work on campus) and seek medical attention.
When to quarantine or isolate
Quarantine: If you are not vaccinated and have been in close contact (within 6 feet of someone, without a mask, for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, you are required to quarantine (strictly limit movement) and seek a COVID-19 test.
If you are fully vaccinated, you do NOT need to quarantine after close contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. Fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.
Isolate:
For additional guidance regarding quarantining or isolating, please see CDC Quarantine and Isolation Protocols.
Students can direct questions to Student Affairs at studentaffairs@regis.edu; employees should contact Human Resources at hrinfo@regis.edu.
Regis believes that doing so will support the health and safety of our 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.
Academic Year 2021.
The university has followed guidance from state and local health departments. We believe the science around the vaccines is clear and compelling. The university also consulted with the Governor’s Office and the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
Regis joins several other Colorado public and private higher education institutions to make this decision, including the Colorado State University System, the University of Northern Colorado, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Colorado College and the University of Denver.
We anticipate FDA approval in the near future. Meanwhile, experimental use is safe. Visit the FDA website for more information about experimental approval.
We are considering vaccines used internationally but not approved by the FDA and will have a determination soon.
We will adhere to FDA guidance on the question of booster shots.
As with current Regis vaccination policy, there will be a process for requesting exemptions on medical and non-medical grounds.
Faculty and staff may request the exemption form by contacting Liz Whitmore, associate vice president for human resources, at ewhitmore@regis.edu. Students can have the medical exemption section of the Regis University COVID-19 Vaccination Exemption Request form filled out by a licensed medical provider to be exempted for a medical reason. The same form can be filled out for a religious exemption.
They will be able to apply for exemption.
Yes, if you anticipate the need to be on campus; otherwise you are exempt.
No.
The decision is based on guidance from public health experts. We are in a deadly global pandemic, which necessitates taking extra precaution to ensure the health and safety of our community.
Faculty, staff and students may submit documentation of their completed vaccination through the COVID-19 Vaccine Verification Form online. Be prepared to provide the date(s) of their COVID-19 vaccine dose(s) and a digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccination card.
Yes.
No, but they will be required to wear masks and socially distance at all times.
Supervisors are advised to work with their employees to work from home at the same time they are caring for a child or other dependent during state-recognized emergency situations. In these instances, employees may use up to 80 hours of Colorado Paid Sick leave (based on your full-time equivalent FTE) or if available, accrued paid leave time (vacation or sick leave) as approved by their supervisor. Please consult Human Resources if you need to utilize the Colorado Paid Sick leave. If accrued time has been exhausted, staff may be placed in unpaid status if unable to work from home. Faculty members will need to work with their chair and/or dean.
Yes. On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed H.R. 748 the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES Act), which established emergency relief funds to organizations and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund
Yes. On December 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), which provided over $21 billion to be allocated to colleges and universities under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF).
Yes, On March 11, 2021 the American Rescue Plan (ARP), Public Law 117-2 was signed into law, authorizing the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III to provide $39.6 billion in support to institutions of higher education to serve students and ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF III) are to be distributed to help students with exceptional financial need for any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs experienced due to the coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care costs.
Institutions must prioritize students with exceptional need when allocating grants.
Eligible students: Regis University sent notice on 9/22/2021 through RegisNet accounts to all students who had a 21/22 FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Aid and an Estimated Family Contribution of 15,000 or less that the HEERF III application was open. Notice was also posted on this website with a link to the HEERF III Application process for all other students. This application was open through October 8, 2021 and at this point has now been closed. Students receiving funding will be notified directly through RegisNet accounts and all other applicants will receive a general notice on this site when funds have been depleted.
If you are experiencing financial distress but you do not qualify, did not apply, and/or have not received any funding from HEERF III, you may contact the Office of Student Affairs Emergency Funding Committee at studentaffairs@regis.edu to apply for support.
View HEERF III First Report
View HEERF III Quarterly Report
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