CU Boulder Public Health Office - Update on Boulder County, campus mask requirements

Feb. 15, 2022

Dear CU Boulder community members,

In light of Boulder County Public Health’s announcement that their indoor masking requirements will expire on Feb. 18, we are writing to clarify that masks will continue to be required in indoor public spaces on all CU Boulder campuses and to provide some insight into our approach going forward.

In the coming days and weeks, we will continue to consult with Boulder County Public Health and our campus Scientific Advisory Team. We will consider going mask-optional on our campus if we see continued significant progress in two main metrics: fulfillment of the university’s COVID-19 vaccine booster reporting requirement as the Feb. 24 deadline passes and continued reduction of community transmission in Boulder County.

We acknowledge that the topic of masks is of great interest to our students, faculty and staff. We also recognize how important a robust and positive in-person experience is for our community. Our campus is maintaining our mask requirement for the time being to ensure we safeguard the in-person experience by not letting our guard down too soon. Current CDC guidance for higher education is to prioritize actions that preserve in-person learning. This includes maintaining high vaccine uptake on campus as well as indoor masking for everyone in areas of “substantial” or “high” transmission. While Boulder County case metrics have dropped significantly in the past couple of weeks, the county remains in a state of high transmission. 

The campus mask and vaccine reporting requirements, along with maximizing airflow and filtration in our buildings, have been the main factors in our multi-layered approach to minimizing transmission on campus. When combined with with case investigation and contact tracing, and enhanced cleaning protocols, CU Boulder’s approach during the 2021-22 academic year has proven largely successful in preserving a positive in-person experience – including an in-person May commencement ceremony – while at the same time protecting our students and our faculty and staff who teach and support them.

We are optimistic yet also protective of the progress made to date. We urge everyone who has not yet done so to receive a vaccine booster as soon as you’re eligible. And we express our gratitude for our campus community’s commitment to our COVID-19 protocols as we all strive to do our part to keep our academic and research missions thriving. 

CU Boulder Public Health Office