Published: Feb. 3, 2022

In this issue

This weekly update via CU Boulder Today will continue through at least the week of Feb. 14 as campus officials continue to monitor and discuss Boulder county COVID-19 metrics in collaboration with Boulder County Public Health. Information will also continue to be shared on the campus COVID-19 information page.

COVID-19 vaccine boosters requirement

To comply with CU Boulder’s updated COVID-19 guidance, members of the campus community are required to receive a vaccine booster shot by Feb. 24 or five months after receiving the final dose of the original series, whichever is later.

Regarding booster requirement exemptions:

  • There are no predetermined medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccination booster requirement. However, individuals who previously received a COVID-19 vaccination can file a medical or moral/ethical exemption and still be in compliance with the university’s vaccination reporting requirement if the exemption is filed by Feb. 24. 
  • Individuals who previously submitted an exemption do not need to take further action at this time and will be considered in compliance with current university vaccine reporting requirements. 
  • Students, faculty and staff must upload proof of boosters or file for an exemption based on medical, ethical or moral grounds through the MyCUHealth portal.

Once you have submitted all required documentation, you will receive an automated confirmation email.  If you have incomplete documentation or if additional information is needed, you will not receive a confirmation email and the immunizations team will contact you directly.

For more information, visit the COVID-19 vaccine requirements and process page. Questions can also be directed to Buff Info by calling 303-492-INFO (4636), emailing BuffInfo@colorado.edu or via live chat

How to stay informed

The Buff Info team is available to answer questions on a wide variety of topics related to CU Boulder and help faculty, staff, students and parents connect with the appropriate campus office for additional information or assistance as needed.

Buff Info liaisons can be reached at 303-492-INFO (4636), through Live Chat or via email at buffinfo@colorado.edu, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The university will extend these hours when needed.


 View prior updates

Mask requirements, recommendations and distribution

CU Boulder’s mask requirement for classrooms and indoor public spaces on campus, regardless of vaccination status, remains in place. Exemptions for events, classes or other group activities can be applied for through the campus Public Health Office. There are no changes planned for the campus masking requirement at this time. 

CU Boulder’s mask requirement page also includes guidance on compliance and what to do if a student, employee or campus visitor is not wearing a mask.

The current Boulder County Public Health recommendations include wearing a snugly fit surgical mask, N95 or KN95 when possible, though cloth masks that comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mask guidance meet campus requirements and county requirements for indoor mask compliance. 

To help campus affiliates meet public health recommendations, CU Boulder has a stock of N95 and KN95 masks that the university began distributing to students, faculty and staff on Friday, Jan. 21:

  • Masks can be picked up at any reception desk at the University Memorial Center (UMC), Center for Community (C4C), Student Recreation Center and Center for Academic Success and Engagement (CASE) buildings. They are also available at the east loading dock of the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Community (SEEC).
  • Masks may be picked up between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. 
  • Students, faculty and staff members may pick up two masks each at this time. 
  • Building proctors/managers have also received direct communications about how they can order large quantities of masks for their buildings.  

For more information on mask distribution on campus, including how to properly fit a mask, read CU Boulder distributing N95, KN95 masks to students, faculty, staff.

Returning to class/work following a COVID-19 diagnosis

  • Anyone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis via PCR test or positive rapid antigen test should contact Contact Tracing to get information specific to their circumstances. 
  • If isolation has been completed and symptoms have improved, individuals may return to work or class and should wear a snugly fit mask in all situations for an additional five days. Additional information on isolation and quarantine is available on the Public Health Office website.  

If a student receives a COVID-19 diagnosis

  • Anyone with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis via PCR test or positive rapid antigen test should contact Contact Tracing to get information specific to their circumstances. 
  • Absences due to COVID-19 or isolation will be treated by faculty as a medical absence. 

If a faculty or staff member receives a COVID-19 diagnosis

If a student notifies a faculty member of a diagnosis

Note: This includes positive PCR tests or positive rapid antigen tests. 

  • Encourage students to email Contact Tracing. Contact Tracing will confirm a positive result with public health officials and follow up with the student with next steps. Contact tracers will also notify those who have been impacted. Faculty members can review Answers to Common COVID-19 Questions for more information.

COVID-19 dashboard

In general, dashboard information is updated by 8 a.m. each day, Tuesday through Saturday, with results from the previous day of testing. There may be periodic updates at other times to reflect new information. Details from the fall 2020, spring 2021 and fall 2021 semesters have been archived.

The dashboard page contains:

  • A daily summary.
  • COVID-19 vaccination data.
  • On-campus PCR diagnostic test results.
  • Weekly totals from a variety of data.

Note: On Jan. 10, CU Boulder announced updated COVID-19 guidance requiring that members of the campus community receive a vaccine booster shot by Feb. 24 or five months after receiving the final dose of the original series, whichever is later. The dashboard will begin incorporating booster data as we near the Feb. 24 deadline.