Early Bird

The latest on Covid-19 and campus operations

A Veterans Day message, updated data and how we can all do our part to support campus health and safety. 

By Larry Sampler, chief operating officer

November 11, 2021

Dear Roadrunners,

Happy Veterans Day to all who have served our country. Dedicating oneself to community, safety and the greater good is commendable and in the era of Covid-19 is a great example of making personal sacrifices for the health of our communities.

As you celebrate our veteran faculty members, staff members and students today, remember that there are things we can do to make our community stronger, more secure and more resilient in the face of this ongoing pandemic. Wear a mask indoors, continue to practice social distancing, conduct your mandatory Daily Health Assessment and practice good judgment. These little inconveniences and small personal sacrifices might not be as profound and significant as military service, but they are a great service to our University community.

As I write these words, the need for acting in the best interest of our fellow Coloradans is becoming increasingly urgent.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis reactivated crisis standards of care for staffing of health care systems to best manage the influx of patients who need care for Covid-19 and other illnesses. At the same time, we learned that among patients hospitalized in Colorado with Covid-19 symptoms, 80% were unvaccinated; and as of Monday, the City and County of Denver’s positivity rate was 5.71%.

MSU Denver, however, continues to show much lower positivity rates, thanks to our many efforts to prevent campus spread. Most recently, our positivity rate was 2.61%, marking a slight uptick. This is not necessarily a surprise, and we are monitoring it closely. The efficacy of people’s initial vaccinations is waning, people are traveling more frequently, we are coming off the Halloween holiday, and we are now in the thick of cold and flu season. Additionally, caution is waning and some of our community members who are able to be vaccinated have not yet opted to get their shots.

That said, the Health Center at Auraria reports high demand for booster shots, and staff members administered 185 booster shots Tuesday alone. If you have not received your booster shot, making an appointment is quick and easy, and all MSU Denver employees are eligible.

Also, please stay tuned for an announcement on MSU Denver’s 2021 holiday break schedule and full 2022 holiday calendar, and be sure to attend Monday's Veterans Day celebration on the Auraria Campus.

As always, please check out the Safe Return Faculty and Staff Guide, including guidelines around student mask noncompliance.

For any questions not addressed on the website, please contact roadrunnersafereturn@msudenver.edu. Thank you again for your hard work in supporting our safe return to campus.  

Sincerely,    

Larry Sampler    
Vice president for Administration, Finance and Facilities and chief operating officer