Early Bird

The latest on Covid-19 and campus operations

Information on the refreshed dashboard, protocols for visitors and reporting positive test results after hours.

By Larry Sampler, chief operating officer

September 16, 2021

Dear Roadrunners,

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, one thing has remained constant: change. Metropolitan State University of Denver has done its absolute best to review, respond to and adapt to evolving science-based and data-driven health and safety guidelines as well as to the ongoing needs of our campus community.

In response to your Covid-19 questions, here are some tools and information you may find helpful:

Where to find MSU Denver’s Covid-19 data

In an effort to ensure inclusion and transparency, MSU Denver has refreshed the Covid-19 dashboard. This dashboard provides regularly updated data about vaccination rates, testing results and positivity rates. I would also like to point out that, as of Wednesday, our weekly positivity rate was 1.3%. This is impressively low, especially as the seven-day positivity rate for the City and County of Denver as of Monday was 3.4%.

We will continue to refine this tool and to share the most accurate data available. If you have feedback or suggestions for improving this dashboard, please submit your comments to the Roadrunners Safe Return Committee.

How to report a positive case of Covid-19 after hours

To submit a report of a positive case of Covid-19 to the Health Center at Auraria when outside test results are received after business hours, please use the after-hours reporting form. 

Covid-19 After-hours Positive Case Reporting Form

After-hours reports will be checked daily, seven days a week. Contingent on volume, the Health Center at Auraria’s goal is to contact the reporting party within 24 hours for additional details.

If you need to report a positive Covid-19 result during normal business hours, please call the Health Center at Auraria at 303-615-9999 Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Health and safety protocols for campus guests

While all students and employees must adhere to the University’s vaccine mandate, we do not have the ability to extend this mandate to temporary campus visitors and guests. However, all visitors and guests must adhere to the University’s Daily Health Assessment and Health and Safety Protocols, including wearing a mask indoors.

If your department or office will be hosting guests, or if you work with volunteers or community partners who plan to visit campus, please communicate these requirements in advance.

More details on masking protocols and vaccination requirements

I cannot stress enough that keeping our campus safe and preventing Covid-19 transmission is everyone’s responsibility. All Roadrunners must adhere to the following requirements:

• Masks are required for students at all times:
• Per MSU Denver’s Health Protocols, all students in classroom or instructional settings must wear masks at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
• All students and faculty and staff members on campus this fall are required to be fully vaccinated. Any individuals who are unable to be vaccinated are required to complete mandatory weekly Covid-19 testing.
• Vaccines are required for all students, employees, contractors and volunteers on campus:

As we approach the spring semester, we will continue to assess these protocols, connecting monthly with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment and other institutes of higher education to receive public-health updates that apply to our community setting and share the outcomes of our protocols.

As always, please check out the Safe Return Faculty 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