Mask and Vaccine Requirements Update

Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on the health and safety of our community. That commitment remains top of mind as we wrap up the first few weeks of our fall semester and monitor a national resurgence of COVID-19 cases, mostly among the unvaccinated.

We are fortunate so far that cases on campus have been few. However, we must remain vigilant as the Delta variant of COVID-19 has proven to be more infectious, especially among the unvaccinated. Our campus cases have mostly been rare breakthrough cases. Colorado hospitals are reporting high rates of patients in ICUs as well. We must do our part to help keep infections to a minimum so that no one in our community is denied urgent medical care.

Based on the current situation, the University will be extending its indoor mask mandate indefinitely. This mandate, announced a month ago today, will be re-evaluated regularly as the situation progresses. Updates, including regular campus case counts, will continue to be posted at regis.edu/coronavirus.

In addition, please be aware of the following:

• The University will implement registration holds on students who have not yet reported their vaccination status by the end of the business day on Sept. 30.
• The City and County of Denver has mandated that certain private sector employees, including higher education institutions, must be vaccinated by Sept. 30. Non-compliant Regis employees may face consequences up to and including termination. Not responding to the University’s directive to employees to report vaccine status is not acceptable. Supervisors will be notified of which employees have not reported their vaccine status to the University starting Sept. 30. Information on how to report your vaccination status is posted at regis.edu/coronavirus.
• Any employee who is ill or experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms should take sick leave or work remotely until healthy or tested.

The University strongly encourages all students and employees to get a flu vaccine, take other preventative measures to ward off seasonal and other illnesses, abide by mask mandates, wash hands regularly and get fully vaccinated.

One in 500 Americans have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began, but the vaccines have been highly effective and are now saving millions of lives. As Pope Francis said, “Being vaccinated … is an act of love. And contributing to ensure the majority of people are vaccinated is an act of love.” We need everyone to do their part, love their community and get vaccinated. It is part of our foundational Jesuit principles to serve others, and getting vaccinated is just that: A service to our community.

Gratefully,
Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J.