COVID-19 cases in Colorado are increasing again. Based on the trends in Colorado COVID cases last year, cases are likely to spike in the winter, just as spring semester starts. This puts the college community at risk of spread on campus and more disruption to classes because we will need to quarantine students. We also have staff and students who care for at-risk individuals and could be at more risk of spreading the virus to them. While testing and vaccines will not eliminate the risk, they can reduce the chance of transmission on campus.
In addition, hospitals across the state are concerned with rising ICU demand. Especially in Northern Colorado, some hospitals are already exceeding their ICU bed capacity. This ICU shortage can make it difficult to continue our health care programs and mean that seriously ill people, from both COVID and other causes, may lack care. As part of the community, FRCC is taking steps to reduce community transmission.
The first thing to do is to review that email. It will explain what you need to do based on the information the college has on file. The email will either state that we have your vaccine verification on file and you do not need to do anything more to attend classes on campus in the spring. If we do not have your vaccine information you will need to complete the Vaccine Verification Status Form, found in your email agreeing to either upload your vaccine information, weekly testing, or that you will only take fully online or off-site courses.
If you do not wish to share your vaccination information or agree to weekly testing you will not be able to attend on-campus courses. If you complete the Vaccine Verification Status Form agreeing to only take online/remote or off-site courses you can attend online/remote and offsite courses. If you do not fill out the form you will be dropped from all classes on January 7, 2022.
Yes, all students taking classes on an FRCC campus must either provide proof of vaccination or agree to test weekly. The protocols do not apply to high school students who take FRCC courses only at their high school.
Yes. Colorado Community College System Chancellor Garcia announced new requirements implementing COVID-19 testing protocols for all students, faculty, and staff to continue face-to-face learning in the spring. Effective January 7, 2022, students at all 13 Colorado Community College System schools will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on a weekly basis if they do not show proof of vaccination.