Office of the President

Statements from the President

CU Requires Vaccine for Fall Semester 2021

This decision is good for public health, not only because it will lower rates of infection on our campuses, but also in the communities they call home. It will also allow students, faculty and staff to benefit from the on-campus experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth.

Dear Members of the CU Community,

Since the health and safety of our campus communities is among our top priorities, we have determined to require that all University of Colorado students, faculty and staff receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the start of fall semester 2021. We made this decision after consulting state and local health departments, as well as CU scientists, medical experts and COVID advisory committees and task forces on our campuses. We believe the science around COVID vaccines is clear and compelling. As with our established vaccination policies, exemptions can be sought.

This decision is good for public health, not only because it will lower rates of infection on our campuses, but also in the communities they call home. It will also allow students, faculty and staff to benefit from the on-campus experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth. Several other Colorado institutions of higher education are joining us and making the same announcement today.

The individual campuses and system administration will provide more detail specific to their communities in the near future. In the meantime, we have posted an initial FAQ page here. It will be updated as we gather more information and as more questions emerge.

We appreciate all you have done to persevere through the challenges of the pandemic. Today’s decision will bring us one step closer to ensuring we continue to deliver a quality CU experience for all.

Sincerely,

Mark Kennedy, President
Philip DiStefano, Chancellor, CU Boulder
Don Elliman, Chancellor CU Anschutz Medical Campus
Michelle Marks, Chancellor, CU Denver
Venkat Reddy, Chancellor, UCCS

Additional Statements

 

Statement on Violent Act in Boulder

My deepest sympathies go out tonight to those keeping weekly vigil who were viciously attacked in Boulder today. I hope that they and their loved ones feel the support of our community as they struggle to comprehend what has happened.
 

Message from President Saliman and the Chancellors

During this time of change in our nation, all of us are working to remain focused as we continue to dedicate ourselves to our students, research, work and the broader community.
 

Statement on Shooting at UCCS

I am deeply saddened by this incident, which is a tragedy for the CU community in general and UCCS in particular. The Colorado Springs Police Department is reporting that they believe this is an isolated incident and that there is no longer a safety threat on campus.