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UPDATE: Announcement about CCA’s Health and Safety Protocols for the Spring 2022 Semester. Learn more about important vaccine and testing updates. |
CCA COVID-19 Response
| Complete this form if you have been tested, exposed, or have received positive results for COVID-19 | COVID-19 Report Form |
Spring 2022 COVID-19 Protocol
From the beginning of this pandemic and throughout its evolution, the Community College of Aurora has had the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff as our top priority. As we continue to plan for Spring 2022, we are updating our COVID-19 protocol. Please contact the CCA COVID-19 Task Force with any questions or concerns by email at COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu.
Effective for the Spring 2022 semester, all students taking classes on campus and employees working in person on campus will:
- Submit documentation to the college that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 OR
- Agree to report weekly COVID-19 test results
What You Need to Know
CCA Employees and students registered for Spring 2022 courses will receive further information, as well as the link to upload their vaccination cards via their CCA email account.
Prior to the Spring semester, you must either:
- Upload your proof of vaccination; OR
- Undergo weekly testing and upload your test results every week of the spring semester. CCA is finalizing the details of the testing process and will provide that information soon; OR
- Register for online or off-site courses for Spring 2022
CCA will accept all vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Employees and students will receive regular communication with reminders to upload vaccination information or agree to weekly COVID-19 testing.
Vaccination and COVID-19 Testing Protocols Q and A
General Information
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. 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.
The first thing to do is to review the information in the 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 online form 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 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.
You are welcome to contact CCA’s COVID-19 Task Force. The most effective way to get in touch is via email at COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu.
Yes, all students taking classes on campus at CCA must either provide proof of vaccination or agree to test weekly. The protocols do not apply to high school students who take CCA courses only at their high school.
Testing
College leadership is currently constructing a plan for how testing verification will work. We hope to have testing available on the Lowry and CentreTech campuses. Students and staff who choose not to get vaccinated will be required to test weekly and will need to provide the college proof of the negative test to come to campus. The exact details of how this testing process will work will be released later in the semester.
CCA will accept PCR tests administered by a third-party provider. This will include both nasal and saliva PCR tests. We will not accept rapid at home tests. We are exploring if there are other antigen tests delivered by a third party that have sufficient documentation for us to verify the results. We will provide more information about those tests when we have it.
Rapid tests for at-home use will not be accepted. These tests do not give any indication of when they were administered.
It is your responsibility to schedule a test early enough to provide the results by the deadline. Most testing sites have a 48 hour turn-around, but we will provide more information as we get closer to the deadline for supplying results. If results at your site are delayed more than 72 hours, we will have a process for you to let us know when you were tested and ask for a short grace extension.
No. There is free community testing available in the Tri-County area. CCA is also working to find ways to provide additional free on-campus testing.
Instructors will not be expected to allow students to make up work if they are unable to attend class because they did not meet their testing agreement.
Students who do not get tested will not be able to return to campus until they can present a negative test. Instructors will not be expected to allow students to make up missed work.
No, antibody tests will not qualify. Students who have had COVID-19 within 90 days will be exempt from testing until 90 days from their initial positive test. The 90 day time period is based on current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, which may change.
Students who have had COVID within 90 days will be exempt from testing until 90 days from their initial positive test. The 90 day time period is based on current Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, which may change
Vaccination Verification
Check your CCA email account and you will have information with a link to a form to upload your card and details. If you have any challenges finding the email or uploading your card please contact the COVID-19 Task Force at COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu.
Yes. If you want to be exempt from testing, you will need to be at least two weeks post the second shot to attend classes in person. If you have had one shot or are less than two weeks after your second shot, you can test weekly until you are two weeks past your second shot. At that point, you can submit your updated vaccine information and will not be required to submit weekly tests.
We encourage you to complete the form and upload your current vaccination card. This will keep you enrolled for the spring until you can upload your completed vaccination card. Once you get your second shot re-complete the form and upload your completed vaccination card. If both shots are not received before the deadline, you will be dropped from courses.
No. We highly encourage you to complete your booster shot when available, but at this time we you do not require booster shots within these protocols.
If you received an email asking you to upload your information or agree to testing we do not have your vaccine information. The only way to get this information is for you to upload your information on the form sent to your email address.
No, all students attending classes on campus must agree to get vaccinated or agree to weekly testing or to take fully remote or off-site classes only.
Online/Fully Remote Course Taking
The first thing to do is to check your student email and complete the form sent to you. You would select the option to attend online/remote or offsite courses only. Completion of this form will keep you from being dropped from your online classes. If you complete the form stating you plan to take online/remote only courses and then register for an on-campus course you will be dropped from that course unless you update your form to either provide vaccination info or agree to weekly testing.
To access services on campus you will need either a recent negative COVID test or proof of vaccination. Protocols for how remote and online students can access services are being developed. We will send out an email with detailed information when we have it.
Past Updates
Dear Current and Future Students of CCA,
With the Spring 2022 semester around the corner and course registration now open, I wanted to provide you with an update on the Community College of Aurora’s health and safety operations for the Spring 2022 semester. By providing you with this information early, it is my hope that you can create an enrollment plan that meets your needs for the CCA Spring 2022 semester. Specifically, I hope that you will choose to enroll/continue at CCA knowing that we will continue to prioritize your health and safety and that of our campus community.
With that in mind, CCA, in consultation with local health experts, Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Chancellor Joe Garcia, and other CCCS college presidents:
- Will implement COVID-19 testing protocols for CCA students and employees for the spring semester. This testing requirement is for those who have chosen to not get the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees and students who work on campus, attend in-person classes, access in-person support services, or participate in other in-person, on-campus activities will be required to provide weekly COVID-19 test results or, alternatively, provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated.
Within the next several weeks, CCA will develop and implement procedures, tools, and systems to receive regular testing results and proof of vaccination records. Please continue to monitor your CCA student email for more information regarding these specific procedures.
In addition, please note that the following COVID-19 mitigation strategies and policies from the Fall 2021 semester will remain in effect for the Spring 2022 semester.
- CCA will not require employees, students, or volunteers at the CentreTech or Lowry campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, students and staff within the following academic programs are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19:
- NUA – Nursing Assistant
- HPR – Healthcare Professionals
- EMT Program
- Paramedic Program
- Film Video
- Theater
- Fire Academy
- Police Academy
- In conjunction with the recommendation of the Tri-County Health Department, CCA will require everyone to wear a mask while inside any of CCA’s buildings for the spring semester (effective August 16, 2021, and will remain in effect until further notice).
- Exceptions to the mask mandate are:
- When studying in a room alone, you can remove your mask.
- While outside, employees, students, and college visitors don’t have to wear a mask.
- CCA employees may remove their masks when presenting.
- Modifications will be made for those who have a medical or religious reason to not wear a mask. For more information on modifications, please contact CCA’s COVID Response Coordinator, Aaron Like, at 303-361-7405 or Aaron.Like@ccaurora.edu.
As your President, I am committed to providing you with timely information on CCA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols to ensure your success at CCA. Please know all of us at CCA—from your instructors to our support services teams to the campus leadership and administrative staff—are available to help and support you in any way we can. For more information on CCA’s COVID-19 updates, please visit this page or email us at COVIDQuestions@ccaurora.edu.
We appreciate your willingness to do your part as we prepare for the Spring 2022 semester.
Sincerely,
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, Ed.D.
President
Community College of Aurora
Dear CCA students,
First, I want to commend you for resiliency as we all continue to navigate these challenging and unprecedented times. This past year and a half has been anything but easy, but you all have risen to the challenge of starting, continuing, or finishing your college education. On behalf of our faculty, instructors, and staff, know that we are proud of you and we thank you for entrusting CCA with your academic pathway and career preparedness.
As another semester approaches, I wanted to provide an update regarding what college operations at CCA will look like this fall. Please know that all of us at CCA—from the instructors to the support team to the administrative staff—will be here to help and support you in any way we can.
After many conversations and much consultation with local health experts, Colorado Community College System Chancellor Joe Garcia, and other CCCS college presidents, CCA:
- Will not require employees, students, or volunteers at the CentreTech or Lowry campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Will comply with the recent City of Denver vaccination mandate due to the geographical jurisdiction of the Colorado Film School (CFS). As outlined in the City of Denver FAQs, employees and volunteers at CFS will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021.
- In conjunction with the recommendation of the Tri-County Health Department, will require everyone to wear a mask while inside any of CCA’s buildings, effective August 16, 2021, and until further notice. (Please see below for more information on mask guidelines and special accommodations).
With the widespread availability of vaccines, many experts thought—and we all hoped—we were headed for a more normal fall semester of academic and social interactions at CCA. However, the dramatic spread of the Delta variant and other factors have raised new concerns and challenges and forced us to pivot once again.
I understand there are diverse and strong opinions about these matters, but I wholeheartedly believe this plan is a good middle ground and the best path forward for the CCA campus community.
As with everything related to the pandemic, We will continue to monitor the situation closely, listen to guidance from public health experts, and make the best decisions possible for everyone.
Below are answers to questions I’m sure a lot of you have at this point. If you have any questions about this update, please don’t hesitate to speak with your advisor, one of your instructors, or another CCA employee.
Why isn’t CCA requiring employees, students, or volunteers at the CentreTech or Lowry campuses to be vaccinated?
CCA’s college vision is “We aspire to be the college where every student succeeds.” “Access” is also one of CCA’s six values. The pandemic has put CCA in the difficult position of balancing everyone’s health and safety with educational access. I believe this plan accomplishes both—it prioritizes CCA employees’ and students’ health and safety while also preserving access for all who seek to improve their lives through a college education.
Whether someone has or hasn’t been vaccinated, and whether we agree or disagree with that person’s decision, it’s important that we all respect and include one another in CCA’s community of educators and learners. Bullying or harassment in any form, for any reason, will not be tolerated.
That all being said, CCA is still highly encouraging everyone to get vaccinated. The vaccine has shown to slow the spread of COVID-19, and as the new Delta variant has emerged and continues to spread, getting vaccinated is important now more than ever. Even if you don’t believe the virus poses much of a threat to you personally (and your family), please still consider getting vaccinated to reduce the risk for others.
Why is CCA requiring employees and volunteers (not students) at the Colorado Film School to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by September 30, 2021?
The Colorado Film School operates within City of Denver limits, and on August 2, 2021, the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment issued a public health order requiring certain employees in Denver, among them “post-secondary and higher-education” personnel, to be fully vaccinated by September 30, 2021. Read the full public health order. Read FAQs about the City of Denver’s vaccine mandate.
Efforts are underway at CCA to ensure compliance.
Why is CCA implementing another indoor mask mandate?
CCA's decision to require everyone to wear a mask while inside any of CCA’s buildings starting Monday, August 16, aligns with guidance from public health experts (see the statement below from the Tri-County Health Department, which serves Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties). I understand that wearing a mask for a long period of time isn’t the most comfortable thing, but I’m hoping that this safety measure will prevent further disruption to college operations and your learning experience.
For more information on what is and isn't an acceptable face covering, please refer to this "Your Guide to Masks" article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please note, face shields will not be seen as an acceptable form of a face covering.
Tri-County Health Department endorses the new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about wearing facemasks. Specifically, TCHD recommends that all persons wear masks in school settings regardless of vaccination status and, as long as we have rising rates of community transmission, that everyone including fully vaccinated persons wear a mask in public indoor settings. TCHD’s full update is available on its website.
Will there be any exceptions to the mask mandate?
Yes, a few:
- When studying in a room alone, you can remove your mask.
- While outside, employees, students, and college visitors don’t have to wear a mask.
- Faculty and staff may remove their mask when presenting.
- Special accommodations will be made for those who have a medical or religious reason to not wear a mask. For health-related accommodations, please contact Will Flowers, Director of the Office of Disability and Equity, at william.flowers@ccaurora.edu or (303) 361-7395. For religious-related accommodations, please contact Reyna Anaya, Dean of Students, at reyna.anaya@ccaurora.edu or (303) 360-4721.
Will CCA be requiring social distancing as well?
At this time, no, CCA will not implement any kind of social-distancing measures for employees, students, or college visitors.
What’s next?
As we all know, the COVID-19 situation is ever-changing and any health and safety protocols have the potential to change at a moment’s notice. Please keep an eye on your CCA email and the college website for any updates.
Again, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your advisor, one of your instructors, or another CCA employee.
Sincerely,
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, Ed.D.
President
Community College of Aurora
Safety and COVID-19 Response
To see a complete list of testing free COVID-19 testing sites in the Tri-County area, visit the Tri-County Health Department website.
If you’re a CCA student or employee and displaying a pandemic contagion or other contagious/infectious disease symptoms, being tested for a pandemic contagion or other contagious/infectious disease or self-quarantining at the direction of a medical professional, or have been knowingly exposed to someone with a pandemic contagion or other contagious/infectious disease symptoms, please fill out CCA’s “COVID-19 Report” form.
CO Exposure Notifications is a free and voluntary service developed in partnership with Google and Apple that can notify users of possible exposure to COVID-19. By opting in, your Android or iPhone device will share anonymous tokens with other CO Exposure Notifications users using your phone’s Bluetooth. If another user you’ve been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, the service will notify you. If you test positive, you can easily and anonymously notify others to stop the spread of COVID-19. Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website to learn more about the app.
When you’re on campus, please be sure to follow the health and safety protocols outlined below. These requirements are based on guidance from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Tri-County Health Department. For more information and guidance, please visit the Tri-County Health Department Isolation and Quarantine COVID-19 Fact Sheet page.
Before coming to campus, do a thorough personal assessment and ask yourself these three questions...
- “Am I displaying any COVID-19 symptoms?”
- Symptoms include fever above 100.4, tiredness or fatigue, chills, muscle pain, cough, loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, headache, and sore throat. If you’re displaying any of these symptoms, please don’t come to campus and instead contact a healthcare provider or the Tri-County Health Department (303-220-9200) for further information and to inquire about COVID-19 testing. You may return to campus only after you are symptom-free and have had a temperature below 100.4 for at least three consecutive days.
- “Do I have a family member or household member who is displaying COVID-19 symptoms?”
- If yes, don’t come to campus and instead contact a healthcare provider or the Tri-County Health Department (303-220-9200). Also, be sure to contact the Dean of Students office (303-360-4771) for information and instructions regarding course options.
“I am fully vaccinated and have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. What should I do?”
- If you are fully vaccinated and are showing no symptoms of COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine.
- Fully vaccinated close contacts should:
- Get tested 5-7 days after close contact with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
- Get tested and isolate immediately if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
“I am not fully vaccinated and have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the past two weeks. When am I able to return to campus?”
- You can come to campus 14 days after your last known date of exposure.
- You can wait 10 days after your last known date of exposure and, if you are not exhibiting symptoms, you can come to campus on day 11.
- You can wait 5 days after your last known date of exposure, get a COVID test, and if the test is negative, you can come to campus on day 7.
Mask and Social Distancing Guidelines
- Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask while inside any CCA buildings, effective August 16, 2021, and until further notice.
- When studying in a room alone, students can remove their mask.
- While outside, employees, students, and college visitors don’t have to wear a mask.
- Faculty and staff may remove their mask when presenting.
- Special accommodations will be made for those who have a medical or religious reason to not wear a mask.
At this time, CCA does not plan to implement any kind of social-distancing measures for employees, students, or college visitors.
Please refer to the Tri-County Health Department website to stay up to date on travel advisories.
Copyright © 2021 Community College of Aurora.
