Past Updates
Greetings, CCA.
Based on the evidence of decreasing COVID-19 cases throughout the state and with guidance from local health leaders, CCA will discontinue its mask mandate for faculty, instructors, staff, and students beginning Monday, April 4, 2022. Please note that wearing of face masks will be highly recommended in all indoor spaces, as they have been a proven way to slow the spread of COVID-19.
We ask that everyone remembers there are some within our campus community who may have health diagnosis, and/or are immunocompromised, and/or are living with someone who is at higher risk. Please respect all individuals who continue to wear masks. This change in practice does not alter our responsibility to act with courtesy and kindness.
Given this update and continued decrease in cases and positivity rates, CCA is also updating our COVID-19 Alert Level to our “Low Risk” response category. For more information on the COVID-19 Alert Levels and CCA’s response, please visit the COVID-19 webpage. Here you can find specific information and details on COVID-19 response efforts within the college.
We encourage you to protect yourself by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and receiving a COVID-19 test if you feel ill. It is also very important to stay home if/when you feel ill for your health and safety and for others. As always, if you have been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms, have been exposed, or have tested positive, please complete the COVID-19 Report Form as soon as possible.
If you have any concerns or questions, please email COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu. Also, refer to the COVID-19 webpage for updated information.
Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe environment to work and learn in. Your continued efforts are very much appreciated.
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, Ed.D.
President, Community College of Aurora
Greetings, CCA.
It has been encouraging to see our community’s continued reduction in COVID-19 transmission and positivity rates. Based on the evidence of decreasing COVID-19 cases throughout the state and with guidance from local health leaders, CCA is preparing to make changes to our current masking mandate in the weeks to come. Through April 2nd, our college will closely monitor COVID-19 case rates to ensure the stability in case reduction following CCA’s Spring Break (March 21 – 26). If the number of reported COVID-19 cases remains low and/or declines, the college will announce changes to the current masking protocol the week of April 4.
For those of you planning to travel for Spring Break, please review the CDC’s Top Five Tips for having a healthy and safe trip.
Please continue to protect yourself, your health and your wellbeing. Ways to do this is by getting the COVID-19 vaccine and taking a COVID-19 test if you feel ill. It is also very important to stay home when you feel ill or are ill (whether it is COVID-19 or any other illness) for your health and safety and for others. Remember, if you have been tested for COVID-19 due to symptoms, and/or have been exposed, or have tested positive, please complete the COVID-19 Report Form as soon as possible.
As we have throughout the pandemic, CCA will continue to closely monitor guidance from federal, state and local public health officials and we will continue tracking our own campus COVID-19 data. By monitoring this information and data, CCA will continually evaluate the need for changes in order to protect the health and safety of our campus community including the possibility of having to reinstate the mask mandate in the future. If you have any concerns or questions, please email COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu. Also, refer to the COVID-19 webpage for updated information.
Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy and safe environment to work and learn in. Your continued efforts are very much appreciated. More to come.
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, Ed.D.
President, Community College of Aurora
Greetings, CCA.
Tri-County Health’s mask mandate for public indoor spaces is set to expire over the weekend. As you will also see in Tri-County’s announcement, the spread of COVID-19 remains high in our community. Out of caution, consideration, and in conjunction with the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control, the Community College of Aurora will continue to require everyone to wear a mask while inside any of CCA’s buildings for the remainder of the Spring 2022 semester.
This safety measure will aid in the prevention of future disruption to the learning experience and college operations. As well as continue to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Once again, at this time, there will be no changes to CCA’s current face mask policy.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the COVID-19 Task Force at COVIDquestions@ccaurora.edu.
Mordecai Ian Brownlee, Ed.D.
Pronouns: he/him/his
President, Community College of Aurora
Dear New/Returning CCA Student,
Welcome to the Spring 2022 semester at the Community College of Aurora (CCA)! We are excited you have chosen CCA to begin/continue your educational goals. In addition, we want to provide you with an update on our commitment to the health and safety of CCA students, faculty/instructors, and staff.
In response to the local surge in COVID-19 cases, CCA is implementing a one-week remote start for Spring 2022 for all classes*.
Return to on-campus instruction will begin on Monday, January 24th. Below are more details regarding courses:
- Most face-to-face and hybrid classes will meet remotely via Zoom from January 18, 2022, through January 23, 2022. On January 24, 2022, all courses with an in-person component will return to campus/in-person instruction as previously scheduled and planned. To access your courses during the remote start, please check both your CCA email and log on to D2L for instructions and Zoom links. Please plan to log on virtually during the designated days and times listed on your schedule.
- CCA Online courses will not be affected.
- The Center for Adult Education will also delay the start of classes by one week. Classes will begin on January 24, 2022.
- Surgical, N95, or KN95 masks are preferred, and CCA will continue to provide surgical masks at the entrance of every building.
- Please continue to be mindful of social distancing when possible.
- Masks must be worn, regardless of vaccination status.
- Presenters in spaces with enough social distancing can remove masks when presenting.
*Please note that Colorado Film School, Diesel, Paramedic, EMT, Nursing, Phlebotomy, Fire Science, and Law Enforcement Academy programs will start in person at the originally scheduled date and time.
CCA support services will also move remote on both CentreTech and Lowry campuses until January 21st. We highly encourage virtual appointments and/or use of CCA Zoom Drop-In Hours from January 6, 2022, through January 21, 2022. Limited in-person support will be available. More information on support services is listed below.
- Drop-In Zoom Hours will be offered 8 am-6 pm Monday through Thursday, and 10 am-5 pm on Fridays. Representatives from Advising, Admissions, Records and Registration, Financial Aid, Recruitment & Orientation, Cashier, and Student Success will be present to support you in answering questions, scheduling appointments, and more. To access the Drop-In Zoom Hours, please join the Zoom sessions through this link.
- The CCA Open House scheduled for Friday, January 7th and CCA Extended Hours on January 8th and 12th are now virtual. Please check each of the links for more information.
- In need of a laptop to complete your Spring 2022 courses? If so, please complete this form to request a laptop. Limited laptops available.
- In need of resources, please complete this resources form to get information and support.
In addition, don’t forget to submit your documentation of your vaccination status and/or agreement to report weekly COVID-19 test results. Check out the Spring 2022 COVID-19 Protocol below for the links to submit your vaccination status or testing agreement.
Finally, CCA remains committed to in-person learning and support services, as long as that is in line with the advice of our health experts. We also understand that the situation is rapidly changing, and we plan to be as proactive in our communication to you as possible.
Dra. Reyna Anaya
Senior Student Affairs Officer/Dean of Student Success
Dr. Bobby Pace
Vice President of Academic Success
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
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