Dear Resident Students,
Move-In Week is almost here, and we can’t wait to officially welcome you to campus! As you’re finishing up packing (and unpacking and repacking), we wanted to share some additional information about our COVID-19 health and safety guidance for Move In and what you can expect when you and your crew arrive on campus.
Know before you arrive: Get tested 48 to 72 hours before Move-In
All students living on campus – regardless of vaccination status – are strongly encouraged to get a COVID-19 test 48-72 hours prior to coming to Golden for move-in. Recommended tests include:
- Molecular (NAAT, RT-PCR, LAMP test; some rapid tests, such as CUE, give test results in under 2 hours)
- Antigen tests (some rapid tests, such as BinaxNOW, give test results in under an hour)
Please retain a copy your test results. If you live in Colorado, you may have a COVIDCheck Colorado testing site near you. Check their available locations and testing times (https://covidcheckcolorado.org/find-our-sites-testing/) and schedule a test using this link: https://my.primary.health/a/mines. (Be sure to know your Campus Wide ID, or CWID, for scheduling your test through this site.)
If you test positive, you will need to delay your arrival to campus and isolate for 10 days, consistent with public health guidance. Please let us know about your positive test by submitting a report to the Mines COVID-19 Response Initiator Team.
On your assigned move-in day: Bring your mask
While moving into your assigned room, you and all members of your move-in crew are asked to wear face masks while you are indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Our staff and move-in volunteers will do the same, in line with current CDC guidance and local COVID-19 transmission rates.
Take advantage of free on-campus COVID-19 testing
This academic year, Mines is continuing its partnership with COVIDCheck Colorado to offer free and convenient COVID-19 testing on campus. The testing site at 1922 Jones Road is a quick walk from the residence halls – just cross 19th Street at the traffic circle and walk through the parking lots toward U.S. 6.
We encourage all students – regardless of their vaccination status – to test whenever they feel it’s a good idea, whether that’s because you’re experiencing potential symptoms of COVID-19, know someone who has tested positive, recently spent time in a higher risk environment like a large crowd, or just want to know your status. We are providing this free and convenient access to testing to give students the resources to make informed decisions to protect their own health and the health of our community.
Before heading over to the on-campus testing site, schedule an appointment at https://my.primary.health/a/mines. If you need a same-day appointment and one is not available, sign up for the earliest available appointment (even if it’s the following day) and then walk over to the testing site anyway. COVIDCheck will allow you to test that day as long as you have an appointment in the system – even if it’s for a future date.
COVIDCheck Colorado will communicate your test results via text message within 48 hours. Further instructions for what to do if you test positive will be provided to students as part of the move-in process.
A final reminder about the vaccination requirement
Many of you have already provided your proof of vaccination or exemption form – thank you! – but if you have not, don’t forget that the deadline to comply with Mines’ vaccination requirement for Fall 2021 is the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 23. Reminder: The vaccination requirement can be fulfilled by either:
- Providing proof of vaccination, or
- Submitting a vaccine exemption form (medical or non-medical)
Students who have received the COVID-19 vaccine must enter their dose dates into the Student Health Portal and upload proof of vaccination (photo of vaccination card or medical record). Submissions without proof of vaccination will not be accepted. Students filing an exemption must also use the portal to download, sign and submit that form. Detailed instructions on how to upload your vaccination status to the Health Portal are available on Mines’ vaccine website.
Mines will also be hosting two on-campus vaccination clinics the first week of classes. All three vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson – will be available, including second doses of Pfizer and Moderna. Anyone who completes their vaccination at the free clinics Aug. 23 and Aug. 27 will receive a $25 gift card, courtesy of Jefferson County Public Health.
I want to thank you for your attention to these requests and your commitment to our community and the health and wellbeing of your fellow Orediggers. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Elliott, Director of Residence Life and Housing