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COVID-19 Updates & Resources

COVID-19 Updates and Resources

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Health Protocols

If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please call Student Affairs at 970.943.2232 for support.

Indoor masking is not required on campus.

We will continue to evaluate the mask requirement based on local public health guidance. Please be respectful of individuals who request masks to be worn in indoor spaces.

Recommendations:

  • Get vaccinated if you have not yet done so.
  • Stay up-to-date on booster vaccinations.
  • Students can submit their COVID-19 vaccination records through StarRez; faculty and staff can submit their documentation to HR@western.edu.
  • Continue prevention measures such as washing your hands often, not touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, not sharing personal items, monitoring health daily, socializing outdoors when possible and sanitizing surfaces.

Updated for the 2022-23 academic year.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Western recommends students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated and/or boosted for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases such as influenza (flu).

Students can voluntarily submit their proof of COVID-19 vaccination and/or booster records through the StarRez system. Please have your vaccine records accessible when you begin the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Report your symptoms or positive test using the COVID Reporter in the StarRez Portal
  2. Stay home and isolate for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or the positive test result.
  3. After 5 days
    • If you have no symptoms (including fever) or your symptoms are resolving, you no longer need to isolate.
    • If you have a fever without using medication, continue to stay home until you are fever-free for 24-hours with no medication.
  4. Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days. Transmission is still possible after day 5.

Indoor masking is not required on campus. Reach out to faculty members if you have questions about individual masking policies in the courses they teach. Please be mindful and respectful of those who request masks be worn in indoor spaces.

Students – submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or booster through your StarRez portal.

Faculty and Staff – Human Resources will be running a state database query for employee booster data, and will follow up with employees as needed thereafter.

Western has an abundant supply of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits for symptomatic individuals at the Office to Student Affairs (Taylor 301). Call the COVID-19 hotline or Student Affairs at 970.943.2232 to request a test kit. In addition to tests on campus, tests can also be acquired for free at:

If you are vaccinated and do not have symptoms, no. Please monitor your health. If you become symptomatic, please isolate and test. If you are not vaccinated or up-to-date on your vaccinations/boosters, please follow state and CDC guidance.

Office of Student Affairs: 970.943.2232

Health and Human Services (HHS): 970.641.3244

Historic COVID-19 relief funding for students

In the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years, the CARES Act provided funds to institutions of higher education to provide students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of university operations due to coronavirus. Details about this how this program worked at Western Colorado University are available below.

Federal Reports

Required CARES Act Reporting

1. Western Colorado University received an additional allocation from the Department of Education from Section 2003(a)(1) of the ARP to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

2. The total amount of the funds that Western Colorado University received pursuant to the Certification and Agreement is $4,547,594 of which $3,444,271 was to be utilized for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students. It was expected that Western Colorado University would be able to assist 2,000+ students with these funds.

3. As of the reporting date, Western Colorado University has issued $3,444,271 to over 2,000 students.

How did students receive this money?

Western Colorado University received an additional allocation from the Department of Education from Section 2003(a)(1) of the American Rescue Plan to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to those financially impacted by COVID. Western Colorado University distributed these funds based on financial need as demonstrated through FAFSA and calculated Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).  Funds were used by students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arose due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care) or child care.

Students with an EFC from 0 to 5846 with a COVID hardship will receive $2,000 total – $1,000 each semester (increased to $1,500 – Spring ’22);

Students with an EFC from 5847 to 14615 with a COVID hardship will receive $1,000 total – $500 each semester (increased to $1,000 – Spring ’22);

All remaining students with a COVID hardship will receive $500 total – $250 each semester (increased to $500 – Spring ’22).

The window to claim your HEERF Grant ended Tuesday, February 15, 2022. 

If you have any questions, you can email cares-act@western.edu.

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