COVID-19 Policy (effective July 2022)
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement
Naropa University requires that all on-campus students, faculty, and staff be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This means receiving two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna OR one dose of J & J, AND any recommended booster doses (***this means at least one booster for anyone over the age of 12). Booster dose recommendations vary based on age, immunity issues, and when the initial vaccines were received. You can check your recommended doses here. Vaccine information must be verified through the Medicat system, which can be accessed with your Naropa email and password here.
Vaccine Exemptions
Naropa University students, staff and faculty may register an exemption to the vaccine requirements for medical, religious, and moral reasons. Exemptions should be processed through the Medicat system, which can be accessed with your Naropa email and password here. In general, registering an exemption to the vaccine requirement simply means you are not required to receive the vaccine and/or booster doses. It does not give any special permissions to attend classes remotely or otherwise alter delivery options. In case of an outbreak or change in the pandemic, it MAY require additional safety protocols such as additional testing or masking. Should this become necessary, you will be informed by the COVID-19 Task Force.
All students living in Snow Lion or 2333 Naropa campus housing must be fully vaccinated, including required boosters, and cannot apply for an exemption to the vaccine requirement.
Symptoms/Illness
Isolation/Quarantine
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they should follow CDC isolation guidelines—which means isolating for at least five days (longer if they are symptomatic or become more severely ill), and then wearing a mask whenever around other people for five more days.
Students should notify their faculty to stay on track with class work while in isolation. If a faculty member tests positive for COVID-19, and the isolation requirement will affect their ability to teach, they should contact their Program Chair and Dean to work out alternative arrangements. If a staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should contact their supervisor to work out any needed arrangements.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should inform those they have been in close contact with of the exposure risk as soon as possible. This includes people both on and off campus—for example, roommates, classmates, friends, co-workers, and others you have spent time with. It is generally assumed that a person can be contagious 2 days prior to testing positive/becoming symptomatic.
If any student, staff, or faculty member becomes aware of a COVID-19 exposure either on campus or off campus, they should follow the CDC recommendations for quarantine. You can find detailed information about quarantine and isolation requirements here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html
Masks/Prevention
Mask wearing is optional and will remain so unless Naropa University determines otherwise based on government guidance regarding infection rates. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask is supported in doing so. Anyone who wants to prioritize extra protection for themselves is encouraged to mask when in a group or public setting. You can review the CDC’s mask and other prevention guidance here.
At this time in the pandemic, it is advisable that individuals personally manage their risk of exposure and illness by following state and federal guidelines regarding mask-wearing, vaccination, and testing. This means assuming that you have been exposed to COVID-19 any time you are in a public setting or a close contact setting unmasked. The Naropa University COVID-19 Taskforce will not provide notification of potential on-campus COVID-19 exposures.
Retreats/Intensives
Please send any inquiries to: covid19questions@naropa.edu