Residence Life Immunization

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS LIVING ON-CAMPUS AND STUDENT ATHLETICS

Basis
Colorado law requires all students attending certain college or university programs in the state of Colorado to be vaccinated against specified vaccine-preventable diseases (i.e., Measles, Mumps, Rubella), as established by Colorado Board of Health rule 6 CCR 1009-2, unless an exemption is filed.

While the Colorado Board of Health does not currently require vaccination against COVID-19 for students, Trinidad State College requires that all students living in on-campus housing, and/or participating on College athletic receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) is the virus that causes COVID-19. Serious symptoms and effects include difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, body aches, and death. The risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 can far outweigh any benefits of natural immunity. The COVID-19 vaccination helps protect individuals from contracting and spreading the virus.

Requirements
Trinidad State College requires that students, as a condition of living in on-campus housing, participating on College athletic teams, and/or participating in designated health sciences programs be vaccinated against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccination is not required as a condition of enrollment at the College.

Students must submit a COVID-19 immunization record or receive an exemption as of the date they apply for campus housing, as a condition of participating on College athletic teams, or as a condition of participating in a designated health sciences program. The COVID-19 immunization record must reflect any second dose necessary for full immunization. The College will provide students with a list of local providers offering the COVID-19 vaccine at no cost.

If a student does not submit a COVID-19 immunization record or receive an exemption, they will not be permitted to live on-campus in the residence halls, participate on College athletic teams, or participate in designated health sciences programs.

COVID-19 immunization records can be submitted by attaching to the Housing Application or emailing a scanned copy to the Housing Director, Omar Cano at omar.cano@trinidadstate.edu.

After submitting a COVID-19 immunization record, students will receive an acknowledgment email for their records.

Exemption Requests
Students have the right to request an exemption from this vaccination for a medical or non-medical (religious or personal belief) reason. This Procedure adopts the terms and definitions used by the State of Colorado for other vaccinations. To request an exemption, students should submit the Medical Exemption Form or Non-Medical Exemption Form to the Housing Director, Omar Cano at omar.cano@trinidadstate.edu.

Medical exemption details
• Students shall complete and submit the Medical Exemption Form (signed by a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathic medicine, advanced practice nurse, or delegated physician's assistant) to the Career and Disability Services Coordinator.

Non-medical (Religious or Personal Belief) exemption details
• Students shall complete and submit the Non-Medical Exemption Form to the Housing Director, Omar Cano at omar.cano@trinidadstate.edu.

Please allow 7-10 business days for an exemption request to be processed. After a student’s request has been reviewed and processed, the student will be notified in writing if an exemption has been granted. Appeals of this decision will follow the College’s standard appeal process found in the Student Handbook.

If granted an exemption, students will be required* to:

• Provide a negative COVID test before moving in to the Residence Halls, no more than 72 hours old;
• Participate in weekly COVID-19 testing as directed by the College;
• Monitor College email daily for important health notifications;
• Isolate for a period of time as required by local health department regulations if test positive for COVID-19; and
• Quarantine for a period of time per local health department regulation if determined to be in close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
  
  * These requirements are subject to change based upon available and emerging epidemiological evidence and the overall burden of disease related to COVID-19 transmission on our campus and in our region.

Students with a recorded immunization exemption may be kept out of College residence halls and kept from participation on student athletic teams or designated health sciences programs during a disease outbreak; the length of time will vary depending on the type of the disease and the circumstances of the outbreak, and alternative options will be utilized when available.

Where the exemption from vaccination necessitates an accommodation for a disability or medical condition or an accommodation based on a religious or personal belief or practice, Trinidad State College will engage in an interactive process with the student to determine which reasonable accommodations may be available for students to live in the residence halls or participate on student athletic teams. More information about Trinidad State College accommodations process is available here.

Revisions to Requirements
Trinidad State College reserves the right to change any provisions of these requirements at any time and change shall become effectively immediately.