By Philip DiStefano
A historic and challenging academic year closes this week at the University of Colorado Boulder highlighted by the graduation May 6 of more than 9,000 graduate and undergraduate students who have persevered to earn degrees in the most difficult of times. They were awarded their degrees in a virtual commencement ceremony.
The power of community in these times of crisis has never been more evident. We’re thankful for the support over the last 14 months of Boulder County Public Health, the city of Boulder and the Boulder Police Department for everything from public health guidance to enforcement and collaborative problem solving. And, we’re thankful for the people of Boulder who have been strong partners in keeping our community safe.
In conjunction with the expert advice from the state and local health departments, the Governor’s Office and the Colorado Department of Higher Education, last week we announced a vaccination requirement for students, faculty and staff by the start of school next fall for the safety of our community and so we can return to normal.
The scientific evidence is clear: The quickest way out of this pandemic and back to the normal times that we so desperately crave is by increasing the overall number of individuals who are fully vaccinated.
CU mathematical modeling published last week shows the state can safely roll back all public health restrictions and return to normal once 70% of Colorado residents are vaccinated. We’re joining other Colorado higher education institutions in requiring vaccinations to help the state get to that point of normalcy.
The vaccination requirement will support our most valuable asset, our people, and ultimately will help protect our community of Boulder and beyond. As with our other vaccination policies, medical and non-medical exemptions can be sought.
Vaccinations bring safety, comfort and confidence so we can all return to the full college experience next fall. That means a return to a traditional academic setting that students covet and coming back together as a community for intercollegiate sports, the Pearl Street Stampedes and support of our local businesses.
Before the pandemic we hosted more than a half million people annually at sporting, performing arts and cultural events. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus. Vaccinations make that possible.
Next fall the eyes of science will be on Boulder as we host hundreds of the world’s top science journalists for a days-long conference. They will stay in Boulder hotels, eat in Boulder restaurants and write stories published across the globe with Boulder datelines.
The same collaboration and power of our Boulder community that is getting us through this health crisis will also return us to our normal routine of a traditional college experience, robust research that impacts humanity and renewed support of our local economy. But it cannot happen without vaccinations.
Philip DiStefano is the 11th chancellor of CU Boulder.
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May 12, 2021 at 01:06AM
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