South Platte Independent 120921

The Independent 21

December 9, 2021

ACC President Stephanie Fujii

ACC FROM PAGE 1

“I’m hoping that scenario doesn’t happen,” she said, adding that she is confident that her community will follow the new testing rules. As of mid-November, 68% of students and 88% of faculty and staff have shown proof of full vaccination, according to Fujii. “My hope is that more will go ahead,” she said. “I don’t want people to get sick.” For students who attend classes fully online, they will not have to participate in COVID testing or show that they have been fully vaccinated. However, if they intend to come to one of ACC’s campuses, they will need to show proof of a negative test three days before arriving. The testing protocol also has no effect on ACC’s mask-wearing mandate, with students, faculty and staff required to wear masks when on campus regardless of vaccination status or testing, though students and employees can request an exemption from mask wearing for medical reasons. The college will still offer vir-

Arapahoe Community College’s Littleton campus.

tual classes and other academic services for those who do not want to undergo testing or vaccination. The new guidelines have led to some grumbling among students, faculty and staff, said Lisa Matye Edwards, vice president for student affairs, with some students even threatening to drop their classes in protest of the new protocol. “We recognize that there’s a variety of reasons that people may not choose to be vaccinated or cannot be vaccinated,” Matye Edwards said, adding that the testing option was given to avoid a vaccine mandate. Matye Edwards said that for those who violate the protocal by showing up on campus either unvaccinated or without proof of testing, they may face conse-

FILE PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN

quences ranging from a warning to suspension. But with the vast majority of the community fully vaccinated and already following mask requirements, college leaders believe the new guidelines will see a mostly smooth rollout. “ACC is a college that cares,” Fujii said. “I’m very confident that while folks may not like it they will be willing to comply because they care more about the community.” Students can go to tinyurl.com/ studentvaccineform to upload their vaccination record. Faculty and staff can go to tinyurl.com/ employeevaccinerecord to upload their vaccine record. Anyone who does not upload a vaccine record by Jan. 3 will have to test when the semester starts on Jan. 18.

CAN I GET A TEST OR VACCINE ON CAMPUS? Free COVID-19 testing is available on Arapahoe Community College’s Littleton campus every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon or until tests run out. Testing is available by walk-up appointments at Parking Lot C at the intersection of South Prince Street and Church Avenue northeast of the campus’ main building. Free vaccines are also available there from Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Testing will be moved inside to room M1800 if the weather falls below 32 degrees. Vaccines will be moved to the same room if the weather falls below 40 degrees or it is raining or snowing. The campus is located at 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton.

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