General University Policies

Contents

• Academic Considerations for Students who Nurse after Childbirth
• Children in Classrooms and Workplaces Policy
• Health Insurance Requirement
• Immunizations

 

Additional university policies pertaining to Amorous Relationships, Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Violence, along with other university Policies, can be found in the Metropolitan State University of Denver Policy Library (https://www.msudenver.edu/policy/policy-library/).

Additional university policies pertaining to Email, Computing, Security, and Electronic Communications, along with other university policies, can be found in the Metropolitan State University of Denver Policy Library (https://www.msudenver.edu/policy/policy-library/).

Academic Considerations for Students who Nurse after Childbirth

It is recognized that some women will choose to nurse after childbirth, and Metropolitan State University of Denver is committed to creating a supportive environment for nursing mothers that includes lactation facilities on campus. A summary of the on-campus lactation facilities listed by building and an explanation of how to access these spaces is provided at the end of this policy. The locations can also be found at this URL: https://www.ahec.edu/files/general/Lactation_Room_Map.pdf. Note that refrigeration services are generally not available and that students should plan accordingly.

Students who choose to nurse after childbirth are responsible for considering the following recommendations when selecting classes during the semester(s) in which expressing (pumping) milk will occur.

• Schedule classes that meet for no more than two hours at a time.
• Schedule classes that are not back-to-back to ensure ample time between classes for pumping to occur.
• Allow enough time between your work schedule and classes to ensure ample time for pumping prior to the beginning of class.  
• Consider on-line courses if this mode of instruction fits better with your pumping needs.
• Be aware that there is a higher percentage of summer semester courses (compared with fall and spring semester courses) that are longer in length, and that certain summer semester courses may not be suitable choices.

The university supports a mother’s choice to nurse; however, the requirements associated with each mother’s circumstance can vary significantly. It is the student’s responsibility to make the right course selection using the above guidelines in order to avoid missing class time and interrupting the learning process. 

In general, the university and its faculty expect that students choosing to nurse will plan ahead as is outlined in this document so that the ongoing academic mission of the institution is not interrupted.  A critical component for successful learning is class attendance, and in some classes, active course participation is also an important factor.  For this reason, students who are expecting to nurse after childbirth are responsible for designing their class schedule in a manner that does not interfere with the allotted instruction time for any of their registered courses.

For any anticipated unique exceptions in which class instruction time may be impacted by a need to pump, a student is required (before registering for such a course) to schedule a meeting with the course instructor and the appropriate associate/assistant dean. At this meeting it will be determined if it is advisable for the student to register for the course in question. This will be determined by an assessment of the anticipated time away from class to pump and the implications to the educational requirements of the course. Any such exceptions agreed upon must be put in writing by the faculty member teaching the course and provided to the student and the Dean’s Office within one week following such a meeting. There are no course penalties associated with agreed upon times for lactation between faculty and student. However, in all cases the faculty member will maintain the same course standards required of all students registered for the course and as outlined in the course syllabus.

MSU Denver PRIMARY Lactation Room Locations and Access Instructions

Building	Room Number/Address	How to Access Lactation Space
Student Success Building (SSB)	Room 321	Access to the lactation room in the Student Success Bldg requires women to obtain a key from Human Resources in room 309. Women may check out a key for one semester and renew as needed.
Science (SI)	Room 2088	Access to the lactation room in the Science Building requires that women check out a key from the Institute for Women’s Studies and Services at 1059 Ninth Street Park. Women may check out a key for one semester and renew as needed.  *Location has a refrigerator, sink and power outlets.
Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy	Boulder Creek Room 132	Access to the lactation room in the Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy is on a walk-in basis 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Individuals need only to check in with a staff member in the reception area.  *Location has sinks, microwave and refrigerators. Minimal, temporary storage for breast milk and/or pumps.

MSU Denver SECONDARY Lactation Room Locations and Access Instructions

Building	Inquire at this Location Within the Building	How to Access Lactation Space
Plaza Building (PL)	Health Center at Auraria, Room 150	Access to the lactation space room in the Plaza Building can be gained by meeting with Health Center personnel (room 150) to arrange for such use. Arrangements must be made in advance before first use of room.
Central Classroom (CN)	Social Work Department, Room 201	Access to the lactation space room in Central Classroom can be gained by meeting with the Social Work Department (SWK) personnel (room 201) to arrange for such use. Arrangements must be made in advance before first use of room.
Administration Building (AD)	West Campus, School of Business Dean’s Office Room 540	Access to the lactation space room in the Administration Building can be gained by meeting with the School of Business personnel in the Dean’s Office (room 540) to arrange for such use. Arrangements must be made in advance before first use of room.
Arts Building (AR)	Art Department, Room 187C	Access to the lactation space room in the Arts Building can be gained by meeting with the Art Department office manager (room 187C) to arrange for such use. Arrangements must be made in advance before first use of room.
King Center (KC)	Political Science Department, Room 498	Access to the lactation space room in the King Center can be gained by meeting with the Political Science Department office manager (room 498) to arrange for such use. Arrangements must be made in advance before first use of room.

Children in Classrooms and Workplaces Policy

Metropolitan State University of Denver has an obligation to its students, faculty, staff, and visitors to conduct its operations and maintain its facilities in a manner consistent with its mission as an institution of higher education. For reasons that include safety of children, and assuring professional and efficient performance of academic pursuits and campus operations, the university cannot routinely accommodate children in campus workplaces or classrooms.

Presence in classrooms is restricted to enrolled students or visitors with a legitimate purpose, who may be adults or minors. Instructors of record are responsible for ensuring that individuals who attend their classes are properly enrolled or have been invited for the purpose of making special announcements, guest lecturing, or other authorized reasons. Instructors have the responsibility to ensure that the classroom is conducive to student learning and may address disruptive or distracting situations as appropriate.

Instructors have the discretion to make infrequent exceptions due to temporary, unforeseen emergencies. In these cases, children must remain in the classroom and are not allowed to sit in the hallway or be unsupervised in any location on campus. Regular repeated visits by children or others without a legitimate purpose are not permitted. Unless properly supervised, and with pre-approval, children are not permitted in labs, shops, construction/repair sites, or other areas where potential hazards exist. Children brought on campus must be directly supervised at all times by their parent or guardian. Leaving children unattended is a violation of the MSU Denver Student Code of Conduct.

Definitions

1. Children: Minors under the age of 18.
2. Minors Enrolled as Students: Enrolled students under the age of 18 have the rights and privileges of any other student in the classroom and on campus grounds.

Health Insurance Requirement

MSU Denver students taking nine (9) or more credit hours in the Fall or Spring are required to have health insurance that complies with the university requirement. To learn about the health insurance requirement, please view a brief video at: https://healthcenter1.com/domestic-health-insurance-requirement/

Students can meet the requirement by fulfilling option A or B:

Option One: Students can accept automatic enrollment in the university sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). Enrollment is automatic when a student registers for nine or more credit hours in the Fall or Spring semester.

Option Two: Students insured by an outside federally compliant health plan can submit an online health insurance waiver form by the published semester deadline to opt-out of the university sponsored SHIP.

Additional details regarding both options can be found by going to: https://healthcenter1.com/opt-out-waiver-instructions/

The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is designed specifically for MSU Denver students (regardless of immigration status) taking nine (9) or more credit hours in the Fall or Spring semesters. This comprehensive plan is designed to comply with any federal requirement, save students money and time, and provide convenient access to quality medical care on and off campus. SHIP provides twelve (12) months of insurance coverage for students taking nine (9) or more credit hours in both the Fall and Spring semesters.

SHIP OFFERS STUDENTS EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS & SAVINGS AT THE HEALTH CENTER AT AURARIA:

100% coverage for all medical services;

• $0 office visits, procedures and supplies
• $20 maximum cost per prescription
• NO deductible, NO co-insurance, NO co-payments

For students with outside health insurance, who are taking nine or more credit hours, an electronic waiver form is required each Fall and Spring semester. Students who initially register for nine or more credit hours, but subsequently drop below nine credit hours before the waiver compliance deadline, will automatically have the insurance charge removed from their tuition bill and will not be covered by the University-offered health insurance for the current semester. Student taking less than nine (9) credit hours are not permitted to voluntarily participate in the University-offered student health insurance plan.

If a semester premium is not paid in full, any submitted claims during that semester will be denied. For additional insurance information go to: https://msudenver.edu/healthcenter/msudenverplans/

Immunizations

Colorado State law requires any student enrolled for one or more credit hours in higher education to comply with the State’s immunization policy. This policy also applies to active military students, graduate students, students taking on-line only classes and those studying abroad.

The immunization requirement is in place to ensure the health and safety of all constituents on the Auraria campus and the university is required by state law to enforce this requirement in the interest of public health.

Students must comply with the State of Colorado’s Immunization Policy requirements for higher education by submitting documentation of their previous immunizations, specifically providing proof of 2 doses of combined MMR vaccine(measles/mumps/rubella.) or proof of having received two doses of measles vaccine, two doses of mumps vaccine and two doses of rubella vaccine. This documentation must be submitted during the first semester of attendance by the immunization deadline to the Auraria Immunizations Office. The summer/fall deadline is October 1 and the spring deadline is March 1.

Students living in on-campus housing must provide proof of Meningococcal Meningitis Immunization within the most recent 5 years. Those who have not received this immunization have two options:

1. Complete the Auraria Immunization Compliance Form and indicate in the Meningococcal Waiver section that you have reviewed and understand the risks of contracting meningococcal meningitis and do not intend to receive the vaccine.
2. Schedule a vaccination. Vaccination is available at The Health Center at Auraria or with your healthcare provider. Health insurance covers 100% of routine vaccines. Call 303-615-9997 to schedule and/or verify insurance eligibility.” 

Students who do not comply with this requirement will not be able to eligible to register for future semesters. Non-compliant students will have an immunization “hold” put on their account if they have not submitted their immunization documentation by the published deadline during their first semester of attendance.

For additional information go to: https://healthcenter1.com/immunization-requirement/.