Saint Augustine’s University, in an effort to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the wider community, will take the following measures in an effort to address the concerns about the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus. Saint Augustine’s University leadership will continue to monitor the situation and provide further instructions as needed. Students, faculty, and staff should continue to check their Saint Augustine’s University email and website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

 

VACCINES

All students, faculty, and staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes full-time and part-time students, faculty, and staff. 

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT

A. Purpose. The University’s mission, in part, is to deliver an experiential liberal arts education that encourages personal growth and inspires artistic, intellectual, and social action. Vaccination of the campus community is the most effective step which can be taken to allow a safe return to in-person learning to achieve this mission. The University has adopted this policy in order to maintain a safe and healthy campus in response to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This policy is intended to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

B. Policy. August 8, 2021, all students must do the following: (1) demonstrate that they have received a vaccine for COVID-19 by uploading the COVID-19 vaccine record to the Vaccination Information Portal on the University’s website or (2) obtain an approved medical or religious exemption using the documents found in the Vaccination Information Portal. To comply with this policy, all students must upload documented evidence of immunization from a healthcare provider to the Vaccination Information Portal. Please note that other medical information should not be provided with this proof of vaccination. This information will be maintained in the student’s enrollment file in the University. Students who fail to comply with this vaccination policy will be placed on suspension and after one week subjected to discipline which will go up to and include dismissal, at the discretion of the University. All students will also be tested for COVID-19 once every two weeks.

If assistance is needed in identifying available COVID-19 vaccination locations or other resources about the available COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Tim Stevenson in the Gordon Health Center at 919.516.4304 or tbstevenson@st-aug.edu.

C. Reasonable Accommodation Requests. Students who wish to request an exemption to this policy based on a medical or sincerely held religious beliefs should utilize one of the respective documents found in the Vaccination Information Portal. Other questions may be directed to Gordon Health Services by emailing Mr. Tim Stevenson at tbstevenson@st-aug.edu. Once it is aware of the request, the University will respond with the most accurate and up-to-date information available. This information is subject to change with advance notice in accordance with state and federal guidelines. Reasonable, substantiated, and documented accommodations which do not create an undue hardship for the University and/or do not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the employee and/or others on campus will be granted. Students may request exemptions from this policy without fear of retaliation. State law of vaccinations does not allow for philosophical, political, or social differences. All students with approved exemptions must be tested for COVID-19 twice a week with results provided to Gordon Health Services. Students who fail to comply with this policy will be placed on suspension and after one week subjected to discipline which will go up to and include dismissal, at the discretion of the University. All students with approved exemptions must be tested for COVID-19 twice a week with results provided to Gordon Health Services. Students who fail to comply with this policy by producing COVID-19 test results will be placed on suspension away from the University and after one week subjected to discipline which will go up to and include complete dismissal, at the discretion of the University.

The American College Health Association (ACHA) has recognized that comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective way for institutions of higher education to return to a safe, robust on-campus experience for students and recommends COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all on-campus college and university students. Thus, in addition to the immunizations required by North Carolina State Law GS130-A-155.1, as of August 8, 2021, Saint Augustine’s University will require all University students to provide proof of immunization against COVID-19. With limited exceptions, North Carolina State Law GS130-A-155.1 requires ALL college students to have a Certificate of Immunization. The student must give the full dates for all required immunizations. The Certificate must be signed or officially stamped by a physician or health department official. This Certificate of Immunization must be returned to the Admissions Office prior to registration and move-in or the student may not be permitted to attend classes and will be withdrawn or subject to dismissal from the University. Each student may request an appropriate form through his/her centralized State Immunization Registry website, local health department, or physician’s office. The only allowable exemptions are for doctor-certified medical reasons (i.e., the student must have the completed form from his/her doctor) or religious reasons. The forms requesting medical or religious exemption can be found on the Vaccination Information Portal on the University’s website. You may review more information on North Carolina’s immunization requirements by visiting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services – Immunization Branch, online at: www.immunize.nc.gov/schools/collegesuniversities.htm. For more information about exemptions, you may visit: immunize.nc.gov/schools/ncexemptions.htm.

If assistance is needed in identifying locations where COVID-19 vaccines are available or other resources about the available COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Tim Stevenson in the Gordon Health Center at 919.516.4304 or tbstevenson@st-aug.edu.