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. 

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 employees 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 employees 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 the proof of vaccination. This information will be maintained in the employee’s employment file in Human Resources. Employees who fail to comply with this vaccination policy will be placed on unpaid leave and after one week subjected to discipline which will go up to and include termination of employment, at the discretion of the University. The employment offer to potential employees will be contingent upon having received or willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination before employment. All faculty and staff 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. Employees 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 the Office of Human Resources by emailing OfficeofHumanResources@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. Employees may request exemptions from this policy without fear of retaliation. State law of vaccinations does not allow for philosophical, political, or social differences. All faculty and staff with approved exemptions must be tested for COVID-19 twice a week with results provided to Human Resources. Employees who fail to comply with this policy by producing COVID-19 test results will be placed on unpaid leave and after one week subjected to discipline which will go up to and include termination of employment, at the discretion of the University.