As you saw in an , a few things have changed regarding vaccination protocol after formal approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Now that there is an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, personal exemptions are no longer valid or will be accepted. However, exemptions are still accepted for religious or medical reasons.

Individuals should abide by the timelines for submitting proof of COVID-19 vaccination or religious or medical exemptions as indicated, below.

 

STUDENT DEADLINES

WSU students must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination, proof of initiation of the vaccination, or file for a religious or medical exemption by Friday, Sept. 10.

Students with a personal exemption currently on file must provide proof of full vaccination or request a religious or medical exemption by Monday, Oct. 18.

The updated process to request a medical or religious exemption will be released next week.

Where to submit:

* Student employees should also submit their information in

What happens if you don’t submit your information:
You will face academic holds

 

EMPLOYEE DEADLINES

WSU employees must be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical or religious exemption by Monday, Oct. 18.

The vaccination verification requirement will supersede the previous vaccination declaration process in Workday. More information on the verification process will be released next week.

Where to submit:

What happens if you don’t submit your information:
It is a condition of employment

 

Timelines for completing COVID-19 vaccines by Oct. 18

Pfizer
Two doses, 21 days apart | First dose no later than Sept. 13 | Second dose Oct. 4

Moderna
Two doses, 28 days apart | First dose no later than Sept. 6 | Second dose Oct. 4

Johnson & Johnson
Single dose | First dose no later than Oct. 4

 

COVID-19 vaccine locations

Washington Vaccine Locator

 

���سԹ� vaccine clinics
Every Wednesday through end of September
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mobile medical unit in CIC parking lot
Free | No appointment needed

New vaccine mandate for higher ed employees

�۱���ٱ���岹��,�� for employees working in higher education, K-12 and most childcare and early learning settings.

Employees will have until Oct. 18 to be fully vaccinated or submit an exemption for medical or religious reasons. The requirement is a condition of employment. Regardless, WSU employees MUST enter their declaration of vaccination or file for an exemption on  by Aug. 23. Those who asked for exemptions must either become fully vaccinated or file a medical or religious exemption by Oct. 18.

Note that employees are required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18, which means that they must be two weeks past their final dose of the vaccine. To meet this requirement, the Moderna vaccine regimen must be started by Sept. 6, the Pfizer regimen by Sept. 13, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine no later than Oct. 4.

Instructions for submitting a declaration or an exemption as a WSU employee:

1. �վ���������
2. Select “Requests” from the welcome page and then “Create Request”
3. In the “Request Type” window, type “COVID” and press “enter”
4. Select “COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Declaration” and click “OK”
5. Read the declaration statement and select the statement appropriate to you
6. Click “Submit”

The vaccination mandate for state employees does not apply to students. For student requirements, visit tricities.wsu.edu/covid-19/guidelines.

Indoor mask mandate

In addition to vaccine requirements,  a statewide mask mandate that will include vaccinated individuals in indoor settings.

Effective Monday, Aug. 23, all individuals over the age of 5 must wear a mask while in indoor settings that may be accessed by the public, including restaurants, grocery stores, malls and public-facing offices, regardless of vaccination status. The mandate also applies to schools (including colleges and universities).

There will be limited exceptions when masks aren’t required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

For latest WSU COVID-19 information, visit:

WSU system COVID-19 website | 
���سԹ� COVID-19 website | 

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – School is back in session at Washington State University Tri-Cities on Monday, Aug. 23, with in-person classes and COVID-19 requirements in place. Among many updates, the campus features a new academic building, renovations to an existing space to allow for a new learning commons for students and an expanded Veterans Stories Memorial.

“We are thrilled to welcome students back to campus after over a year-and-a-half of offering virtual learning.” Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. “We have safety measures in place for students, employees and visitors and we look forward to a fantastic fall semester. Students and the community will find the new spaces particularly welcoming.”

In-person learning

With the exception of a few classes, ���سԹ� classes will be offered in-person and at normal capacity.

Updated COVID-19 requirements

Starting Aug. 23, students, employees and visitors will be required to wear masks while indoors at all WSU locations, per the new mandate announced this week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Employees must declare their vaccination status via an internal WSU process by Aug. 23, and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or file for a religious or medical exemption by Oct. 18, per the state mandate.

Students must provide proof that they have initiated or completed the vaccination process or must request an exemption for medical, religious or personal reasons by Sept. 10. After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, personal exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be an option. Students will have 45 days following the FDA approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of the vaccination) or file for a medical or religious exemption.

New and renovated facilities

Construction for Collaboration Hall, ���سԹ�’ new academic building, is complete and will host classes beginning Monday. The building features a range of state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, classrooms and collaboration spaces – including the addition of a grandstand staircase ideal for presentations and an outdoor amphitheater that seats 100 individuals. A grand opening celebration for Collaboration Hall will be held from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sept. 22.

The ���سԹ� library was renovated this year to house expanded study spaces and support resources for students. The traditional library was moved upstairs and a range of student services, study spaces and collaborative areas are now hosted downstairs in the learning commons where students can access academic support such as tutoring, writing assistance, academic advising, career services, and TRIO Student Success Programs.

Thanks to generous donations from Cliff Thorn Construction, several subcontractors and Eric and Susan Schmieman, the ���سԹ� Veterans Stories Memorial was expanded to feature raised flags for each of the military branches with lighting for evening times and a seating area.

New Crimson Coug Cart courtesy of STCU – press reveal event 12:30 p.m. on Monday

STCU has generously donated a $25,000 Coug-branded golf cart, named the “Crimson Coug Cart,” to ���سԹ� that will be unveiled at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, at Collaboration Hall as part of a press event. The golf cart will be used for a variety of purposes around campus – from events, to campus tours and more.

With the golf cart, STCU will host random acts of kindness days sporadically throughout the year where they will offer prizes to individuals on campus, in addition to supporting a range of campus events.

Week of Welcome activities and events sponsored by STCU

Throughout the first week of school, students will enjoy a range of celebratory events and activities sponsored by STCU that will welcome them to campus. For a full list of activities as part of the ���سԹ� Week of Welcome sponsored by STCU, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� director of marketing and communication, 509-372-7333 (office), 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

Changes to vaccination requirements and dates

The deadline to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a request for exemption has been changed.

Students must provide proof that they have initiated or completed the vaccination process or must request an exemption by Sept. 10. Employees must submit a vaccine declaration or request an exemption by Aug. 23.

The changes are in response to the ever-changing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the spread of the Delta variant rising and with particularly high rates of spread in Benton and Franklin counties, taking steps now to mitigate the spread is prudent.

Processes for campus community members

Students must either submit proof of initiation or completion of a COVID-19 vaccination or request an exemption through the .

Employees are required to declare their vaccination status or request an exemption via . More information is available on .

Students, faculty and staff who work in healthcare or clinical settings in Washington state are subject to . These individuals are not permitted to request a personal/philosophical exemption.

After FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccine, personal exemptions no longer an option

After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full FDA approval, personal exemptions will no longer be an option. Exemptions for religious and medical reasons, however, will be allowed. Students will have 45 days following the approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of the vaccination) or file for a medical or religious exemption. Upon FDA approval, the updated process for filing a new medical or religious exemption will be provided.

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective

COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe disease, and breakthrough infections for COVID-19 vaccinated individuals remain uncommon. Local data indicates that more than 90% of new COVID-19 infections are among unvaccinated people. We encourage you to talk to your health care provider about your best options.

On-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics beginning Aug. 18

Every Wednesday through end of September 2021
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mobile medical unit in CIC parking lot

The vaccine clinics are open to the public and do not require an appointment. There is no cost for the vaccine.

In-person learning planned for fall
���سԹ� will offer fully in-person learning this fall! Scheduling will be adjusted for regular classroom capacities and laboratories will move back to their normal capacities.

Interested in applying to attend ���سԹ�? The application is open through the summer!
Apply:
Degree programs: tricities.wsu.edu/degree-offerings
Chat with admissions: tricities.wsu.edu/admissions/contact-connect

In line with updated state guidance, the WSU system has announced the implementation of relaxed protocols for accessing and returning to campus.

Face-to-face interaction with our students and each other is the foundation of our effectiveness as an educational institution. Working in community on the ���سԹ� campus provides the best means of supporting our students and each other in the important work we do.

We are, thus, very excited about what this new guidance means for our campus and we look forward to seeing many of you in-person very soon! It’s been a long-time coming, but we are starting to see light at the end of the tunnel, as evidenced by the new guidelines, below.

Fully in-person classes planned for fall
���سԹ� will offer fully in-person learning this fall. Scheduling will be adjusted for regular classroom capacities and laboratories will move back to their normal capacities.

Admissions applications accepted through summer months
���سԹ� will accept applications for admission for fall 2021 through the summer. Classes begin on Aug. 23. To apply to attend ���سԹ�, visit .

Vaccine requirements
All WSU locations require that individuals receive the COVID-19 vaccine to access a university location, however, exemptions will be granted for medical and non-medical reasons. More information will be shared on the exemption process for all employees and for non-WSU Pullman students prior to the start of the fall semester.

Mask requirements
WSU employees who declare themselves fully vaccinated via  are not required to wear masks and socially-distance at WSU locations. Those who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks and socially-distance while on a campus or worksite. Providing falsified information regarding vaccination status is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment.

Students, contractors, vendors and visitors must be prepared to show proof of vaccination to a relevant unit or department lead when entering a WSU building. Employees who are not unit or department leads should let the unit or department lead know of their concern about someone’s vaccination status, rather than approaching the individual, themselves. Those unable or unwilling to provide proof of vaccination to the unit or department lead are required to wear a mask and socially-distance or leave university property.

Campus tours resume
The ���سԹ� Office of Admission is now scheduling on-campus tours for prospective students and their families. The tours will initially be held mostly outside before slowly transitioning to building interiors as campus facilities are prepared. To schedule a campus tour, visit tricities.wsu.edu/visit.

SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) to offer in-person experiences
���سԹ� is planning for in-person experiences as part of SOAR that will take place in July. For more information, contact Ian Jamieson at ian.jamieson@wsu.edu.

Attestation no longer required
Students, employees and visitors who access a WSU location no longer have to attest to their current health status via the official WSU attestation process.

Campus check-in to be used for contact tracing
While attestation is no longer required, ���سԹ� will continue to utilize a campus check-in process for all employees and visitors at the Floyd and CIC entrance kiosks. However, this process will be moving to an online check-in process that departments and individuals can use when visitors come to campus. To meet the state requirements for contact tracing come fall, faculty will be asked and expected to take attendance in their classes. More details will be shared as they are finalized.

Return to in-person work dates
���سԹ� director-level supervisors and above are expected to start working from campus or their respective WSU location no later than July 12.

All other ���سԹ� employees (except faculty) are expected to work from campus or their respective WSU location no later than Aug. 2.

���سԹ� faculty should plan to start working from campus or their respective WSU location beginning on their contracted start date for fall.

Those who have a medical condition impacting their ability to report to in-person work should contact their supervisor and ��������HRS.disabilityservices@wsu.edu or 509-335-4521.

Employees should provide notice when planning to return to help alleviate stress on facilities and IT staff
Those who have not yet returned to work on campus should provide advanced notice to facilities and/or IT if they require help in setting up equipment in their work area. Those who are able to move their items back to their office, themselves, are encouraged to do so. This will help reduce demands on the facilities and IT teams as they try to manage the return to campus needs for all campus members as we get closer to fall.

Return to work plans for units/departments no longer required to be submitted
WSU units and departments are no longer required to submit official return to work plans to ���سԹ� Environmental Health and Safety. A ���سԹ� campus-wide return to campus plan will remain in effect. It is currently being updated by �����dzٳ����մdz������ with latest guidance and will be posted to the ���سԹ� COVID-19 website upon completion: .

Return to work training no longer required
Employees are no longer required to complete the HRS return to workplace training. Rather, they can visit the  for a complete account of current guidance.

Events
All on-campus events should be entered into 25Live for scheduling resources.

Where to find latest up-to-date information
���سԹ� will continue to maintain its COVID-19 web page at . WSU individuals can also access updated information on the WSU system COVID-19 website at .

Washington State University is loosening its COVID-19 protocols in response to new state guidance, plummeting case numbers, and the widespread availability of vaccines.

Beginning today, students, employees and visitors to a university location no longer have to attest to their current health status. Additionally, the Risk Management Advisory Group no longer requires review of unit and departmental return-to-workplace plans. Committees and task forces dedicated to honing the university’s pandemic response are also concluding their work.

“Members of the WSU community are getting vaccinated and helping to drive down the rates of COVID-19 across our state,” Stacy Pearson, vice president for finance and administration and a leader in the university’s response to the pandemic said. “We feel confident taking these steps toward normalcy, with the acknowledgement that some precautions must still be observed.”

Among the continued precautions is the university’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for the fall. More than 7.3 million doses of the vaccine have been given out across the state as of June 9.

Exemptions for students and employees will be permissible for medical and non-medical reasons. Employees can now declare themselves vaccinated via Workday, while WSU Pullman students can provide proof of vaccination or request a medical exemption through the  The university will detail the non-medical exemption process as well as the medical exemption process for all employees and non-WSU Pullman students in July.

Employees who declare themselves fully vaccinated no longer have to wear masks and socially distance at a WSU location. Those who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks and distance while on a campus or worksite. Providing falsified information regarding vaccination status is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment.

Students, contractors, vendors and visitors must be prepared to show proof of vaccination when entering a WSU building, with those unable or unwilling to do so required to wear a mask and distance or leave university property.

As university faculty and staff prepare to return to work sites, WSU is asking all members of its community to stay home if they are sick.

“The pandemic has really put into focus how damaging a culture of working while sick can be,” Pearson said. “We must commit ourselves to accommodating those who are not feeling well, and individually, we need to understand that if we are not at our best, our work can wait, for the sake of those around us.”

Prior to enacting a return to workplace process, area leaders must designate a COVID coordinator responsible for monitoring  for operational updates. All employees are expected to follow the latest EH&S guidance. The Risk Management Advisory Group can still be consulted by departments, though its review is not required.

Departments looking to host events will still need to submit plans to the  if they include certain criteria:

• Overnight travel
• Primarily attendees or participants who are minors, including current WSU students
• More than 100 attendees are expected
• Food services will be provided
• At least 50% of expected attendees are not WSU students, staff or faculty

Employees are no longer required to complete return to workplace training. Rather, they can visit  for a complete account of current guidance. The process of  is expected to begin no later than July 12.

WSU expects to review further guidance on classroom distancing from state higher education officials later this summer. The vast majority of classes across the WSU system are scheduled to take place in-person this coming fall.

WSU employees, students and visitors who provide proof of full vaccination will be allowed to forgo face masks and social distancing on all University locations.

The new policy, effective Thursday, follows the latest guidance from Gov. Jay Inslee, the Department of Labor and Industries and the .

The complete guidance is available on the university’s .

People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their last shot in a vaccine series. To find a nearby location where vaccines are available, visit the state’s .

Employees will still have to declare their health status through the  prior to visiting a WSU worksite or campus, though the policy will be re-evaluated in the weeks ahead.

Information about the process for employees to declare their vaccination status, including , is available. Those who work in certain WSU departments or business units, such as childcare and health care services, must continue to wear facial coverings and distance, regardless of vaccination status.

Providing falsified information regarding vaccination status is grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment.

Employees who decline to provide proof of vaccination will still be required to wear a face covering and maintain appropriate social distance from others at a WSU location. Those not wearing masks may still have to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering WSU facilities such as the Student Recreation Center, dining facilities and libraries.

There are several forms of valid proof:

• A CDC vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered)
• A photo of a CDC vaccination card as a separate document or a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device
• Documentation of vaccination from a health care provider or state immunization information system record
• A hard copy or electronically signed self-attestation from the employee

Students

In-classroom instructors as well as area leads are allowed to verify the vaccination status of unmasked students entering their area or facility. Only supervisors, area leads, in-classroom instructors, or their designees are responsible for oversight of WSU facilities and may verify vaccination status. Students not wearing a mask may also have to provide proof of vaccination prior to entering the Student Recreation Center, dining halls and other university facilities.

Several forms of verification are acceptable:

• A CDC vaccination card (which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered)
• A photo of a CDC vaccination card as a separate document or a photo of the attendee’s vaccine card stored on a phone or electronic device
• Documentation of vaccination from a health care provider or state immunization information system record

Students whose vaccination status is unverified will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.

Students who provide false or misleading information regarding their vaccination status will be referred for action under the standards of conduct for students. Anyone who is not an in-classroom faculty member or area lead who is concerned about someone not wearing a mask or social distancing is asked to contact a supervisor.

Contractors, vendors and visitors

Area leads or their designees are also permitted to verify the vaccination status of contractors, vendors or visitors entering a WSU facility.

Vendors, visitors and contractors must provide valid verification as listed above or don a face mask and maintain appropriate social distancing. Providing false information is grounds for removal from WSU. Only supervisors and area leads or their designees responsible for oversight of WSU facilities may verify vaccination status.

No WSU employee, including supervisors, are permitted to ask for reasons why a student, employee or visitor is or is not vaccinated.

More information on the  is available on its website.

Washington State University, as the state’s land-grant university, has an obligation to serve the public good and promote the health and safety of the communities it serves. The COVID‑19 vaccine, now widely available, has been shown to nearly eliminate the chances of death or serious illness related to a COVID‑19 infection, and is a critical element in protecting public health locally and worldwide.

Vaccine requirements for students

WSU system-wide will require proof of the COVID‑19 vaccination for the 2021–2022 academic year for all students engaging in activities at a WSU campus or location.

Exemptions will be allowed for medical, religious, or personal reasons. Information about how to submit proof of vaccination and the process to request an exemption will be provided in the coming months.

Students whose programs are fully online and/or for which an on‑campus/location presence does not occur are automatically exempted from this requirement.

In order to participate in any on‑site or in‑person courses and activities, students at all WSU locations will be expected to be vaccinated by the start of the fall semester. Some programs may designate an earlier date for proof of vaccination or an exemption based on when fall semester in‑person activities begin.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 1, 2021, ���سԹ� students will be required to have documented proof of vaccine or an approved exemption. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be prevented from registering for spring semester courses and/or face other restrictions. Students with approved exemptions may be required to participate in regular COVID‑19 testing and/or other COVID‑19 public health measures.

Vaccine requirements for employees

WSU system-wide intends to extend the requirement to all employees and volunteers engaging in activities on a WSU worksite. Exemptions will be allowed for medical, religious, or personal reasons. Any employees and volunteers who receive exemptions may be subject to COVID‑19 testing and/or other COVID‑19 public health measures. More information, including how to submit proof of vaccination or an exemption, will be provided in the coming months.

Acceptable vaccines

WSU will accept proof of any vaccine that was authorized for use in the United States at the time of administration. For vaccinations requiring two doses, students and employees must have received both doses of the vaccine to meet the requirement. Proof of vaccination will also be required for anyone with a prior diagnosis of COVID‑19. WSU will work with any international students and employees who may have received a vaccine that is not approved for use in the United States.

The University reserves the right to modify this policy at any time in accordance with changing public health guidance or directives, best practices, and/or university needs.

Additional information about the requirement process will be made available this summer. For employee-related questions, please contact Human Resources Services at hrs@wsu.edu or 509‑335‑4521. For student-related questions and all other inquiries, please email ���DZ�����‑19.���Դڴǰ��ɲ���.����.

Dear ���سԹ� campus community,

Ensuring that proper safety measures are in place using updated guidance from health authorities and research regarding transmission, ���سԹ� is expanding its plans to offer most of its courses in-person in fall 2021.

The decision to increase the number of in-person classes for fall is partially based on the recent decision to expand eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to all individuals over the age of 16, beginning Thursday, April 15. Additionally, we expect that the  will be possible in college classrooms come fall.

Research has shown that equidistant three-feet spacing provides a controlled environment. Studies have also shown that outbreaks are not occurring in the classroom, but rather in social settings.

Course plans for ���سԹ� this fall:

• Classes up to 36 students will be offered 100% in-person
• Lab sections with increased ventilation will be offered 100% in-person
• Computer lab sections will be offered 100% in-person, but will be reduced in size to 15 students per section
• Classes with 37-64 students will have an in-person component (Hyflex or hybrid)
• Classes of 65 students or more will have virtual delivery

Face coverings will be required in fall 2021 for all areas of the ���سԹ� campus and facilities will maintain sanitation protocols between use.

Students who are unable to attend in-person for health reasons will have virtual access to courses.

For employees with a medical condition that impacts your ability to work on campus, please contact Disability Services to inititate the reasonable accommodation process at HRS.disabilityservices@wsu.edu or 509-335-4521. In addition, the following information may be helpful:

Employees should also use the following resource for more information:

These plans for in-person learning are subject to change, based on the health conditions and regulations regionally and state-wide leading up to the fall 2021 semester. We will continue to keep faculty, staff, and students updated this spring and throughout the summer.

I continue to thank our students, faculty, and staff for their patience and adaptability throughout this last year, which was characterized by uncertainty that has kept all of us on our toes.

Sincerely,

Sandra Haynes, Ph.D.
Chancellor of ���سԹ�