COVID-19 Policy for Willamette Campuses
Last update: August 12, 2022- Vaccinations
The COVID-19 vaccines available are effective at protecting people—especially those who are boosted— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. For this reason, Willamette University recommends that all students, faculty, and staff stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations. You are “up to date” with your COVID-19 vaccines when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible. Vaccine recommendations are different depending on your age, the vaccine you first received, and time since last dose. You can find more information on the CDC’s COVID Vaccinations site. You can find a vaccine near you by using the federal government’s vaccine finder tool.
POLICY
REQUIREMENT
Proof of full vaccination (full series of an FDA or WHO-approved vaccine in addition to one booster shot) is required by August 1, 2022, or as otherwise instructed by the university. Further information will be provided to students by Student Affairs and to faculty and staff by Human Resources.
This vaccination requirement applies to all students attending Willamette, including full-time and part-time students, undergraduates and graduate students, domestic and international, and residential and non-residential students and those in both degree and non-degree granting programs. This requirement does not apply to programs that are fully online or for which physical presence on campus is not necessary.
This requirement applies equally to those who have already had COVID-19. Any FDA or WHO approved vaccine is acceptable. The full number of doses of the relevant vaccine must be completed at least two weeks before arriving on campus.
Employees will provide the maker of the vaccine they received and the dates of their vaccination through Workday. Students will provide the maker of the vaccine they received and the dates of their vaccination through the secure student portal at Bishop Wellness Center. Student Affairs and Human Resources has provided information and instructions on this process to the community and made it available on their webpages. Employees should record the time spent receiving the vaccine during work hours as work time and should notify their supervisors.
EXEMPTIONS
Students and employees may request an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons, including for reasons provided in Oregon and federal law, per the following process:
- Students and employees who are not able to be vaccinated for a medical reason may seek a medical exemption. The process to request a medical exemption will require the student or employee to provide supporting documentation from a health care provider.
- Students and employees may seek a religious exemption and will be required to provide sufficient information to support the request.
The process for seeking an exemption for faculty and staff is available on the Human Resources website. Students requesting a medical or religious exemption can email health-info@willamette.edu or contact Bishop Wellness Center at 503-370-6062 for more information. Exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Employees or students who are not compliant with this policy through either vaccination or an approved exemption may not move to campus or attend class or campus activities, and may be subject to registration holds, disciplinary actions, or other requirements or restrictions to support community health.
This vaccination requirement applies to all students attending Willamette, including full-time and part-time students, undergraduates and graduate students, domestic and international, and residential and non-residential students and those in both degree and non-degree granting programs. This requirement does not apply to programs that are fully online or for which physical presence on campus is not necessary.
The university will work with students who may have received a vaccine not approved for use in the United States to assure compliance with this policy, as necessary. International or other students abroad who have received a vaccine not approved for use in the United States should contact Bishop Wellness for consultation before taking any action to attempt to comply with this policy.
To find locations to receive a vaccine/booster, please visit the Oregon Health Authority's Vaccine Locator below.
- COVID Testing
We encourage everyone to have a supply of at-home rapid tests on hand to use as needed. You can order your free testing kits from the federal government. Additionally, for those who are insured, your health insurance company will reimburse you for eight (8) at-home tests per month for each person on your plan. Learn more about insurance reimbursement.
Bishop Wellness Center offers COVID testing to students sick with symptoms of COVID or those who are known close contacts. PCR tests will be billed to the student's insurance directly by outside labs. There may be a charge for rapid tests, depending on availability.
- Isolation & Quarantine Guidelines
The current CDC guidance states that anyone with COVID-19 should isolate from other people for at least 5 full days, though this may be longer if symptoms continue. If you are unable to stay away from others in isolation, you should wear a well-fitting mask. Willamette is not requiring a negative COVID test to return to classes or work.
In light of higher immunity levels, and to limit social and economic impacts, quarantining is no longer recommended for people who are identified as a close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. If you have had a recent confirmed or suspected exposure to an infected person, you should wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days around others when indoors in public and should test at least 5 days after exposure (or sooner, if you are symptomatic).
- Masking
Willamette supports individuals making masking decisions for themselves based on their personal circumstances. Importantly, people may choose to wear a mask for a variety of reasons and we know one-way masking is protective. In accordance with the most current public health guidance from the CDC and Oregon Health Authority, masks are not required on campus at this time, except for in spaces designated as “health care settings”. As a result, masks are still required in Bishop Wellness Center and the Burr Training Room in Sparks Athletic Center. The CDC has a nationwide COVID Community Level by County tool that identifies COVID rates in a specific community, as well as tools to inform your masking decisions.
