COVID-19 Policy for Willamette Campuses as of July 30, 2021
- Vaccinations
- Thanks to the care and cooperation of our students, faculty, and staff, all of Willamette University’s campuses are considered “fully vaccinated” as defined by the CDC.
- Willamette University faculty and staff were required to attest to their COVID vaccination to Human Resources through Workday by July 19, 2021. Willamette University students were required to attest to their COVID vaccination through Bishop Wellness Center’s confidential and secure student portal by July 22, 2021.
- PNCA students should have filled out the COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation Form and uploaded a photo or scan of their CDC-issued vaccination card. Those who submitted a Non-Medical Non-Religious exemption request will be notified of the status of your request no later than July 30.
- PNCA employees should have shared their vaccination status with Mark Taylor in HR.
- Masking
- On July 27, 2021, Oregon Health Authority issued a recommendation for universal masking indoors, regardless of vaccination status. While masking is not required for vaccinated students, staff, or faculty on any of Willamette’s campuses, we strongly encourage vaccinated individuals to continue to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces while at a Willamette facility to offer additional protection, as recommended by the OHA.
- According to the state, an “indoor public space” may include, but is not limited to, building lobbies or common spaces, elevators, bathrooms, and buildings or meeting rooms outside of private homes where people gather for social, civic, cultural or religious purposes.” Classrooms would fall under this definition.
- Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear face coverings indoors except when alone in a room or in an area designated for eating. Students living in residence halls should work with their roommates to determine masking agreements for visitors within their rooms.
- In general, individuals do not need to wear masks when outdoors. However, particularly in areas of “substantial” to “high” transmission (Marion County is currently a “substantial” transmission area; Multnomah County is currently a “moderate” transmission area), the CDC recommends that individuals who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded outdoor settings or during outdoor activities when you cannot maintain 6’ feet of distancing.
- Masks may be required for specific activities by law, university policy, or non-COVID safety guidelines. Masks may at times also be required at events that, because of their size, mix of internal and external participants, or duration are judged to pose a higher risk of COVID transmission. All community members and visitors are required to follow posted masking rules for events. A separate process regarding mask exceptions for campus events will be forthcoming.
- Recognizing the many reasons one might continue to wear a face covering, some of which are related to protected employment categories (e.g., religion, medical status), we remind all members of the community that it is not appropriate to ask co-workers or students about why they choose to wear a mask or about their vaccination status.
- Room capacity and physical distancing
- In general, and because we have fully-vaccinated campuses, Willamette anticipates returning to pre-COVID capacity in all rooms and facilities this fall, without physical distancing limits.
- Visitation restrictions have been lifted for Salem residence halls, meaning that on-campus residents may visit each other in the halls.
- Building Access
- Salem campus: Most buildings will be closed to visitors and will have card swipe access only. The University Center, CAS Admission Office, University Services Building and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art will remain unlocked.
- Arlene and Harold Schnitzer Center for Art and Design (511 Building): Visitor access is available to floors 1 and 2 (specified areas only) during posted days and times; check website for details. Visitors are not allowed on floors 3 - 6, or student-only facilities on floors 1 and 2.
- Glass Building: Not open to visitors.
- ArtHouse: Residents of ArtHouse may allow visitors in their private residences, in consultation with their roommates.
- Visitor Policy (as of July 29, 2021)
- A visitor is defined as an individual who is not a Willamette or CST student, faculty member, staff member, volunteer, contractor or vendor approved to be present on campus at this time;
- Visitors indoors in Willamette facilities are restricted to those invited and hosted by a faculty or staff member, a department or division, student, or other authorized affiliate of Willamette;
- All visitors, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask while on campus. Exceptions to this requirement may be made for guest speakers or lecturers whose vaccination status has been affirmed by the university host.
- Work-Related Travel
- Domestic travel: Willamette has lifted its COVID-related travel restrictions on domestic university-related travel.
- International travel: Given continued heightened concern from the CDC, international travel remains restricted unless you obtain an exception from the appropriate Dean or Vice President to be authorized to travel out of the country.
- COVID Testing
- Willamette will not require pre-arrival testing for students and, at present, does not plan to do surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals. However, testing may be a required condition for participation in certain activities (such as intercollegiate athletics), or when otherwise recommended by public health officials.
- Guidance for those who test positive for COVID or are close contacts
- Students, staff, or faculty members testing positive for COVID are still required to report their positive case to the university. Faculty and staff should report their positive case status to Human Resources at 503-370-6210 or by submitting this Employee COVID-19 report form. Students should notify student-affairs-office@willamette.edu or use the online Student COVID-19 CARE report form.
- In addition, regardless of vaccination status, those testing positive for COVID are required to isolate themselves from others for at least 10 days post symptom onset. Those who never develop symptoms should isolate for 10 days after the date of their positive test.
- The current CDC guidance for fully vaccinated people with no COVID symptoms states that people should be tested 3-5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. They should isolate if they test positive. Most fully vaccinated people with no COVID-like symptoms do not need to quarantine or be restricted from work following an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, if they follow the testing and masking recommendation above.
- Unvaccinated persons who are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID must get tested and should quarantine as directed.
- Willamette will continue to offer isolation and quarantine spaces and meal support as needed for students who test positive and are required to isolate.
- Communication of Confirmed Cases
- Confirmed positive cases of COVID involving faculty, staff, or students will continue to be shared with the campus community via email and tracked on the university website. If we are made aware of cases involving visitors or contractors who test positive we will notify the community of these instances as well. The university will also assist in notifying any close contacts of their potential exposure. We will continue to notify the community of the campus location(s) that were occupied by the impacted community members.
