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Employee & Student COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Updated August 1, 2022

Employee & Student COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Policy

The purpose of this policy is to minimize exposure to and transmission of the COVID-19 virus on campus, and by doing so, safeguard the health and well-being of our entire community.

Background

The COVID-19 vaccination/booster has been found to be both safe and effective in reducing the risk of coronavirus and health-care related transmission.

Currently, three vaccines are authorized and recommended to prevent COVID-19. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines each have rates of effectiveness of about 95 percent after two doses.

Although these vaccines and a booster are very effective in providing protection, employees and students may be required to continue to follow guidelines to decrease the risk of spread, including wearing masks, distancing, limiting employee or student density, and other procedures that limit close and sustained contact. Periodic COVID-19 testing may be required for certain populations of students or employees depending on circumstances. For example, students and employees living or working in our residence halls may be required to participate in PCR testing this fall semester. The need for and/or frequency of surveillance testing will vary depending on the level of community and campus transmission. Official guidelines and communications will be disseminated to the University community on a regular basis.

Individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 might have some natural protection or immunity from reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19. However, since reinfection is possible and COVID-19 can cause severe medical complications, it is recommended that people who have already had COVID-19 get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. If you’ve had COVID-19, you may choose to wait up until 90 days after your diagnosis to get a COVID-19 vaccine. However, you are not required to wait the full 90 days after infection to receive an initial vaccine or booster. The CDC recommends waiting until after you have recovered from the virus and completed the isolation period prior to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine or booster.

Vaccination and Booster Requirements

All employees and students (including fully online course instructors and students and remote employees) planning to be on campus for any reason will be required to provide proof of vaccination and one booster shot. Additional boosters are not required but are encouraged for those who are eligible.

NEW VERBIAGE per CDC: “Up-To-Date” means a person has received all boosters recommended for them. “Fully Vaccinated” is no longer used.

Procedure for providing proof of vaccination/booster

Once an employee or student has received the COVID-19 vaccine(s) and at least one booster, documentation of vaccination/booster must be submitted by logging into the My Bay Path portal/Welcome, verifying date(s) of vaccination(s)/booster(s) and uploading a copy of the COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.

Employees

Effective February 1, 2022, all employees planning to be on campus for any reason are required to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and a booster.

For extraordinary circumstances, employees may request a medical or religious exemption from receiving the vaccination or booster by submitting the appropriate form to the Interim Director of Human Resources.

All new employees are required to comply with the vaccination requirements as a condition of employment. Potential candidates for employment will be notified of the requirements of this policy prior to the start of employment.

New employees that are not vaccinated and/or have not received the booster, must obtain the initial vaccine or the booster within the first week of employment or before or they must apply for an exemption. New employees who have not received a booster prior to the start of employment must submit documentation upon 30 days of becoming eligible.

Employees must provide truthful and accurate information about their COVID-19 vaccination status, and, if applicable, their testing results.

Employees who fail to comply with these requirements will have their access to all campus buildings suspended and are subject to further disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Students

Should have received a booster no later than July 30, 2022. Students who have not, are required to have at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by July 30, 2022 and receive their second dose prior to the start of classes on September 6, 2022. Students must then submit documentation of a booster within 30 days of becoming eligible.

Students who fail to comply with this requirement will have their access to all campus buildings suspended and are subject to further disciplinary action.

Medical Exemptions

Employees medical exemption requests should be sent to:
Ashley Pereira, Interim Director of Human Resources, aspereira@baypath.edu

Students medical exemption requests should be sent to:
Jessica LaFleche, Director of Health Services
Phone: 413.565.1392
Email: healthservices@baypath.edu

All medical exemption forms must be signed by your licensed medical provider with appropriate documentation substantiating the need for the exemption.

Religious Exemptions

If you are an employee, all religious exemptions should be requested through Ashley Pereira, Interim Director of Human Resources, aspereira@baypath.edu. If you are a student, all religious exemptions should be requested through Dinah Moore, Dean of Students and Engagement at dmoore@baypath.edu. All religious/spiritual exemptions must be supported by appropriate documentation of the sincerely-held religious belief held by the employee or student.

Those students and employees who are granted an exemption by the University may be required to wear a mask, distance themselves from others while on campus, or practice other approved public health measures as may be required.

Medical and religious exemption forms can be found at - My Bay Path portal/Welcome

A written response will be provided to the requestor within five business days. The written response will be provided by the Interim Director of Human Resources if you are an employee, and by the Dean of Students if you are a student.

Any new employee who is not compliant with this policy within one week of their start date will be referred to the Human Resources Department. Any student who is not compliant with this policy by July 30, 2022, will be referred to the Dean of Students.

For employees, records documenting vaccinations/booster and exemptions will be maintained in Human Resources in a secure and confidential manner. For students, records documenting vaccinations/booster and exemptions will be maintained in Health Services in a secure and confidential manner.

Responsibilities

Bay Path University

  • Complete implementation of the program in order to obtain 100% compliance by all employees.
  • HR to collect the completed COVID-19 Vaccination Form from all employees.
  • HR to maintain records to track:
    1. Administered vaccinations
    2. Administered boosters
    3. Number of Waivers
      1. Medical
      2. Religious
  • Supervisors will be informed of those who have an approved waiver and will be provided guidance about required COVID-19 protocols for those employees receiving a waiver.
  • Provide all current and future employees with a copy of the policy.

Employees

  • Employees include full-time and part-time staff, faculty, adjunct professors, and full-time and part-time temporary employees. Employees also include remote employees who typically work off-campus but are required to occasionally visit any Bay Path University campus.
  • Submit documentation of COVID-19 vaccination and booster or the applicable exemption form.
  • Employees hired after February 1, 2022 must comply with this policy as a condition of employment.
  • Employees who receive exemptions due to waivers (medical/religious) are required to: wear masks in all indoor spaces, maintain distance, and adhere to any guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), other federal or state agencies and/or as may be required by the University as a reasonable accommodation.

Supervisors

  • The Human Resources Department will inform supervisors of the names of employees in their department who have received an approved waiver (no details about the waiver will be provided). With appropriate guidance from the Human Resources Department, supervisors shall require all employees under their supervision to comply with the COVID-19 vaccination/booster Policy. Supervisors will address in a timely manner employees who fail to comply with this policy in consultation with Human Resources.
  • Supervisors will maintain confidentiality regarding employee exemptions.

Students

  • Students include full-time and part-timers and remote students who typically learn exclusively online but are required to occasionally visit any Bay Path University campus.
  •  Students must submit a COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Form once “Up-To-Date” by July 30, 2022 or the applicable exemption form.
  • Students who receive exemptions due to a medical or religious waiver are required to: wear masks in all indoor spaces, maintain distance, and adhere to any guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), other federal or state agencies and/or as may be required by the University as a reasonable accommodation.