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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 by providing occupational protection to employees and students, and thereby minimizing exposure to members of the University community. As the region and the nation experience a significant decline in COVID-19 infections, we must remain vigilant as the COVID-19 Delta variant is spreading rapidly in certain areas of the U.S. among those who are not vaccinated.

Background

The COVID-19 vaccination 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. Research has shown that getting the COVID-19 vaccination is highly effective and recommended. The Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are among the best vaccines ever created, with effectiveness rates of about 95 percent after two doses. That’s on par with the vaccines for chickenpox and measles.

Although these vaccines are very effective, 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. Completion of Daily Symptom Tracking will also continue to be a requirement until further notice. 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 “pooled” testing this fall semester. These measures are dependent on factors such as event type, venue, and calendar. Official guidelines 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 COVID19 can cause severe medical complications, it's recommended that people who have already had COVID19 get a COVID-19 vaccine. If you’ve had COVID-19, wait until 90 days after your diagnosis to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

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.

Procedure for providing proof of vaccination

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

Employees and students must be fully vaccinated by no later than August 1, 2021. Employees and students who are not fully vaccinated by that date must provide a Medical or Religious Exemption Form no later than July 26, 2021.

Medical Exemptions

All employee and student medical exemption requests should be sent to:

Email: healthservices@baypath.edu
Health Services Director: Jessica LaFleche, MSN, FNP-C
Phone: 413.565.1392

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 Periera, Director of Human Resources, aperiera@baypath.edu. If you are a student, all religious exemptions should be requested through Dinah Moore, Dean of Students, 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 Assistant VP/Director of Human Resources if you are an employee and by the Dean of Students if you are a student.

Any employee who is not compliant with this policy by August 1, 2021, will be referred to the Human Resources Department. Any student who is not compliant with this policy by August 1, 2021, will be referred to the Dean of Students.

Employees hired after August 1, 2021, must submit a COVID-19 Vaccination Form prior to their actual start date. For employees, records documenting vaccinations and exemptions will be maintained in Human Resources in a secured and confidential manner. For students, records documenting vaccinations and exemptions will be maintained in Health Services in a secured 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:
      • Administered vaccinations
      • 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 a COVID-19 Vaccination Form once fully vaccinated by August 1, 2021 or the applicable exemption form by July 26, 2021.
    • Employees hired after August 1, 2021 must comply with this policy as a condition of employment.
    • Employees who receive exemptions due to waivers (medical/religious) are required to: wear masks, 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 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.
    • Submit a COVID-19 Vaccination Form once fully vaccinated by August 1, 2021 or the applicable exemption form by July 26, 2021.
    • Students who receive exemptions due to waivers (medical/religious) are required to: wear masks, 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.
final - July 7, 2021