COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

Update: 14 July 2022

The University of Portland continues to require all students, faculty, staff, and other community members (Bon Appetit employees, Air Force and Army ROTC employees, the Holy Cross Community, etc.) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including any eligible boosters, or receive an approved exemption. Information for uploading vaccination and booster information or applying for an exemption can be found here.

Students who received a COVID-19 vaccine or booster exemption in the prior academic year must indicate their intent to renew the exemption for the current academic year or provide proof of full vaccination through the Student Health Center.  Employees who received an approved exemption in the prior academic year should contact Human Resources at hr@up.edu for information about renewing their exemption or providing proof of full vaccination.

Adopted: 10 June 2021

PURPOSE

As the University of Portland returns, to the extent possible, to a lively and dynamic campus where all University community members can flourish, the University is committed to advancing the health of University community members, promoting the safety of our in-person, residential, campus environment, and contributing to the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic.  After careful deliberation, and consideration of federal and regional guidelines, the University is requiring all community members, including students, employees, and other community individuals (Bon Appetit employees, Air Force and Army ROTC instructors, members of the Holy Cross Community, etc.) to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to attend or be employed by the University or access campus.

POLICY

Proof of full vaccination is required for employees, including all student employees, to access campus beginning August 2, 2021 and for the foreseeable future. 

Students enrolled in the Fall Semester 2021 must provide proof of full vaccination by September 1, 2021.  The requirement will remain in effect for subsequent semesters for the foreseeable future.

This requirement applies equally to those who have previously been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Any vaccine authorized for use in the United States is acceptable.  International students can meet the requirement by receiving any vaccine from the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL). The approved vaccines are found on the “Listings” subheading of the WHO website. An individual must be fully vaccinated by the schedules set forth below for employees and students, respectively, to be on campus.  For vaccines authorized at this time, fully vaccinated means that the final vaccine must be administered at least two weeks before the deadlines listed (see Vaccination Reporting Process). 

This vaccination requirement applies to all students attending the University, including full-time and part-time students, undergraduates, and graduate students, domestic and international, and residential and non-residential students, as well as 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 does not occur.

The University will work to assist our community members experiencing barriers to receiving vaccinations, including our international students and employees who may not have access to authorized vaccines prior to their return to campus.  Employees who have received a vaccine not approved for use by the WHO should contact their healthcare provider for consultation before taking any action to attempt to comply with this policy.  Students who received a vaccine not approved for use by the WHO should contact the Health and Counseling Center for consultation before taking any action to attempt to comply with this policy. 

The Vaccination Policy will remain in effect until further notice. The University will adjust this policy if appropriate and necessary in light of changing circumstances and experience. The latest version of this Policy will be available on the University’s Pilots Prevent website.

EXEMPTIONS

Students and employees may request an exemption from the vaccination requirements for medical or non-medical (e.g. religious) reasons, including for reasons provided in Oregon and federal law, by 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 healthcare provider. 

Students and employees may seek a non-medical (e.g. religious) exemption and will be required to provide sufficient information to support the request.

The process for seeking an exemption will be made available on the webpages for Human Resources Pilots UP Coronavirus Information for Employees and the Health and Counseling Center. Exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

• Exemption requests for current employees must be submitted by July 7, 2021.
  
  
• Exemption requests for students must be submitted by July 15, 2021.

Employees and students who receive an exemption will be required to follow ongoing COVID-19 Health and Safety protocols (e.g. face coverings, social distancing, etc.) as determined by Human Resources or the Health and Counseling Center. 

CONSEQUENCES

Students who are not fully vaccinated and have not received an exemption by the deadlines above may be expected to follow special COVID-19 protocols (e.g. COVID-19 testing, distancing, etc.) in order to move onto campus, attend class, or attend campus activities, and may be subject to registration holds, disciplinary actions, and/or other requirements or restrictions to support community health.  Students who are found to have falsified information related to their vaccination status or eligibility for an exemption may be subject to registration holds, disciplinary actions through the Student Conduct Process (which may result in suspension from the University), and/or other requirements or restrictions to support community health.

Employees who are not fully vaccinated and who have not been granted an exemption by the deadlines above may be subject to disciplinary action including possible dismissal from employment.  Employees who are found to have falsified information related to their vaccination status or eligibility for an exemption may be subject to disciplinary action including possible dismissal from employment.

VACCINATION REPORTING PROCESS

Employees

No later than August 2, 2021, continuing employees will identify the maker of the vaccine they received and the date(s) of their vaccination(s) to Human Resources COVID-19 Vaccination Employee Reporting Form.  Employees hired after August 1, 2021, will identify the maker of the vaccine they received and the date(s) of their vaccination(s) to Human Resources prior to their first day of employment.  Employees hired after August 1, 2021, will not be permitted to begin working in any capacity until fully vaccinated. 

Human Resources Pilots UP Coronavirus Information for Employees will provide information and instructions on this process and make it available on their webpage(s).  If employees receive the vaccine during work hours on any date prior to August 1, 2021, they should record their time as COVID Pay Time and should notify their supervisors. Further details on the potential continued availability of COVID Pay Time after August 1, 2021, will be announced at a later date.

Students

No later than September 1, 2021, students will provide the maker of the vaccine they received and the dates of their vaccine through the Health and Counseling Center’s Secure Patient Portal.  Students on leave for the Fall 2021 semester must submit proof of vaccination before they return to campus. 

Instructions for students to upload their COVID vaccine card:

1. Login to the secure patient portal on the Health and Counseling Center website.
2. Go to Medical Clearances.
3. Find Immunization Records and click the teal Update button.
4. Upload image of your COVID vaccination card.

Please note: A university club, intercollegiate athletic program, study abroad program, student employment position, student leadership position, Residence Assistance, or other university programs may require proof of vaccination or an approved exemption at an earlier date before allowing full participation.