Body: 

April 26, 2021

 

Dear OSU Students and Families,

 

As availability of vaccine appointments continues to expand across Oregon, I would like to provide information on OSU’s process for ongoing evaluation of whether to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students and employees as we move toward planned resumption of on-campus activities.

OSU has a community expectation that each of us will take every precaution to increase the level of protection from COVID-19 among our faculty, staff, students and the communities in which we live.  This expectation includes being vaccinated.

Currently, our primary focus is to promote knowledge, trust and adoption of vaccines, through education and supporting distribution efforts across the State of Oregon. However, we do anticipate OSU may implement a vaccination requirement for members of the OSU community in the future, inclusive of employees and students, informed by the following factors:

  1. One or more COVID-19 vaccines receive full U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensure (approval).
  2. Widespread availability of at least one vaccine continues and that OSU has confidence students and employees have ready access to a vaccine.
  3. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and/or Oregon’s Governor recommends or mandates that adults be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a measure to help Oregon achieve population protection.

Other factors may arise as important considerations and we will continue to update you. As an institution of higher education, OSU believes its primary role is to promote and protect public health through education of the benefits of vaccines and supporting expanded access to vaccines across the State of Oregon. We recognize that some colleges and universities have decided to require vaccinations. As factors such as the ones listed above develop, OSU will engage with the university community in evaluating the merits and shared objectives that implementing proof of vaccination requirements would achieve. As always, we will continue to provide you updates and information to plan accordingly. Any vaccination requirement would include legally required exemptions.

Again, regardless of whether OSU implements a vaccination requirement, we hold an expectation that each of us will take every precaution to increase the level of community protection from COVID-19, which includes each of us obtaining the vaccine as soon as possible. 

Sincerely,

 

Dan Larson

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

OSU Coronavirus Response Coordinator

 

 

Oregon State University

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

624 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon, 97331

leadership.oregonstate.edu/provost

 

 

Category: 
COVID-19
Send Date: 
Monday, April 26, 2021