Body: 

Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President

 

 

Dear OSU Community Members,

 

Oregon State University must continue to adhere to State of Oregon requirements and guidelines on COVID-19 matters, including use of face coverings, and guidelines related to activities and operations.

 

The Oregon Health Authority has issued new face covering guidelines and interim guidance for fully vaccinated individuals for businesses, including higher education. Based on those guidelines, face coverings are no longer required outdoors at OSU, unless the outdoor setting is crowded, or physical distancing cannot be maintained.

 

The Oregon Health Authority continues to require that employers apply and enforce face covering requirements. However, the employer may exempt fully vaccinated people from face coverings requirements if the employer has a policy and process for requesting and checking for proof of vaccination prior to entry, including individual verification of vaccination cards.

 

We have carefully reviewed the OHA and OSHA guidelines on the policy and process requirements to exempt vaccinated individuals from face covering requirements. We do not believe the state’s proof of vaccination requirements are workable in an open university environment where entry to facilities is not carefully controlled. We have shared this feedback with state officials, in hopes of shaping revised OHA requirements that would be more workable for the higher education environment.

 

Consequently, for the time being, OSU will continue to require individuals to wear face coverings indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The updated OSU face covering policy is here. We will continue to provide you updates as requirements and guidance evolves.

 

Finally, please join us Wednesday, May 26, 2021, from 4 to 5 p.m. for an OSU Community COVID-19 Town Hall webinar forum. Registration is not required.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Dan Larson

Coronavirus Response Coordinator

Vice Provost for Student Affairs

 

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: 
Friday, May 21, 2021