Office of the President Announces New COVID-19 Requirements for Campus Community Indoor masking and proof-of-vaccination requirements to take effect immediately.

With many of our academic programs well underway, and many more students returning next week, the COVID-19 task force and campus leadership have been working to establish policies and protocols that will reduce the risk of the virus spreading within our community, while the situation across the country regularly changes. Up to this point, we have always maintained that we will follow CDC, state and local health agency guidance that has served us well in holding a low case rate on the campuses. However, with the return of in-person instruction happening while the nation is seeing a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, we now feel it is necessary, out of an abundance of caution, to supplement the health agency guidelines to protect the health and safety of our community members.

Based on recent advice from infectious disease expert Dan Kelly, Chapman’s consulting epidemiologist from University of California San Francisco, we will be implementing new protocols, effective immediately and until further notice.

Face coverings are required indoors:

  • Face coverings are now required for faculty, staff and students in all indoor facilities on both Chapman campuses (Orange and Rinker), unless alone in a private office with the door closed, or while actively eating or drinking.
  • Face coverings are also strongly recommended while attending outdoor gatherings and required for events with more than 5,000 attendees.
  • Approved Chapman face shields are an option for those who either have an accommodation that prevents the wearing of a mask, or (with supervisor approval) for staff when engaged in significant face-to-face communication indoors with the Chapman community. The supervisor can contact Facilities Management at facmgt@chapman.edu to request a Chapman-approved face shield that includes a drape that increases its effectiveness. Other face shields are not approved for campus use, unless otherwise specified through the accommodation process.
  • If you have a condition that qualifies for workplace accommodations, you are instructed to explore available options with the Office of Human Resources. Additional information can be found on the Human Resources website.

Everyone must submit proof of vaccine or personal declination by September 14, 2021

  • All faculty, staff and students must submit proof of vaccination or submit a personal declination request to access campus facilities within the next 30 days.
  • Vaccination information and vaccine locations are available on the CU Safely Back website. On-campus vaccinations will be available Saturday, August 28th.
  • If a personal declination is submitted, a review process will be completed prior to an exemption being provided.
  • A non-vaccinated individual with an exemption, including those working offsite but have student or Chapman employee contact, must complete the twice-weekly COVID-19 testing (or once per week for those accessing campus once weekly) to maintain access to campus facilities.
  • An individual is considered fully vaccinated after two weeks have passed, following the second dose of a two-dose series (such as the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines) or a single-dose series (such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). If you are in the process of being fully vaccinated, you must continue twice-weekly testing until the vaccination process is complete and you have submitted proof of vaccination.
  • If you are in the process of being fully vaccinated and need an extension beyond September 14 to complete the vaccination process, please contact the Student Health Center.
  • Per CDC guidance, if you have been infected with the COVID-19 virus, you will be exempted from twice-weekly testing for a period of 90 days. Please contact the Student Health Center to provide a copy of your COVID-19 test result if you are seeking this exemption.

Daily Symptom Screening

  • While not a new requirement, it is critically important that faculty, staff and students answer the daily symptom survey honestly and not enter Chapman facilities if you have any symptoms. COVID-19 testing is available on campus if you are experiencing symptoms.

For the complete list of processes and policies to maintain access to the campuses, visit the CU Safely Back website.

Dawn Bonker

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