Campus COVID-19 Vaccination and Requirements Update

TO: The Gonzaga Community
FROM: Taylor Jordan,COVID-19  Coordinator & Compliance Officer
SUBJ: Campus COVID-19 Vaccination & Requirements Update
DATE: July 8, 2022

Dear Gonzaga Community:

In consultation with University leadership, Gonzaga will continue to require all campus-based* undergraduate, graduate, and law students to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (along with other required vaccines) to participate in in-person, campus-based programs and activities, including eligibility to study abroad, during the Academic Year 2022-2023. (*Students in graduate programs that are offered exclusively online are not required to submit COVID-19 vaccination proof or documentation. Students in programs that are offered partly on campus/in person must submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination.) The University will continue to accept exemptions on medical or religious grounds.

Please see below for a reminder of requirements and recommendations related to COVID-19:

Requirements

  • All campus-based students must submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, or signed religious or medical exemption forms, to the University by August 11, 2022. Full COVID-19 vaccination is defined as “two weeks after receiving one dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, or two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer BioNTech vaccine”. Other vaccines will be accepted if they have received emergency use authorization or regular approval from the Food and Drug Administration, or are on the World Health Organization’s list of approved vaccines.
  • All students, regardless of in-person vs. online status, must review and sign the 2022-2023 Acknowledgment of Risk form upon logging into ZagWeb (GU login required).

Recommendations

  • It is highly recommended that all fully vaccinated students remain up-to-date with recommended booster doses, if eligible. Please note that according to CDC guidelines, students who are eligible to receive a booster shot, but have not received one, will be required to quarantine upon an exposure, and will not be permitted to participate in in-person classes and campus activities until the completion of their quarantine. Students who are boosted are not subject to quarantine requirements.
  • It is highly recommended that students test for COVID-19 prior to arrival to campus. Students should not arrive to campus if symptomatic, or if they have been instructed to isolate or quarantine. Students whose arrival may be delayed can contact the Contact Tracing team at 509-313-7070 ext. 1 to be given return instructions.

For more information about this requirement, including instructions for uploading vaccination documentation (including recommended booster doses), please visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements and Student Vaccine Requirements FAQ pages on the ZagOn: COVID-19 Resources website.

Please note, proclamation 21-14.2 issued by Governor Inslee on August 18, 2021 remains in effect, and all employees living within Washington and/or working for a Washington higher education institutions must be fully vaccinated (see definition above) as a condition of employment. Exemptions may be requested for medical or religious reasons. All new employees are required to submit documentation or attest to their status on the Employee Benefits page.

I want to express gratitude to the Gonzaga community for continuing to place health and safety as a top priority amidst the difficulty of this ongoing pandemic. It is inspiring to see the ways in which this community demonstrates care and compassion.