Any staff, faculty, and student not in compliance with the university’s vaccine mandate will not be permitted to access U of G facilities
As the window closes on the University of Guelph’s vaccine mandate deadline, the university has released details on how it will be enforcing proof of vaccination to those accessing buildings on campus.
In consultation with public health officials, the U of G announced the mandate in early August and gave faculty and students until Oct. 15 to become fully vaccinated or gain approval for an exemption. Documents relating to these records must then be submitted to the university’s Vaccination and Proof of Exemption system.
The U of G uses this system to track and report its vaccination and rapid testing rates and cross-reference records with students who are registered for in-person learning. This way, the university knows which students are required to upload their proof of vaccination or exemption as well as who has not yet done so.
Students and faculty who have not yet submitted their documents to the system have been sent reminders. According to a news release, students who are not in compliance with the mandate by Oct. 15 will be de-registered from their in-person courses while staff and faculty who are not in compliance by the same date will be placed on unpaid leave. Further, these individuals will not be allowed access to any U of G facilities.
Students who are not registered for any in-person classes are not required to submit an approved exemption or proof of vaccination unless they come to campus.
Additionally, anyone still awaiting approval for an exemption request may not access U of G facilities.
Notably, instructors and managers will not have access to students’ or employees’ vaccination status to protect the privacy of community members.
Anyone who has been granted an exemption or who is partially vaccinated and waiting to be fully vaccinated must participate in U of G’s rapid testing program. Test results from rapid testing must be uploaded to the rapid testing system before these individuals go to campus.
In its announcement, the university states it is exploring further enforcement methods, and it encourages staff and faculty to consult with their manager or supervisor for details on how the vaccination mandates will affect their work situation.
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