Dear students, families, lecturers and employees:
Believe it or not, in just over 40 days we will be welcoming new and returning students to campus. Although the scope and pace of our campus updates has slowed dramatically, please know that our Syracuse University public health team and hundreds of employees continue to work to prepare our campus for a safe and productive academic year 2021-22. With that in mind, I am writing today to share three important updates including:
- Flu shot
- COVID-19 vaccination
- Preliminary travel guidelines
Influenza vaccination: In consultation with the medical team at the Barnes Center at The Arch and the university’s public health team, the university again expects all members of our campus community who plan to routinely attend campus in the 2021-22 academic year to receive the flu vaccine. While rising COVID vaccination rates and the lifting of public health restrictions are a positive sign of a return to pre-pandemic life, we must remain vigilant and take every precaution to support the health and wellbeing of the campus community. Vaccination remains the best protection against disease, and getting the flu vaccine will help our community reduce the effects of respiratory disease and make an early diagnosis of COVID-19 more likely. To support our community with the flu vaccination, the Barnes Center at The Arch will offer flu clinics during the fall semester as soon as the current year’s flu vaccine is available. Students, faculty, and staff can also purchase the vaccine from another medical provider or pharmacy. As soon as we have more information, including the dates of the clinics, we will inform the campus community.
COVID-19 vaccination requirement: Starting June 1, all students, faculty, and staff entering campus must have the COVID-19 vaccination. The only exception to this requirement is an approved medical or religious exception. Unvaccinated members of the campus community must continue to wear a mask on campus and take weekly surveillance tests. As a reminder, according to guidelines from the New York State Department of Health, all faculties, staff and students – regardless of vaccination status – in health care facilities, including Barnes Health and the Kimmel COVID Testing Center, must wear a mask.
For students, the COVID-19 vaccination card is with Student patient portal. Students who do not submit their vaccination pass can neither select a move-in pass nor move into their dormitory or access the course registration.
- Incoming students: The deadline for submitting vaccination cards was July 1, along with any other required health and vaccination records. If you have not yet submitted your documents, please do so as soon as possible at Patient portal to avoid holds in your account.
- Returning students: Please send your documents to Patient portal by August 1st to allow a reasonable processing time. Students wishing to enter campus before August 1st must submit their COVID-19 vaccination certificate prior to entering campus.
If you have any questions about your vaccination record, please contact the Barnes Center at The Arch at 315.443.8000.
Faculty and staff should continue to use the Questionnaire to confirm COVID-19 vaccine status if your vaccination status has changed.
Preliminary Travel Security Policy: With the end of the New York State of Emergency and the lifting of state travel restrictions on vaccinated people starting July 19, 2021, the university will adjust its interim travel safety policy to allow for non-essential domestic travel. Anyone who suggests domestic trips to the university for business purposes (faculty, employees or students) can do so without restriction. All domestic travelers should continue their business travel via the University travel directory, with the exception of people who take part in official trips for athletics, club sports or marching band who register their trip in another way. For persons with approved exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccination, the university requires strict compliance with the the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for Travelers. Please note that all common approval procedures should be followed in terms of responsible household management.
International travel remains for essential purposes only. The ongoing process of reviewing international research, academic, staff and student group travel will continue as announced.
- For international research: For applications that include research travel proposals, interested parties are invited to apply for an international travel exemption through the Office of the Vice President for Research. For information on this procedure, see the Research office website.
- For international faculty / staff business trips: International travel for non-essential university business (e.g. conferences) is prohibited. Essential travel inquiries should follow procedures provided by the human resources department.
- Travel of the international student organization: Please address student inquiries about trips abroad as part of their participation in a registered student organization to Rob Hradsky in the Vice President’s Office for Student Experience at rhradsky@syr.edu.
- For academic purposes: International study trips can only be considered necessary if, at the discretion of the dean of the school or university, the Activity is indispensable for a certain course of study and there is no reasonable alternative that does not include trips abroad.
Please remember that all students, faculty or staff with a travel authorization should register with the University travel directory. Questions can be sent to Seth Tucker in the Office of Global Safety and Support at. be judged satucker@syr.edu or 315.443.1968.
Syracuse University continues to be a special place to live, study, and work. It is our people who make this community what it is. Considering that we all come from different backgrounds, cultures and parts of the world, I remind you of the importance of supporting one another as we work to get back to life before the pandemic. You will likely continue to see many of your classmates, classmates, and coworkers wearing masks. Please show these people your kindness and your understanding that wearing a mask – be it for health or comfort reasons – is the decision of every person, regardless of their vaccination status.
I wish you continued peace and adventure this summer.
With best regards,
J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation
