COVID-19 Vaccination

(Anything defined as “SUNY Facilities” or “campus” will also refer to Rochester EOC facilities, clinical and internship sites.)

SUNY Vaccination Policy

This policy requires all students accessing SUNY Facilities in-person to receive a COVID-19 Vaccination, with limited exception.

Though this New York State directive does not apply to faculty and staff, all SUNY faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.

For the purposes of this policy, “students” are defined as any individual matriculated or otherwise enrolled full-time or part-time at SUNY Facilities* as well as visiting, auditing, exchange, continuing education, and international students taking in-person courses at SUNY. The definition of students does not include high school students enrolled in courses through a SUNY campus. Instead, students in concurrent enrollment programs must follow the health and safety guidelines and protocols of the physical location where they receive instruction. If the course is delivered at their high school, they must follow the local school district guidelines. If a student takes a course in a SUNY facility, they must follow the applicable SUNY Facility guidelines. If a high school student is not able to be Fully Vaccinated and is granted an Exemption as defined herein, they must abide by the applicable COVID-19 related health and safety restrictions for the SUNY Facility where they receive instruction (e.g., appropriate face coverings, social distancing, and surveillance testing).

This policy is subject to change based upon guidance from governmental authorities or f new federal and/or NYS COVID-19 related requirements are imposed.

Vaccination Requirements

All students attending a SUNY institution in the fall 2021 term and thereafter must either: (i) receive a COVID-19 Vaccination; or (ii) obtain an approved Exemption as further described below.

Students who plan to attend in-person classes and/or utilize in-person services or clinical rotations at a SUNY Facility shall provide evidence of receiving the full vaccination series (i.e., both doses of a two-dose series or a single dose of a single-dose series) of any COVID-19 vaccination or apply for an exemption pursuant to this policy. For the Fall 2021 term, this must be completed no later than September 27. For all subsequent terms, students must provide such evidence prior to coming to REOC and show that such vaccine was received at least two weeks prior to first day of class. Proof of COVID-19 antibodies through test results cannot be used as an alternative to receipt of a COVID-19 Vaccination.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Exemptions/Accommodations

Online or Fully Remote Exemption

Students whose course of study is fully remote may be exempted from this vaccine requirement. For this exemption to apply, the student must have no physical presence on campus nor reasonably anticipate using on-campus services for the entirety of the academic term. Such student must submit an attestation to the REOC that states they understand they will not be allowed to use any SUNY/REOC facility unless they submit proof of vaccination as indicated above or are granted an exemption.

Medical Accommodation

Students who are not yet fully vaccinated or who received a COVID-19 vaccine not authorized or approved by the FDA or the WHO may apply for a temporary medical accommodation to allow them time to become fully vaccinated. Any such requests will be reviewed and granted on a case-by- case basis by the REOC. All students granted a medical accommodation under this section will be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 and wear face coverings while indoors and while outdoors and unable to social distance.

Medical Exemption

Students may be exempt from this vaccine requirement if a duly licensed health care provider certifies in writing that the COVID-19 vaccination may be detrimental to the student’s health. The COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Medical Exemption Request Form (pdf) should be used for this purpose. The campus shall provide reasonable accommodations to those students whose medical condition(s) contraindicates COVID-19 vaccination so long as the failure to be vaccinated does not prevent the student from otherwise fulfilling the programmatic or curricular requirements of their academic program.

• Any such requests will be reviewed and granted on a case-by-case basis by the REOC.
• All students granted a medical exemption will be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 and wear face coverings while indoors and while outdoors and unable to social distance.

Religious Exemption

Students who hold genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to COVID-19 Vaccination may be exempt after submitting a written statement to that effect. Such statement should explain how receiving the COVID-19 vaccination conflicts with the student’s sincere religious belief or practice and explain that the failure to be vaccinated does not prevent the student from otherwise fulfilling the programmatic or curricular requirements of their academic program.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Religious Exemption Request Form (pdf) should be used for this purpose. General philosophical or moral objections to such vaccine shall not suffice as the basis for a religious exemption. Students granted a religious exemption will be required to be tested weekly for COVID-19 and wear face coverings while indoors and while outdoors and unable to social distance.

Grace Period

Students must submit proof they have completed a full vaccine series (meaning that the student has received at least one dose of a single dose vaccine series or at least a second dose of a two-dose series) by September 27. This period does not include the two-week window after completion of the series needed for immunity. Upon expiration of this grace period, any student who has not shown that they have completed a full vaccine series or been granted an exemption will be unenrolled and will no longer have access to any in-person campus activities or services.

Additional Considerations for Students with Exemptions

Students who are granted a medical or religious Exemption and who will be accessing a SUNY facility without first receiving a COVID-19 Vaccination, must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within the past (5) days. All students with exemptions will be subject to mandatory weekly COVID-19 testing. Such students will also be required to adhere to the health and safety protocols implemented by the campus, which may include social distancing, mask-wearing, and additional surveillance testing, among others. Exceptions to the mask-wearing requirement include when students are eating meals on-campus while seated and social distancing is appropriately enforced. Campuses may impose additional restrictions as needed. Students with approved exemptions may be excluded from all in-person classes and activities at the campus’ discretion should a COVID-19 outbreak occur at the campus.