Employee exemptions to the Governor’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate
September 2, 2021 7:03 PM

Dear faculty and staff,

As you know, on Aug. 26, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced a mandate that all higher education personnel must be vaccinated against COVID-19. After his announcement, I sent this email message to the university community reiterating the university rules and processes following the governor’s new executive order. I’m writing to clarify our expectations:

• All faculty and staff (except those who are fully remote and never come to campus or university-affiliated buildings) who are not fully vaccinated already are required to receive a first dose of a university-accepted COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15. Find a nearby appointment at vaccines.gov and get vaccinated today.
• If you have not already done so, you are required to receive a final dose and submit your Vaccination Record Card to the MyMcKinley Portal by Oct. 15. You should submit as soon as you receive your final dose.
• All faculty and staff who are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons must request an exemption through the ADA Division of the Office for Access and Equity by filling out the request form and submitting any relevant documentation by Sept. 15: ADA Division Online Employee Accommodation Request Form.
  • You will receive an interim exemption while your submission is being reviewed. 
  • All faculty and staff who are granted an interim or ongoing exemption will be required to continue the on-campus testing program, currently set at testing twice per week.  
  • Individuals who are not able to be vaccinated and are not able to participate in the on-campus testing program cannot be on campus or at a university-affiliated location off campus. The feasibility of a remote work accommodation will need to be assessed in partnership with the ADA division interactive process and in consultation with their unit.
• The Governor’s executive order sets minimum testing expectations for those who are unvaccinated. From the beginning of this pandemic, the university has made clear that our top priority is to maximize safety for our entire community. Aligned with this strategy, after Oct. 15, all faculty and staff who do not have a Vaccination Record Card OR an exemption on file will be required to take an on-campus COVID-19 test every day they are working on campus until they are fully vaccinated.
  • For faculty and staff in this situation who are working in remote university facilities, information regarding testing requirements will be provided at a later date.
• This policy is enforceable through existing progressive discipline processes, which may result in loss of employment.

Thank you for doing your part to maximize the safety of our entire community.

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor