Student exemptions to the Governor’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate
September 2, 2021 7:04 PM

Dear students,

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

• All students (except those who are fully remote and never come to campus) are required to receive a first dose of a university-accepted COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15. Get vaccinated at CRCE by making an appointment in your MyMcKinley Portal or 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 students who are not able to receive the vaccine for medical or religious reasons must request an exemption and submit any relevant documentation by Sept. 15:
  • To request a medical exemption, submit through the MyMcKinley Portal.
  • To request a religious exemption: Fill out this form and email it to helpdean@illinois.edu.
  • You will receive an interim exemption while your submission is being reviewed.
  • All students who are granted an interim or ongoing exemption will be required to continue the on-campus testing program, currently set at every other day for undergraduates and twice per week for graduate students.
• 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 students 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 until they are fully vaccinated.
• This policy is enforceable through existing progressive discipline processes, which may result in dismissal.
• 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 and must be fully remote.

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

Sincerely,

Robert J. Jones
Chancellor