[CED/CD/EAT] UA Vaccine Requirement update

Wed Oct 27 11:59:52 MST 2021

Everyone, please see the following message from Provost Folks.

I understand that this is a very challenging issue for some people in some parts of our broad and diverse organization. This requirement may be something that some on this email may find challenging. I appreciate this; I experience it as I am out and about in the state.

Regardless, we must get this message out. We must also do so in ways that the outcome is most likely to be positive in each of our unique environments. For this reason, I am asking that you communicate the message and key details in your unique ways because you (and those who report to you in some cases) are best placed to deliver the message in ways it will most likely be heard and acted on.

Please immediately communicate the intent and key specific messages with all employees who report to you in ways that are consistent with your unique cultures and circumstances. In some cases, this will require personal conversations. Please do not simply forward this email. Please be the leaders you are in the positions to be.

Best wishes

Shane

Shane C. Burgess
Vice President for the Division of Agriculture, Life & Veterinary Sciences, and Cooperative Extension
Charles-Sander Dean of the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Forbes Building, Room 306 | 1140 E. South Campus Drive
P.O. Box 210036 | Tucson, AZ 85721-0036
Office: 520-621-7621
sburgess at cals.arizona.edu<mailto:sburgess at cals.arizona.edu>
alvsce.arizona.edu<https://alvsce.arizona.edu/>
cals.arizona.edu<https://cals.arizona.edu/>
twitter<https://twitter.com/UAAgLifeVetExt>

We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.

From: Folks, Liesl - (liesl) <liesl at arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11:29 AM
To: Durand, Alain-Philippe - (adurand) <adurand at arizona.edu>; Schulz, Andrew - (apschulz) <apschulz at arizona.edu>; White, Brent T - (brentwhite) <brentwhite at arizona.edu>; Johnson, Bruce - (brucej) <brucej at arizona.edu>; Carnie, Andrew H - (carnie) <carnie at arizona.edu>; Hahn, David W - (dwhahn) <dwhahn at arizona.edu>; Reed, Guy - (guyreed) <guyreed at arizona.edu>; Hakim, Iman A - (ihakim) <ihakim at arizona.edu>; Moore, Ida M - (imoore) <imoore at arizona.edu>; Jones, John Paul - (jpjones) <jpjones at arizona.edu>; Funk, Julie Ann - (juliefunk) <juliefunk at arizona.edu>; Abecassis, Michael M I - (mabecassis) <mabecassis at arizona.edu>; Urquidez, Kasandra Kay - (kasandra) <kasandra at arizona.edu>; Washington White, Kendal H - (kwashing) <kwashing at arizona.edu>; Miller, Marc L - (miller47) <miller47 at arizona.edu>; Pollock-Ellwand, Nancy Dorothy - (pollockellwand) <pollockellwand at arizona.edu>; Burgess, Shane C - (shaneburgess) <sburgess at cals.arizona.edu>; Rick Schnellmann <schnell at pharmacy.arizona.edu>; Sutton, Shan C - (ssutton) <ssutton at arizona.edu>; Hunt, Terry L - (tlhunt) <tlhunt at arizona.edu>; tlk <tlkoch at optics.arizona.edu>; Packard, Gary A - (gapackard) <gapackard at arizona.edu>; Garzione, Carmala N - (garzione) <garzione at arizona.edu>; Schatzberg, Jeffrey W - (jschatzb) <jschatzb at arizona.edu>; Romero, Andrea J - (romeroa) <romeroa at arizona.edu>; Carnie, Andrew H - (carnie) <carnie at arizona.edu>; Brummund, Barry T - (brummund) <brummund at arizona.edu>; White, Brent T - (brentwhite) <brentwhite at arizona.edu>; Jensen, Holly - (hollyjensen) <hollyjensen at arizona.edu>; Demetriou, Cynthia P - (cpd) <cpd at arizona.edu>; Hockstad, Douglas M - (douglash) <DouglasH at tla.arizona.edu>; Cantwell, Elizabeth R - (ecantwell) <ecantwell at arizona.edu>; Burd, Gail D - (gburd) <gburd at arizona.edu>; Heileman, Greg - (heileman) <heileman at arizona.edu>; Rodrigues, Helena A - (hrodrigu) <hrodrigu at arizona.edu>; Florian, Jim - (florianj) <florianj at arizona.edu>; O'Neil, John - (oneilj) <oneilj at arizona.edu>; Urquidez, Kasandra Kay - (kasandra) <kasandra at arizona.edu>; Washington White, Kendal H - (kwashing) <kwashing at arizona.edu>; Elfring, Lisa K - (elfring) <elfring at arizona.edu>; Taylor, Marilyn - (taylorm) <taylorm at arizona.edu>; Tucker, Mary Beth - (mtucker) <mtucker at arizona.edu>; Salazar, Nicole J - (hinzen) <hinzen at arizona.edu>; Miller, Robert J - (millerr) <millerr at arizona.edu>; Rosenberg, Stephanie S - (ssrosenberg) <ssrosenberg at arizona.edu>; Moore, Steve - (stevemoore) <stevemoore at arizona.edu>; Sutton, Shan C - (ssutton) <ssutton at arizona.edu>; Wilson, Craig - (craigwilson) <craigwilson at arizona.edu>; Francis-Begay, Karen R - (kfbegay) <kfbegay at arizona.edu>; Banks, Ivy - (ivybanks) <ivybanks at arizona.edu>; Brewer, Michael M - (brewerm) <brewerm at arizona.edu>
Cc: Robles-Parra, Clarisa Marie - (clarisarobles) <clarisarobles at arizona.edu>
Subject: Vaccine Requirement update

Dear Deans Council and Provost’s Council members,

As of yesterday, we have more than 7,000 employees who have not taken the needed steps to bring themselves into compliance with the Vaccine Requirement<https://view.comms.arizona.edu/?qs=ffcc789da4c1eff2913707d1b8c89f778636bd336aae2ef4d80412c5fba437ec8b29ad89496340340e838f40b867d76801ffa055df5935e19217791a2e935285b21ea936c2ef7f8d9f8fe8c0a7cd6a22> communicated by President Robbins on 15 October 2021.  That is, they have not yet either uploaded their vaccination cards nor sought an exemption through HR or DRC, per the processes cited here<https://hr.arizona.edu/content/employee-covid-19-vaccine-requirement#collapse-2090> online.  Of course, of this number some may still be in the process of becoming vaccinated or seeking an exemption!  Compliance with this federal requirement is tremendously important to us, as an institution, since a great many of our employees and students are funded by the millions of dollars in federal contracts we have secured to support our vital research and educational efforts.

>> I am writing to ask if you would please share a personal reminder to your teams on how important it is for everyone to come into compliance with this federal regulation by 8 December 2021 to avoid any consequences that could impact their employment?

Several notes / clarifications;

  1.  The timelines for being fully vaccinated by Dec. 8 vary depending on the vaccine chosen, with first dose being required by October 27 for Moderna (today!), by November 3 for Pfizer, and by Nov 24 for J&J.  See details here<https://hr.arizona.edu/content/employee-covid-19-vaccine-requirement>.  It is incredibly convenient to get vaccinated at Campus Health – bookings are available online here<https://health.arizona.edu/covidvaccine> for those who happen to come to our Tucson Campus.

  1.  The exemption / accommodation request process is straightforward – see information online here<https://hr.arizona.edu/content/employee-covid-19-vaccine-requirement>.

  1.  Student employees (graduates or undergraduates) are subject to the same requirement as other employees.

  1.  There is new FAQ posted on our HR pages<https://hr.arizona.edu/content/employee-covid-19-vaccine-requirement> regarding consequences for non-compliant individuals;

Q: What happens if I don’t provide proof of vaccination or receive approval for an accommodation?“
A: After Dec. 8, in accordance with our federal compliance responsibilities pertaining to the Biden administration's Executive Order, the University will begin the process working with individual employees not in compliance with the vaccine requirement, and their respective units, to determine a timeline for corrective action, which may include disciplinary action consistent with the University’s policies, including disruption to pay.
Please review the employee conduct and behavior policies in the applicable UHAP, Classified Staff and University Staff<https://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources> handbooks.

  1.  New hires must also comply with the Vaccine Requirement (i.e., either provided proof of vaccination or have an approved exemption).

  1.  As a reminder, vaccination status is personal health information, and information about individuals should not ever be shared outside of health care settings.  Our HR team however does have access to the relevant information so we can understand compliance status institutionally.

With thanks,

Liesl

[The University of Arizona block 'A' logo.]
Liesl Folks, PhD, MBA
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Administration, 411
P.O. Box 210066 | Tucson, AZ 85721
Office: 520-626-8121
liesl at arizona.edu<mailto:liesl at arizona.edu>
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