Agenda from President’s Council discussing the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate and an update about Auburn University’s vaccine mandate for employees.

I have the pleasure of sitting on President’s Council as President of Spectrum: The Gay-Straight Alliance at Auburn University. However President's council is also open to all students to visit and sit-in on. President’s Council is a forum for Student Affairs to give information about current Auburn University goings-on to student leaders, who then can disseminate information and answers to the rest of student body.

The October meeting was obviously about the newly announced COVID-19 vaccine mandate for Auburn University employees. We initially went over the basics of the policy, which was information already available to the public on the Auburn University news bulletin. However the floor then opened to the council to ask SGA President Rett Waggoner any follow up or clarification questions. At the time most of it was up-in-the-air since Auburn was basically pulling the policy together as it came. Waggoner took are questions to Auburn University administration and got back to us. Below are the questions he was able to give us answers to.

Currently, the Religious Exemption form requests a handwritten response. Is there any way that we could edit that to a process that is more easily completed?

The Office of Information Technology was working with the Office of AA/EEO to see if they could create an automated process quickly.  They weren’t sure they could do this timely, and that by introducing a new process midstream, it would be confusing to campus.  We are awaiting feedback from them at this time.

If you are Vaccinated in a different country with a non-FDA-approved vaccine, will you still be considered "fully vaccinated"?

Below is a link to the WHO site that lists all approved vaccines.  Any vaccine approved by the WHO will qualify for verrification

https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/

Is this a new "eligibility requirement" for students who wish to run for Elected Offices that receive a stipend?

Elected officers are paid through payroll for the service provided to Auburn and are therefore considered employees.  All employees are required to be vaccinated.

Will there be an expedited process for vaccination verification for individuals who were vaccinated at Auburn University?

No.  Records created by the medical providers who issued the vaccines are considered medical records and can only be used for clinical purposes.  Unfortunately, we cannot access those records as a result.

If a professor's employment is terminated before the end of Finals Week (Dec 10), what will be the protocol for students in that class?

A representative from the faculty member’s academic unit (for example, a Department Chair or a Program Coordinator) will communicate any protocols to affected students.

If a research project on a strict schedule relies on multiple students in a team, and some team members have to drop due to vaccination status, is there a plan for how students will retain research opportunities?

Students should consult the faculty or staff member overseeing the research project for information on continuing the project.

The only new development in this story is that since the deadline for full vaccination now January 18, 2022, students needn’t worry about what happens if their professor is let go due to their vaccination status before Fall 2021 finals are over. Although to receive and retain spring semester teaching assignments professors must submit proof by December 15th. More information on how to verify your vaccine can be found here.

Auburn University has also entered Phase 3 of their vaccine allocation which includes “family members and dependents of employees as vaccine becomes available and members of the local community as vaccine becomes available.” This phase also now allows Auburn University retirees to take advantage of this inclusion. Dependents as of now can be as young as 12 years old to receive their dose(s) through the university.