As part of our continuing efforts to protect the health and safety of the URI community and public health more broadly, the University of Rhode Island is requiring all full- and part-time faculty and non-classified staff to provide proof of a COVID‑19 vaccination by Oct. 15, or request a medical or religious exemption. Faculty and non-classified staff who are licensed health providers are covered under the Department of Health requirement for immunization against COVID-19 (216-RICR-20-15-8), which requires health care workers to be vaccinated by Oct. 1.

The vaccines are widely available, safe, greatly limit the transmission of the virus, and have been shown to dramatically reduce the chances of serious illness and/or death related to a COVID-19 infection. The University is holding free vaccination clinics for campus community members on its Kingston Campus through the end of September.

While this new vaccine mandate does not currently apply to classified employees, we are asking classified staff to voluntarily upload their COVID-19 vaccine certificates through the patient portal to help create and maintain a safe work environment. Anyone needing assistance uploading the vaccine certificate should contact URI Human Resources, Paula Murray at 874-2417, Lori Carr at 874-2277 or Leslie Cronan at 874-2684.

Here are the instructions for uploading your proof of vaccination.

The faculty/staff vaccine mandate and voluntary initiative for classified employees come as URI nears completion of its very successful student vaccination campaign. More than 98% of students are fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or have an approved exemption. Of that group, 6% have an approved exemption and 94% are partially or fully vaccinated.

Information about how faculty and staff can submit proof of vaccination is available from the Health Services website and listed below. Classified employees may follow the same process outlined below.

To upload their vaccination records faculty and staff should:

• Log in to the patient portal using their single sign on.
• Click the “Immunizations” tab.
• Enter the dates that they received the COVID-19 vaccines. Enter the dates under the correct vaccine (Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson & Johnson).
• Go to the “Upload” tab, under the Choose document they are uploading, and select COVID-19 Vaccination Card. They should make sure their name, date of birth, and vaccine dates are on the vaccination record.
• Browse to select their scanned/saved vaccination record or take a photo from your mobile device and upload the photo to the patient portal. *Acceptable proof of vaccination includes a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, a state-issued COVID-19 Vaccine History record, or documented proof from a health care provider.

Exemptions

Faculty and staff who are not vaccinated may file a formal request for an exemption for documented medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs. Those granted exemptions must participate in twice per week mandatory surveillance testing and stay physically distant from others. Most importantly, those who receive exemptions will be required to quarantine or isolate should they become exposed to or test positive for COVID-19. They will be required to stay home for the duration of the isolation/quarantine time. Further information regarding exemption procedures will be forthcoming.

Further information on exemption procedures will be forthcoming.

Acceptable vaccines

URI will accept proof of any vaccine that was authorized for use in the United States at the time of administration. For vaccinations requiring two doses, faculty and staff must have received both doses of the vaccine to fully meet the requirement. Proof of vaccination will also be required for anyone with a prior diagnosis of COVID‑19.

URI will work with any faculty and staff member, including employees who are foreign nationals, who have not been vaccinated or may have received a vaccine that is not approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization to ensure they have access to vaccines at URI or a local vaccination center.

The University reserves the right to modify this policy at any time in accordance with changing public health guidance or directives, best practices, and/or University needs.

Surveillance Testing Center

The University has opened its COVID-19 Surveillance Testing Center in the Memorial Union. Health Services reminds those unvaccinated members of the campus community that they must get tested twice weekly and encourages those who have been vaccinated to participate in regular surveillance testing. The testing center is for those individual who do not have symptoms. In addition, please see details on universal indoor masking at URI.

Thank you for participating in this program and your commitment to keeping our community healthy and safe.