Last week, New York reached a crucial milestone: 70 percent of all adults in the state have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That accomplishment allowed Governor Andrew Cuomo to lift most pandemic restrictions. The state is also recording extraordinarily low positivity rates, thanks to the rollout of these safe and effective vaccines.
At Pace University, we’re excited to be able to move ahead in our return to normal by taking the following actions.
As we prepare for the Fall 2021 semester, we will require COVID-19 vaccination for everyone in our Community who will come to campus starting August 16, 2021. This includes all Pace faculty, staff, and students. Proof of vaccination must be uploaded to the Confidential Patient Portal by August 1, 2021. (Faculty and staff are not required to submit non-COVID vaccine records mandated for students in that portal.)
The vaccines are safe, effective, and now widely available. They’re the best way for us all to protect our own health and those of our fellow community members, and they’re how we’ll get back to a much more normal learning and living environment.
Effective July 1, 2021, masking and distancing guidelines will be lifted on all Pace campuses for all vaccinated individuals who have uploaded their vaccine record. Additionally, all pandemic capacity restrictions will be lifted in all our buildings.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be responsible for wearing masks and observing distance, in accordance with state and CDC guidance. Additionally, all members of the Pace Community will continue to have the option of wearing a mask for their own safety and comfort.
Beginning with the Fall 2021 semester, most vaccinated individuals will be exempted from our testing protocols. Some groups may still be required to test, and tests will remain available for those who would like one. We will continue to require completion of the Pace Safe questionnaire each day you come to campus.
Some details about the vaccine requirement:
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Full instructions for uploading an image or scan of your vaccination record are available here (PDF). There are also step-by-step video instructions here.
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Your CDC vaccination card serves as an official COVID-19 vaccination record, as does any other document (including an official email received after vaccination) that includes your name, date(s) of vaccination, vaccine manufacturer, and lot numbers.
- All submitted vaccination records must be in English. If your records are in another language, please provide a translation.
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It can take up to seven business days for your vaccination record to be reviewed and approved by health professionals. You must receive confirmation from Medicat, the Patient Portal administrators, before you’ll be able to enter campus. Continue to check your Pace email for updates regarding your vaccination record.
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You can request a vaccine exemption for religious or medical reasons by submitting a completed Religious Exemption form (PDF) or Medical Exemption form (PDF).
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Emailed requests for exemption will not be considered. All requests for exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement must be formally submitted using one of the two forms listed above. It can take up to seven business days for your exemption form to be reviewed and approved or denied.
- If you do not get vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption, you will not be permitted to physically access campus.
This marks a big step forward for our state and for Pace. While we reserve the right to reinstate some precautions if the situation changes, trends in the United States (and especially in our region) look good. We expect further relaxation of restrictions as more people are vaccinated. We’ll update you with more information as the situation warrants.
We have planned a series of Community Conversations to address the vaccine requirements and our plans for Fall 2021. We’ll start with a session for students tomorrow evening, and then one for faculty and staff on Thursday. You can find full details on our Return to Campus site.
We’ve made it through an extraordinarily tough 15 months. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. We’ll see you back on campus this fall, safe and healthy.
