Updated Sept. 8, 2022
Covid Vaccination Protocols
Vaccines support everyone’s safety. Covid-19 vaccinations offer effective safeguards from individual infection and protection of the community’s health. Robust levels of vaccination and boosters on campus help Susquehanna University maintain normal activity.
Student Vaccinations
Susquehanna University require students who learn, live or work on campus to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to arriving to campus. Students must be fully vaccinated with a Covid vaccine that is authorized in the United States by the FDA (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson) or by the World Health Organization (e.g., AstraZeneca/Oxford and Sinopharm).
Students who participate in university-sponsored international travel (and GO Short domestic programs) must be fully vaccinated and must follow latest CDC and host-location requirements prior to their departure. “Fully vaccinated” and “up to date” are additionally defined by each host location, which may include more recent boosters.
Student-athletes must be compliant with Susquehanna and NCAA vaccination protocols prior to the start of athletic practices and competitions.
Students may request an exemption from the Covid vaccination requirement for medical, religious or philosophical reasons, which will be considered for approval on an individual basis through the Student Health Center.
All new students must submit their Covid immunization record prior to arriving to campus if it is not already on file with the university. This can be done by sending a picture of the vaccine card to covidtesting@susqu.edu.
Questions about compliance with the vaccination requirement?
COVID-19 Hotline: 570-372-3333
Employee Vaccinations
Employees are strongly encouraged to be up to date vaccinated with a booster prior to returning to work on campus.
Faculty and staff members who choose to participate in the Global Opportunities Program as GO directors, whether traveling domestically or internationally with students, are required to be fully vaccinated. Some host locations could have further requirements to be up to date with boosters.
If you are both an SU student and an employee, you must follow the student vaccination protocols first, then those for employees.
Employees who are still not up to date vaccinated against Covid-19 are encouraged to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the benefits of the vaccine and medical concerns you have.
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Shot Appointment. Faculty and staff are encouraged to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, including the booster shot, and may schedule vaccine and booster appointments during the workday — notifying their supervisor and recording sick leave.
- Shot Recovery. Faculty and staff who need time to recover from the vaccine or booster should notify their supervisor and record sick leave on their timesheets.
Exemption Request from the Covid Vaccination Requirement
Susquehanna University may grant exemptions on a case-by-case basis. If granted an exemption, please note:
- Vaccine exemptions from Susquehanna do not apply for international university-sponsored travel and GO Short domestic programs due to the nature of the programs as well as host regulations.
- In the event of an outbreak, individuals exempt for medical reasons or religious objections should be protected from exposure. This may include exclusion from campus and/or required quarantine away from campus if exposed during an outbreak.
- Susquehanna reserves the right to require exemption approvals be renewed for each academic year.
Medical Exemption: If a medical provider uses SU’s General Immunization Exemption Form to certify that a student’s health condition that is a valid contraindication to receiving a specific vaccine, then a permanent or temporary (e.g., pregnancy) exemption may be granted. On the form, the provider must specify which Covid immunization(s) that may be detrimental, why and for how long, and must sign the form. Medical exemptions for immunizations of other infections may not be considered applicable. A positive Covid antibody test (i.e., prior infection) does not exempt an individual from the vaccination requirement.
Religious Exemption: Requests for exemptions must describe the principles that guide an objection to immunization using SU’s General Immunization Exemption Form and be signed by the student (or parent or guardian if under the age of 18). The university may require supporting documents. Prior religious or philosophical exemption statements addressed to other institutions are not considered valid