Vaccination Policy Information (June 24, 2021)
Faculty and staff colleagues,
As I announced on April 16, the College will require everyone in the campus community to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 when we reconvene for the fall semester.
Having all of us fully vaccinated is the only effective way for the College to return to normal in the fall and to protect the campus and Brunswick communities. I am very happy to report that over 93 percent of us are fully vaccinated and have uploaded a copy of our vaccination cards to Workday.
Faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by arrival day for first-year students (Tuesday, August 24). Those of you who have not yet been vaccinated will need to receive a first dose by the following dates—depending on the COVID-19 vaccine—to meet the August 24 deadline:
- July 13: Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (two doses, four weeks apart)
- July 20: Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (two doses, three weeks apart)
- August 10: Janssen/Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (a single dose)
If you need assistance locating clinics or pharmacies that provide COVID-19 vaccinations, please visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Sites in Maine website or contact Megan Hart (mhart@bowdoin.edu). And please remember to upload a copy of your vaccination card to Workday as soon as possible after your final dose.
An exemption from the vaccination requirement may be requested for either a medical reason associated with a health condition or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Those without an exemption who do not meet the August 24 deadline will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence, and please note that we cannot guarantee that an employee’s position will still be open if they later complete the vaccination process and desire to return to work at the College. Any employee who would like to seek an exemption based on their medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs should contact Mary Cote (mcote@bowdoin.edu) in human resources to obtain more information about the exemption process. To protect themselves and others, anyone granted an exemption will be required to follow certain health and safety protocols, which are likely to include the use of face coverings indoors, regular COVID-19 testing, and possible changes in work schedules and procedures. If you have not begun the vaccination process by Thursday, July 15, please contact Mary Cote (mcote@bowdoin.edu) to let her know your plans.
Please see the FAQ on the Bowdoin website for additional information about the vaccination requirement.
Thank you for everything you continue to do to keep one another and our students safe, and for your help as we work to achieve our goal of a fully vaccinated campus community by August 24. Please take time over the summer to rest and recharge.
All the best,
Clayton