HOUSING POLICY FOR FALL 2022
(VACCINATION REQUIRED)
One of the most critical challenges facing universities across the nation is how to keep students safe as they return to normal instructions and operations. It is imperative that universities adopt policies and procedures that ensure the continued health of students and staff based on available resources and insights from the scientific community.
Vaccination Policy
Due to the close proximity of students living on campus, and the increased likelihood of the spread of COVID-19 when contracted in congregated living settings, the University of the Virgin Islands will require all students who desire to live in the residence halls to be fully vaccinated prior to arrival for the Fall 2022 semester. Students should aim to be fully vaccinated by August 1, 2022.
Classes begin Monday, August 15th with new student orientation scheduled the week of August 8-12, 2022.
Medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated, but the expectation is that the vast majority of our on campus resident community will be fully vaccinated.
For those students who live outside of the Territory where vaccinations are not readily available, the University, in conjunction with the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health, will provide the vaccination upon the student’s arrival to campus. While a student awaits their first dose of the vaccine, a strict COVID-19 protocol that includes quarantine and testing will be required. Once a student has received their first dose of the vaccine, there will be a brief quarantine period followed by periodic testing until they are fully vaccinated.
In general, people are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
Documentation Of Vaccination
UVI will also require proof of inoculation with vaccines that are approved in the student’s country of origin (e.g. AstraZeneca). We expect that international vaccines with efficacy similar to US-based vaccines will be accepted to satisfy the intended UVI requirement, unless Federal or local guidelines mandate otherwise.
The method by which students can show proof will be announced shortly. Similar to the existing policies requiring the UVI Student Health Form with immunization history, the COVID-19 vaccination will be included.
All students living in the residence halls will be required to sign a waiver of liability form which will be provided.
Additional Resource Links
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the University has taken actions to create a safe living, learning and working environment. Universities are taking different approaches to this situation, including some that are requiring all students and employees to be vaccinated. UVI has not chosen this approach and has decided to focus on the most vulnerable situation. However, the role of vaccinations for all students and employees will be reconsidered as time and information evolve.