Vaccine Requirements for Employees

As we prepare to welcome students back for the beginning of the Fall 2021 semester, St. John’s University has modified its policies with respect to COVID-19 vaccination requirements and public health and safety protocols for the 2021–22 academic year. We previously announced that all students taking in-person classes are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to accessing campus. The only exception to this requirement is an approved medical or religious exemption.

With respect to employees (full-time and part-time), anyone teaching or working in person is expected to be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Any vaccine authorized for use in the United States (currently Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) fulfills the vaccine requirement. Vaccinated employees are required to upload their proof of vaccination at www.stjohns.edu/vaccine.

We look forward to a more robust return to in-person instruction with prepandemic classroom density, and events and activities across the campus. For instance:

• Offices and research labs will operate at full density. 
• University-sponsored travel is no longer restricted.
• Dining services will return to normal density and hours of operation.
• The fitness center will reopen.

Fully vaccinated students and employees are not required to wear masks on campus, including in classrooms, residence and dining halls, athletic facilities, offices, conference rooms, and other spaces. Fully vaccinated students and employees do not need to observe the six-feet social distance protocols.

Beginning on September 1, 2021, the following guidelines will apply to any unvaccinated employee working in person at one of St. John’s campuses or locations: 

1. At least one time per week, the unvaccinated employee must obtain a PCR test for COVID-19 and present the test results to the Office of Human Resources’ Employee Benefits Department. There are no plans for the University to provide on-site COVID-19 testing services for employees. Employees will need to obtain the PCR test during nonwork hours;
2. Unvaccinated employees must continue to wear an appropriate face covering while on campus—both indoors and outdoors; and 
3. Unvaccinated employees must continue to adhere to social distancing protocols by remaining at least six feet from other people.

All of our COVID-19 planning and protocols are subject to the latest public health guidelines and may be modified as circumstances change.

The University’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic is measured by small but significant contributions made by so many members of the St. John’s community. Please continue to do your part to help the larger family of St. John’s as we prepare to welcome students back to campus for a new academic year.

Thank you.