Leaders sent the following message to employees at the four University of Missouri System campuses on Dec. 7:

Dear University of Missouri employees,

Last week, we communicated with you about the university’s steps to comply with Executive Order 14042, the federal vaccine mandate for federal contractors. We noted that the mandate could potentially be adjusted or rescinded due to court actions and said that we would update you on any changes to our policy. Earlier today, a federal court issued an order that blocks the federal government from enforcing the vaccination mandate for the time being.

As a result, the university is suspending the requirement for faculty, staff and student employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. Employees are no longer required to show documentation of vaccination or apply for an exemption at this time.

• If you have already uploaded documentation of your vaccination, you do not need to take any further action. Your documentation will remain on file.
• If you requested an exemption, you do not need to take any further action. We will suspend the processing of your request and keep it pending. If the vaccination requirements come back into effect at some point in the future, your exemption request will be processed at that time.
• If you have not uploaded documentation or requested an exemption, we continue to encourage you to get vaccinated to protect your health and the health of our university community. You can voluntarily upload your vaccination documentation through myHR (myhr.umsystem.edu).

Vaccination requirements implemented in August 2021 for University of Missouri Health System employees and for UMKC faculty, staff and students who have direct patient contact in health care settings, remain in effect.

Again, this is a fluid situation. If the federal contractor vaccination mandate comes back into effect, we will update you of changes to the policy.

Sincerely,

Mun Y. Choi, President, University of Missouri

C. Mauli Agrawal, Chancellor, UMKC

Mohammad Dehghani, Chancellor, Missouri S&T

Kristin Sobolik, Chancellor, UMSL