Missouri S&T’s COVID-19 Incident Command Team (ICT) sent the following message to S&T faculty, staff and student employees on Thursday, Dec. 2:

Dear Faculty, Staff and Student Employees,

The University of Missouri System has developed a human resources policy to comply with the federal COVID-19 vaccination mandate (Executive Order 14042). The policy, HR-703, is posted on the UM System website.

The policy applies to all full-time and part-time employees at S&T, including graduate research assistants (GRAs), graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) and student employees, whether they work in person or remotely. This policy does not apply to volunteers or S&T students who are not university employees.

According to the policy, employees must provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or have been approved for an exemption by Tuesday, Jan. 18. To become fully vaccinated by this date, individuals must receive their final dose by Tuesday, Jan. 4.

Upcoming vaccine clinics

Missouri S&T will host a walk-in Pfizer vaccine clinic 2-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the Carver-Turner Room of the Havener Center. Individuals seeking the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may get it at clinics in the local area, including on a walk-in basis 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Phelps-Maries County Health Department, located at 200 N. Main Street in Rolla. For additional vaccine clinics in the Rolla area, visit coronavirus.mst.edu/vaccinations.

Documenting your vaccination

To provide documentation of your vaccination, please use the COVID Vaccine Uploader in myHR or contact S&T’s human resources department at 573-341-4241 to make arrangements to show your vaccine documentation in person. If you have already uploaded your vaccination documentation to the COVID Vaccine Uploader in myHR, you do not need to upload it again. If you are a student employee, please also use the COVID Vaccine Uploader in myHR, even if you previously submitted your information in the Student Health Portal or signed up for the Vaccine Incentive Program prize drawings.

Requesting an exemption

An employee may request an exemption through myHR if they demonstrate a medical reason or have a sincerely held religious belief, or if it is determined they have no interaction with employees who work on or in connection with federal contracts or who work in locations where those types of employees are likely to be present, including no interaction through the use of common areas such as lobbies, security clearance areas, elevators, meeting rooms, kitchens, dining areas and parking garages.

To request an exemption, log in to myHR. The “COVID Upload” webpage includes a section titled “Request COVID Exemption” on the left panel. Employees will be notified via email if they are approved for the exemption. The deadline for submission is Jan. 18.

Attend training to learn more

To learn more about the vaccine mandate and the process to request exemptions, leaders, human resource professionals and fiscal officers will be invited to attend training in early December. Faculty, staff and student employees are encouraged to attend a webinar provided by the UM System the week of Dec. 13 to learn more. Registration links are available on Percipio. A recording of the employee webinar will be available in Percipio for later viewing.

Looking forward

We will continue to watch this evolving situation closely. As the University of Missouri Board of Curators’ Nov. 18 resolution indicates, all or part of the mandate could be adjusted or rescinded due to changes in federal rules or court actions.

A copy of the full policy is available online as well as a Q&A with answers to some common questions. 

Thank you for your patience and attention to this matter.

Missouri S&T Incident Command Team

Dr. Dennis Goodman, chief health officer

Alysha O’Neil, vice chancellor of finance and operations

Dr. Colin Potts, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs

Dr. Debra Robinson, vice chancellor of student affairs