A Message from Dr. Cole on Vaccinations

Dear Montclair State University Community:

Vaccination is the best defense we have against COVID-19, and as we prepare to return to an on-campus academic year, it is vitally important for the safety of our campus community that as many of us as possible are vaccinated.

Please get vaccinated, and please report it. Unvaccinated people are at far greater risk of severe illness or death. Your life, and the lives of your colleagues, your students, your family and your friends depend on it.

As you are aware, we have mandated vaccination for our students, and the University continues to encourage all employees in the strongest possible terms to get vaccinated.

As of today, more than 80% of students and full time employees are vaccinated. That is good news, but our goal must be to get the whole campus as close to 100% vaccinated as possible.

Starting July 5th, we have required all new employees, and all individuals who have worked for the University previously and are being offered a new appointment, to provide proof of complete vaccination prior to their start date. Consistent with state law, they may request a waiver for medical or religious reasons.

For more information on how new hires should submit proof of vaccination or request an exemption, please visit this page on the Human Resources website.

Continuing employees who have been vaccinated should upload a copy of your vaccination card to the Vax Check portal as soon as possible.

Starting Monday, August 16 employees who have not furnished the University with proof of complete vaccination will be required to adhere to the following protocols:

• Wear a mask at all times indoors, with no exceptions, and outdoors whenever it is not possible to remain 6 feet from other people
• Obtain a rapid test for COVID-19 twice weekly on non-consecutive days at the University’s testing center on campus
• Do Hawk Check every day, seven days a week, and accurately report any symptoms, exposures, positive test results and travel outside of the NJ region
• Do not come to the campus if Hawk Check tells you to stay away, and remain available for a phone call from Occupational Health, and
• Do not travel on University-related business other than locally within NJ and the immediate four-state region (NY, PA, CT, DE), and only with the prior written approval of the employee’s Dean or Vice President.

These protocols for unvaccinated employees are designed to help protect the health of every member of our campus community, while enabling the full functioning of the University, and they apply to all full-time and part-time unvaccinated employees.

Vaccination Clinics On Campus

The University has arranged with the Essex County Department of Health to provide all students and employees – and their families – with COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost. The clinics will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the following Mondays: Aug. 2, Aug. 9 and Aug. 16 in Lot 7, next to the Panzer Athletic Center.

All three approved vaccines will be available: the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot, and the two-dose vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. All three are options for anyone 18 and older, but only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for persons aged 12-17.

Appointments are requested, but walk-ins will be allowed. Bring your University ID, please. Visit this page to make an appointment online.

Vaccination is our best defense against COVID-19, and the surest path for us to be able to provide the educational experience our students deserve. I am grateful to the large number of employees who have voluntarily shared their proof of vaccination with the University, and I ask those who have not done so to please, get vaccinated and report it through Vax Check.

Sincerely,

President Cole