July 13 Message from the Vice President of Student Life
Required COVID-19 Vaccination Details for Fall 2021
July 13, 2021
Dear Student,
As detailed in University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA’s email on June 3, 2021, all students, faculty and staff who will be on campus are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by August 1, 2021. Participation by the Villanova community in the COVID-19 vaccination requirement will allow us to return safely to a more normal semester. Please read this communication in full for important details and action items related to the Fall 2021 semester student vaccine requirement.
Uploading Vaccination Information
The vaccine requirement applies to all students who are enrolled in any in-person class this fall, whether the class is held on campus or at another location. Students must upload their vaccination documentation into Villanova’s secure portal—Villanova.medicatconnect.com—no later than Sunday, August 1, 2021. Submitted documentation will be verified for accuracy and completeness within 10 business days. All documentation will be kept confidential.
Students seeking a religious or medical exemption/accommodation can access the necessary form from the portal. Questions about the vaccine or an exemption/accommodation may be directed to the Student Health Center at covidsurvey@villanova.edu or (610) 519-4070.
Students who have not uploaded their vaccination documentation or who have not been granted an exemption/accommodation by August 13 will be withdrawn from their classes and will have their housing and/or meal plan contracts cancelled, if applicable. Any monies already paid for Fall 2021 tuition or fees will be credited on the student’s Bursar account and may be applied to a future semester upon the student’s return.
Students enrolled exclusively in the University’s online programs are not required to be vaccinated if: (1) their program does not include any in-person experience or component (whether on campus or at another site), or (2) they will not come to campus or other University-sponsored location at any time during the fall semester. Questions should be addressed to the director of the specific program.
Vaccination Sites and Approved Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are free of cost, with or without insurance, and widely available through community centers and most retail pharmacy chains, such as CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. Please visit vaccines.gov to find a location near you. Additionally, a list of accepted vaccines is available on Villanova’s vaccine FAQ page.
International Students
International students who are unable to be fully vaccinated prior to their campus arrival for the Fall 2021 semester will have an extended time period to receive accepted vaccines and upload their documentation to the portal. International students will be able to receive a vaccine on their own once they arrive in the United States, or through an on-campus vaccination clinic that will be offered prior to the start of classes. More information will be sent to international students shortly. A listing of COVID-19 vaccines that have been evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and have met the necessary criteria for safety and efficacy can be found on the WHO website.
Surveillance Testing Required for Unvaccinated Students
Any student who comes to campus with an approved medical or religious exemption/accommodation (or who initially is not fully vaccinated) will be required to participate in routine COVID-19 surveillance testing as part of ongoing mitigation efforts throughout the semester. This requirement will be monitored to help ensure the health and safety of all Villanova community members.
Mitigation Practices for COVID-19
Mitigation practices will continue to evolve over the summer. Minimally, Villanova will require surveillance testing as outlined above. We will continue to monitor federal, state and local guidance as it pertains to masks and other preventive measures. While no longer required for vaccinated individuals, all community members who feel more comfortable wearing a mask are welcome to do so.
Isolation and Quarantine for Students Who Test Positive for COVID-19 or Who Are Identified as a Close Contact During the Fall Semester
Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 during the semester will need to isolate at home, if within 300 miles, for a designated period of time, which will be informed by CDC and state guidelines. Very limited isolation space will be available on campus for those residing farther than 300 miles. If isolation space is not available on campus, students who test positive will need to make arrangements to isolate at another location off campus.
Under current CDC guidelines, students who are identified as close contacts will not need to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated. Students who are identified as close contacts and who are unvaccinated will need to quarantine at home or at another location off campus arranged by the student. Villanova will not provide quarantine space for close contacts.
I am grateful for the many efforts our students have made throughout the pandemic to put Community First. We were successful last year because of the collective commitment to care for one another by adhering to health and safety considerations. The vaccine is paving the way for us to return to a more typical Villanova experience this fall, and I thank you in advance for the timely submission of your vaccination documentation.
Together we will continue to navigate these unique times, and I look forward to a vibrant fall semester with you.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Byrnes
Vice President for Student Life
