• The CDC has determined the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from fully vaccinated people to unvaccinated people is reduced. All students, faculty and staff should get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• The CDC has provided guidance for people with certain medical conditions who are more likely to get severely ill from COVID-19; however, these individuals are no longer categorized as high risk or increased risk. The guidance recommends continuing personal protective preventative measures, including vaccination, wearing a face covering, social distancing and practicing hand hygiene.
  
• Students or employees who need a disability accommodation due to health-related concerns should complete the applicable Accommodation Request Procedure. Requests are reviewed confidentially on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Disability Resources.
  
• Employees with general questions or concerns, should speak first with their supervisor, and if needed, HR.

• App State is strongly encouraging all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated. As a state government entity, the university cannot unilaterally mandate vaccines for employees or students.
• Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from contracting the virus and the only way to support the level of community vaccination necessary to end the pandemic and allow all of us to safely return to the lifestyles that we enjoyed pre-COVID-19.
• Across the country, institutions of higher education are examining the emerging issue of COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
• We have no information indicating that the COVID-19 vaccine will be mandated by federal or state public health officials.
• Additionally, students and employees should submit their vaccination status. This information will be kept confidential and will be used only to inform university-wide safety protocols.

All employees should be prepared to return to their pre-pandemic work arrangements. 

• As we reach a point where operational and staffing decisions are no longer driven by a pandemic response, decisions regarding flexible work schedules, including teleworking arrangements, will again become case-by-case management decisions, based on a number of considerations such as operational needs, job duties, work performance, IT security, etc., as they were prior to the pandemic.
• The Office of Human Resources is working to develop and implement a campus policy for flexible work arrangements. This policy will comply with guidelines in the new UNC System Regulation on Flexible Work Arrangements and Remote Work. More information will be shared soon.

No, however students and employees may choose to disclose vaccination status voluntarily.

• Students and employees should submit their vaccination status. This information will be kept confidential and will be used only to inform university-wide safety protocols.
• Supervisors should not ask their employees, and faculty and staff should not ask students whether or not they have been vaccinated.
• Asking employees or students about their vaccination status could unintentionally elicit disclosures of protected information.
• Treating employees or students disparately based on vaccination status could unintentionally be discriminatory.
• If you have concerns about student compliance with university COVID-19 policies, review additional guidance, information and resources from the Office of Student Conduct.
  
• If you have concerns about faculty or staff compliance with university COVID-19 policies, submit a care and concern report or contact App State’s Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Emergency Management at safety@appstate.edu.
• Additional resources and guidance:
• Read the university’s Campus COVID Response Concerning Vaccination Status
• Read the university’s COVID Classroom Policies

Yes! Students who live in residence halls must submit their COVID-19 vaccine record (showing their status as being fully vaccinated) or documentation of negative COVID-19 test results prior to move-in. Read more information about move-in documentation requirements and COVID-19 testing.

• Students who live in our residence halls are required to follow housing policies.
• Students who are not fully vaccinated, may be required to take an additional COVID-19 test prior to move-in and will be included in a group required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing throughout the year.
• The university will continue wastewater testing for residence halls, which helps us detect positive cases early, respond quickly and further refine our targeted testing strategy as needed.

Stay home if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Cough.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
• Fever.
• Chills.
• Muscle pain.
• New loss of taste or smell.
• Sore throat (secondary symptom).

If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you should:

• Stay home.
• Notify your healthcare provider for guidance.
• Notify your supervisor.

The CDC provides guidelines about what to do if you are sick, which you can access here. For information about testing, please visit the university's COVID-19 Testing page.

Students and employees are no longer required to complete the daily health check questionnaire before coming to campus; however, they should continue to monitor themselves daily and stay home if they feel unwell or have possible COVID-19 symptoms.

Students and employees are required to self-report the following:

• If a health care provider tells you that you are presumed positive for the novel coronavirus.
• If you have been tested for COVID-19.
• The results, whether positive or negative, of your COVID-19 test.
• Known COVID-19 exposures, regardless of vaccination status.
• If you have been instructed to quarantine by public health.

Visit the university’s Reporting COVID-19 Cases page for more information.