305 Shares

Submitted by South Puget Sound Community College

South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) today announced that it will become a fully vaccinated COVID-19 campus for the start of Fall Quarter 2021. The decision to become a vaccinated campus is one of two paths offered to higher education institutions in a new proclamation by Gov. Jay Inslee. For face-to-face interactions on campus, it will allow SPSCC to eliminate face coverings and social distancing for those who have verified vaccination with the college, and will allow the college to safely get back to in-person learning.

Employees and students will need to verify that they have been fully vaccinated unless they are claiming a medical, religious, or philosophical exemption. Employees must verify their vaccination or exemption with the college by Aug. 30, and students by Sept. 20. Students enrolled exclusively in online or virtual classes are not required to verify their vaccination status.

SPSCC is currently developing a system to verify COVID-19 vaccination or exemptions, and will provide more details in the coming weeks.

Being a fully vaccinated campus is the quickest way for SPSCC to get back to in-person learning in a way that protects individual and collective health and safety.

“Our abrupt shift to remote work and virtual learning in early 2020 allowed us to continue operating through the worst of the pandemic,” said SPSCC president Dr. Timothy Stokes. “And while some students have thrived in an online environment, many have not. We know that in-person learning and support services are vital to students’ long-term success, and this move will serve our community well.”

The college will continue to offer online and virtual classes, and virtual services wherever possible. More information is available on the college’s COVID-19 webpage, and more details will be shared in the coming weeks.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
305 Shares