Vaccination Policy requires vaccination or approved exemptions by Oct. 31

Following a successful pilot in the School of Music, Brandon University has approved a full Vaccination Policy that will require all members of the BU community be fully vaccinated or seek an approved exemption.

As previously announced, full vaccination will be the default expectation at Brandon University after Oct. 31. Campus building access will be by approved key card access only, which includes employee key fobs and BU Student ID cards.

On Friday, Oct. 1, BU will open an online Vaccination Portal for students, faculty, and staff to upload proof of their Covid-19 vaccination. The preferred proof will be a digital copy of the Manitoba Vaccine Card or QR code.

Under the full BU Vaccination Policy, exemptions will be available for those who cannot get vaccinated for legitimate medical, religious, or other human-rights related reasons. An exemptions process is required to apply for such an exemption, which must be substantiated.

The full BU Vaccination Policy is available online at BrandonU.ca/Covid-19/Vaccination-Policy. Forms to apply for an exemption are also available online at BrandonU.ca/Covid-19/Vaccination-Policy/Exemptions. Exemptions are not guaranteed, and approved accommodations may not include campus access to any or all spaces.

Those with approved exemptions that include campus access will be required to undergo regular rapid testing, at least every 72 hours, with negative test results required for campus access. Brandon University will both provide and conduct the tests.

Testing will also be made available for people who have received at least their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine but are not yet fully vaccinated. Testing for partially vaccinated people will provide campus access on a provisional basis until two weeks after their second dose, or up to Nov. 14, whichever is later. This gives anyone who is still unvaccinated time to start and finish their vaccination process without seeking an exemption.

The policy applies to all students, faculty and staff who seek access to any Brandon University building or facility for their studies, their research and/or their work. The policy does not apply to short-term visitors, like a patron of the BU Bookstore, or contractors, for example clearing snow from the parking lot. People exclusively participating in online classes are encouraged to register their vaccination status.

Some BU buildings, and people in some programs, are also covered under provincial vaccination orders. For example, the Healthy Living Centre requires proof of full vaccination to access the fitness centre, gymnasiums, or track. Students with an approved exemption would be able to attend classrooms in the HLC but would not be able to work out there.

As well, most students and some faculty who are participating in practicum placements in the Faculty of Education or Faculty of Health Studies, will also need to prove their vaccination status or access testing, through their placements.

The vast majority of the Brandon University campus is already fully vaccinated. The vaccines are safe and effective, and they are widely available in the community.

A successful vaccine clinic was held on campus during the first week of classes, and public health will be returning for two more vaccine clinics in early October. First or second doses will be available in Harvest Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 1–3 p.m. Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available to everyone who’s eligible, on a walk-in basis. If you get your first shot at one of these clinics, your earliest possible date of full vaccination would be Nov. 16 or 17.

To support vaccination, Brandon University is also giving away more than $10,000 in prizes. Once you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter at BrandonU.ca/Winning-Shot.

More information about Brandon University’s comprehensive Covid-19 response and commitment to delivering the best possible educational experience in the safest way for our entire community, is available at BrandonU.ca/Covid-19.

Here’s what you need to know

If you require campus access:

• All doors to campus will be locked as of Oct. 31. You will need approved access as well as your employee key card or BU Student ID card in order to swipe in.
• Door access will be approved for those who are fully vaccinated, those who have sought and received an exemption, or those who are partially vaccinated and will be fully vaccinated by Nov. 15.
• Allowances will be made for short-term visitors and contractors. Details are forthcoming.

If you are fully vaccinated:

• In general, full vaccination means you are two weeks past your second dose.
• You will be able to upload proof of vaccination to a special Brandon University portal online.
• The preferred proof of vaccination is a Province of Manitoba QR code.
• This portal will open to faculty, staff, and students on Friday, Oct. 1. A link will be emailed to your @BrandonU.ca email address, and the link will be also posted on the BrandonU.ca/Covid-19 website.
• You will be granted campus access through your employee key fob/card or your BU Student ID card.

If you are partially vaccinated:

• You should get your second dose as soon as possible.
• Once you are fully vaccinated, you will be able to upload proof of vaccination to the portal, as above.
• Between Nov. 1 and Nov. 14, or until you are fully vaccinated, you will be required to undergo regular rapid testing in order to access campus, as described below.
• If your date of full vaccination will be Nov. 15 or later, you must seek an exemption to access campus, as described below.

If you are unvaccinated:

• You will be welcome to continue attending online-only courses and accessing online- or phone-based services.
• You will not be permitted indoors on campus without having an approved exemption.

If you are seeking an exemption:

• Exemptions are available only for those who have legitimate and substantiated medical or religious prohibitions against receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.
• Exemption request forms and directions are available online at BrandonU.ca/Covid-19/Vaccine-Policy/Exemptions
• Exemption requests that are completed and submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, will permit students to withdraw from in-person Fall Term 2021 courses as described below.
• Exemptions are not guaranteed to be approved, and approved accommodations may not include campus access.
• Exemptions may require you to undergo regular rapid testing.
• Exemption requests may require some time to process.

If your exemption or partial vaccination requires regular rapid testing:

• Rapid testing will be available at Brandon University, by appointment.
• Tests must be taken at least every 72 hours, and a negative test result will be required for access to campus.
• The costs of rapid testing will be covered by Brandon University.
• Further details on rapid testing will be provided to those who require it.

If you have been participating the School of Music pilot project:

• DO NOT resubmit your information.
• Watch your @BrandonU.ca email address for details that may apply to you.

If you need to change your courses due to being unvaccinated:

• You can add and drop courses freely until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021 (this deadline was Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, for Bachelor of Education (A.D.) students). You will receive a full refund for courses dropped before that deadline.
• If you withdraw from classes after Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, and until Oct. 12, 2021, the courses will stay on your record with a Voluntary Withdrawal (VW) notation, but you will receive a full refund. This includes Bachelor of Education (A.D) students as well as all other students.
• If you submit an exemption request by Tuesday, Oct. 12, and your request for an exemption is later declined, you will be able to drop affected courses without academic penalty and seek a full refund. You will not, however, be able to add new courses at that point. If you find yourself in the position of having to drop courses after having an exemption request declined, you must reach out to Financial & Registration Services (FinReg@BrandonU.ca) to request the course drop and associated refund within a week of receiving your exemption decision letter.

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