COVID-19 Requirements for Unvaccinated Employees

The following message was sent Jan. 7 to faculty, staff and student employees about requirements of the Biden Administration's OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) guidelines that begin Monday, Jan. 10. Please note that just as there continues to be uncertainty with COVID-19, the legal environment and federal regulations regarding the pandemic remain fluid as well. The University continues to monitor the legal proceedings regarding the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) closely and will provide updates to the campus as necessary.

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 Requirements for Unvaccinated Employees

Baylor currently does not have a record of COVID-19 vaccination on file for you and therefore, this email serves as communication regarding additional COVID-19 health and safety measures which you are required to comply for the Spring 2022 semester, or until further notice.

Baylor strongly encourages all faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated as it is the greatest protection against severe disease and death from the virus that causes COVID-19, including known variants currently in our community. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines and their effectiveness, please visit Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines.

If you are vaccinated and have received this email, please report your vaccination and upload a copy of your documentation through our Confidential Employee Medical Record Form to be exempt from these additional requirements.

Face Covering Requirement Begins Monday, Jan. 10 - At this time, due to the Biden Administration's OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) guidelines, beginning Monday, Jan. 10, all unvaccinated employees (faculty, staff and student employees while working in their employment capacity) are required to wear a mask in all of Baylor's indoor spaces and when occupying a vehicle with another person for work purposes, except when an employee is alone in an enclosed space or while eating or drinking.

Please note that just as there continues to be uncertainty with COVID-19, the legal environment and federal regulations regarding the pandemic remain fluid as well. The University continues to monitor the legal proceedings regarding the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) closely and will provide updates to the campus as necessary.

Per Baylor policy, face coverings will also be required to be worn for at least the first two weeks of the spring semester by all faculty, students and staff - regardless of vaccination status - in all classrooms and labs when used for academic instruction, in addition to some indoor locations where appropriate social distancing may not be possible, private faculty and staff offices when requested, and other areas designated by posted signage.

Twice-Weekly COVID-19 Testing - Testing will be required twice weekly for unvaccinated faculty, staff and students. This requirement will begin next week, Jan. 10, for unvaccinated staff. Faculty and student employees are required to test as soon as their return to campus begins, but no later than beginning the week of Jan. 17.

Initial testing availability is as follows:

• Jan. 10-14: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Cashion Academic Center Lobby
• Jan. 15: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Cashion Academic Center Lobby
• Jan. 16: Noon-10 p.m., Cashion Academic Center Lobby
• Jan. 17: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., North Village Community Center and Cashion Academic Center Lobby

Hours/locations beginning Tuesday, Jan. 18:

• North Village Community Center Testing Location (Students and Employees)
  • Monday-Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Lobby of Cashion Academic Center (Students and Employees)
  • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Clifton Robinson Tower, 5th Floor (Employees)
  • Wednesday & Friday, 9 a.m. to noon
• Piper Child Development Center (Employees)
  • Wednesday & Friday, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Washington Tower, 811 Washington Ave., Room 170 (Employees)
  • Wednesday & Friday, 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Please check the testing website for updated locations/hours of operation.

Remote Work Exemption to Testing - If you are working 100% remote for the Spring 2022 semester, you are exempt from the twice-weekly testing requirement. To be exempt from the testing requirement, please notify us of your remote work status through the Confidential Employee Medical Record Form.

Recent COVID-19 Diagnosis Exemption to Testing - Under the Biden Administration's OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) guidelines, an employee who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days is exempt from the testing requirement. The only allowable exemptions to required testing are vaccination, 100% remote work or a positive COVID-19 test within the past 90 days. Employees must notify Baylor of any COVID-19 positive test by emailing their HR Consultant or submitting their COVID-19 positive test results through the Confidential Employee Medical Record Form.

For questions about these requirements, the Baylor Call Center is available at 888-283-2158 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. We encourage you to explore the many Frequently Asked Questions that have been developed. You can also email coronavirus@baylor.edu.