With a majority of Vanderbilt faculty and staff now vaccinated against COVID-19, work and business units are gradually bringing staff back to campus.
“It’s great to see more of our staff back in person again around campus,” said Cleo Rucker, associate vice chancellor and chief human resources officer. “Staff play an integral role in ensuring that our campus continues its educational and research mission. I look forward to engaging with staff around campus during the coming months.”
Pam Morgan, a librarian for medicine, health and society, public policy studies and sociology, began regularly returning to campus on June 7. Her first day back included helping give a library tour and introduction to a group of Vanderbilt student-athletes as a part of their orientation.
“It was so nice to come back to campus,” Morgan said. “I was looking forward to seeing colleagues in person again, plus being on campus and in my office—a real change from my house and home office.”
She is also excited about students returning to campus in the coming months.
“I am looking forward to the excitement and liveliness of the new school year. Students bring a particular energy to campus, and it’s not really the same without them,” Morgan said.
Dates for staff to return to campus will be managed at the local level. Staff with questions about returning to campus should consult with their manager or their Human Resources consultant.
Staff must follow the university’s health and safety protocols.
- Unvaccinated staff must continue to wear a mask and always maintain physical distancing from others when indoors—and when outdoors if physical distancing cannot be maintained.
- Vaccinated staff returning to campus, which are individuals two weeks past their second dose in a two-dose vaccine or two weeks past their single dose of Johnson & Johnson, no longer need to wear a face mask or covering in any setting on campus, indoors or outdoors, or maintain physical distancing from other fully vaccinated people.
The deadline for staff to submit a COVID-19 vaccination record is July 31. Medical and religious exemptions can be requested through the Equal Opportunity and Access office.
A university working group is developing a remote and hybrid work policy for positions that are eligible based on business needs. The policy will be accompanied by a managers’ guide and will be released in July.