California and the nation have entered a transitional phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, with cases declining and vaccination rates increasing. UC Merced will be returning to primarily in-person instruction this fall, and more employees will begin returning to the workplace in July.
With the intention to keep campus communities healthier and safer as we return for the fall 2021 semester, the University of California will require COVID-19 vaccinations. The policy will be effective as of July 15.
To give our campus community the maximum time to meet this requirement, we are sharing this early advisory notice.
- All faculty, staff and students who will be physically present at any university location for the fall semester must be fully vaccinated at least two weeks before their return for the fall term. Aug. 4 is the expected deadline for compliance at UC Merced.
- UC Merced’s Student Health Center offers vaccine clinics every week for students, faculty and staff. You can call (209) 228-2273 for more information or to schedule an appointment. You can find other vaccination locations here .
- New and returning students must upload proof of vaccination to UC Merced here . Those who are already vaccinated should enter their information as soon as possible. A similar site for faculty and staff will be operational before the end of June and we will share that address with campus.
- This policy will permit a narrow range of exemptions. We expect that these will be similar to exemption policies long in place at UC Merced.
- Those who have an approved exemption will be required to wear face coverings in all campus settings, follow other mitigation measures, and submit to regular COVID-19 testing. Employees on campus who are not vaccinated and do not have an approved exemption may be subject to disciplinary action.
The Office of the President will release more detailed guidelines, a Q&A and a toolkit for campuses and managers in mid-July, and UC Merced will share all these resources as soon as they become available.
We have come through a long, tiring, and for many, tragic period in our history, and have relied even more on one another to maintain our strength and purpose. Keeping our community safer and healthier remains our foremost goal in planning for fall, and widespread vaccination is yet another way to demonstrate our commitment to one another and to a successful return to campus.
