Dear Faculty and Staff,
With the start of the fall term around the corner, and COVID-19 still prevalent, I want to bring you up to date on Mercy’s safety policies.
Vaccine Requirement for COVID-19
The College will continue to require faculty and staff, and students who plan to attend classes in-person at any of Mercy’s campuses, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to submit proof of vaccination at the time of first registration or hire.
- The Novavax vaccine has been added to the list of permitted vaccines.
- Employees may seek a medical or religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine by contacting the Office of Human Resources at HR@mercy.edu.
The College’s full COVID-19 vaccination policy can be found here.
Booster Requirement for COVID-19
- All Mercy College employees are required to submit proof of the COVID-19 booster.
- All Mercy College students who reside in on-campus housing, participate in Mercy College athletics or are in clinical or experiential programs are required to submit proof of the COVID-19 booster.
Masking
Face masks are not required in Mercy College facilities, except in the following circumstances:
- Faculty, staff, students, contractors and vendors who have an approved exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster are required to wear masks while indoors at all time, except in private offices.
- Faculty, staff and students in certain programs, such as in the health sciences, may be required to wear face masks at the discretion of the program and faculty.
- Masks are expected to be worn by individuals who were recently exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 and are subject to quarantine or isolation requirements.
- Masks are also required in the Mercy College Health Office.
All members of the campus community are expected to respect individual decisions to continue wearing a mask.
Visitor Policy
Currently there are no restrictions for individuals who are invited to campus to enter College facilities, except in the following circumstances:
- Guests visiting the residential halls are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
- Overnight guests to the residential halls are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster, if eligible.
- Mercy College alumni who regularly use College facilities such as the fitness center and libraries, must show proof of vaccination and booster, if eligible. Those individuals should contact the Office of Alumni Relations for more information.
Campus Events
Currently, there are no COVID-related restrictions in place for on campus events, gatherings and meetings for Mercy and non-Mercy related purposes. However, the College will be monitoring for any trends and uptick in COVID cases and shall amend this policy if needed.
The College’s full policy on visitors, face masks and facilities use can be found here.
Employees are encouraged to review the updated “COVID-19 Employee Guide and Policies for Maintaining a Safe Workplace” here. Any employee who tests positive for COVID-19 must contact their supervisor and the Mercy College Health Office.
All members of the Mercy College community are asked to monitor their health and symptoms, and not come to campus if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Additional answers to frequently asked questions can be found on Mercy’s website. Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to ensure the Mercy community remains safe.
Sincerely,
Annette Piecora, SPHR
Director of Human Resources