The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. In response, Linfield’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Team recommended the university follow federal guidelines and end the requirement that students, faculty and staff be vaccinated on May 12. However, due to the requirements from clinical partners, School of Nursing students and faculty must provide proof of vaccination documentation in order to participate in clinical rotations and courses.
Linfield still strongly encourages all of its community members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and stay up to date with boosters.
Linfield University students, employees, volunteers, and campus-housed contracted vendors, must comply with the requirements of any off campus site in which each would be engaged in Linfield-related education or business activities. This would include, but not be limited, to the following;
- Education students, staff and faculty must comply with school district or state requirements of the experiential or student teaching site.
- Site requirements for admission staff visits to other campuses for Linfield business.
- School of Nursing students, staff and faculty participating in clinical rotations and courses.
- Athletes, athletic trainers, coaches and staff that must be perform or participate representing Linfield University, at sites that have such requirements.
Please note: If site requirements include proof of vaccination and it cannot be provided to the site that is requiring it causing the participant to be unable to fulfill the program or employment duties, this may result in removal from the program or termination of employment.
International students are still required to show proof of vaccination according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security and State Department guidance, outside of Linfield’s policy.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases remains a high priority at Linfield. Though the university is transitioning away from an emergency phase, the health of students, faculty and staff remains central. We will continue to promote best-practice health protocols, and encourage those who are sick to stay home and recover.
There may or may not be other impacts to university policy and practices around this change. Additional information about Linfield’s current COVID-19 vaccination policy (in place until May 12) is available at linfield.edu/covid-vaccine and will be shared with the community via Linfield Ahead.
