Good afternoon,
Starting this week, Highline College no longer requires students to attest they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 nor will they need to fill out an exemption request.
This email contains information about updated vaccine mandates and clarity on potential changes to the contact tracing process.
Please take the time to read the updated policies and procedures.
COVID-19 vaccinations:
Students who enroll for winter quarter 2023 will not be required to provide documentation of a completed vaccination series against COVID-19 before enrolling. This means that students and new employees are not required to fill out the immunization self-attestation form.
NOTE: Students who are in programs that require off-campus activities, such as clinical rotations at health care sites, must follow the vaccination and isolation requirements of the programs and facilities. Each program will advise students regarding program-specific requirements.
Exemptions: Exemption requests are no longer required for students who are not vaccinated. Current students taking online courses who did not complete the exemption forms are now allowed to visit campus.
We still believe that vaccinations are the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and recommend those who are able to get them do so while also staying up to date with boosters.
Contact Tracing:
All individuals who test positive for COVID-19 should still complete the COVID-19 reporting form.
The contact tracing team will be monitoring transmissions on campus for outbreaks (two or more cases in a single space) and notifying the campus of confirmed campus cases by updating the dashboard and sending an email. We will continue to monitor the Washington State Department of Health for guidance on contact tracing and will alert the campus if and when any changes to our current practices are made.
Public Health Leadership Team:
The Public Health Leadership Team will meet as needed under the guidance of the Office of the President with high attention being given to community COVID levels. The Office of the President has been tasked with monitoring compliance with L&I, the WA Department of Health, and the Governor’s Office to ensure the college is meeting all requirements.
COVID-19 Testing:
This Saturday, Nov. 5 is the last day UW Medicine will offer free COVID-19 testing on campus. Until then, testing is available from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The testing site is located in the S-1 parking lot, better known as the staff/employee parking lot adjacent to building 1 and the “horseshoe” bus stop area. Highline College will continue to make every effort to host this site again should the community need arise again in the future. At home tests are still available.
Send in questions or concerns:
The college has set up an email address to take your questions and concerns about COVID-19 and how it affects campus. Send your questions to: covid19response@highline.edu. More information can be located in the 2022-23 COVID-19 Response Plan.
Warm regards,
Joint Information Center