Coronavirus Advisory
December 18, 2022
With the lifting of Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 emergency orders and state of emergency mandate, beginning January 1, 2023 COVID-19 vaccinations and attestations will no longer be required to take onsite classes at CityU in Washington.
Students enrolled in programs that are co-located on other college campuses, or who are in offsite internships/practicums, where vaccination and/or masking are required will continue to meet those location/program specific requirements. Proof of vaccination will continue to be required for students living in the Cornish Commons Residence Hall.
A critical priority for the University remains a safe and healthy learning environment. We encourage students to get vaccinated and receive boosters to reduce the chance of infection and serious illness. We continue to encourage social distancing, hand washing, and other safety measures to protect the health of our community and we support those who choose to wear masks.
FAQs
Students who attend classes in Washington state will need to attest to full-vaccination status or declare a vaccination exemption. Attestation Forms must be completed by prior to any attendance on campus. Students who require a medical or religious vaccination exemption will need to fill out the self-attestation form and declare an exemption. Those that declare an exemption will need to provide documentation. Please complete the Student Attestation Form. If you require a paper version of this form for complete, please email mycityusupport@cityu.edu to request a copy.
Attestation forms and exemption information is secure and limited disclosure regarding vaccination status is allowed, as long as the only serves the need to ensure that vaccination policies and face covering requirements are being followed. Vaccine information will be accessible to specific individuals in Human Resources (employees) and Student Affairs (students). Note that under FERPA, institutions must keep a log of persons who receive access to student vaccine records per 34 CFR 99.32.
Fully vaccinated for U.S. vaccines is receipt of two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and one dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. Other vaccines approved by the World Health Organization are also two doses.
The following vaccines have been recognized by the World Health Organization https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/ and may be used to meet the requirement. If your vaccine is not on this list please complete the attestation form and provide the information requested. A staff member form the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs will be in contact with you regarding next steps.
If you will reach your fully vaccinated status prior to your initial class on campus, do not submit the Attestation Form until you reach status.
If you will not be fully vaccinated prior to your initial class on campus, please email mycityusupport@cityu.edu so that arrangements may be made to accommodate your initial class meetings.
Per the Governor’s second proclamation, the only exemptions permitted are medical or religious. If you do not meet the vaccination requirements you will be unable to attend in-person instruction in Washington State. Please contact your student advisor to discuss course options if you are unable to comply with the requirements.
Prior Updates
Due to high vaccination rates, as well as the dramatic decline in the number of hospitalizations and infections, the State of Washington announced it is lifting its indoor face covering mandate for schools and businesses. Likewise, we have decided to end our indoor masking requirement.
Starting Saturday, March 12, 2022, masks will be optional at CityU Washington campus locations. Offsite class locations (Edmonds Community College, Clark College, Renton Technical College), the residence hall at Cornish Commons, and student placement/internship sites may have different requirements in place. It is expected that staff, faculty and students abide by those site-specific standards.
Eliminating the mask mandate does not change the fact that CityU is a COVID vaccinated campus. We will continue to require students and faculty working on campus to provide proof of COVID vaccination. If students are provided with a religious or medical exemption, those unvaccinated students will still have to wear masks while on campus and may be asked to provide proof of a negative test if conditions warrant it.
Whether individuals continue to wear a face covering is a personal choice that must be respected. Please be supportive of and compassionate to one another as we each continue to navigate COVID and determine what is best or necessary for us individually. It is critical that we respect each other’s needs and choices and that we extend each other grace. There will be no mask shaming within the walls of our institution.
COVID-19 is not over, and we must all continue to be vigilant against new outbreaks or variants, including by getting boosted and remaining up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, staying home when sick, and getting tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed. If public health conditions worsen once more, we will reinstate an indoor mask requirement and/or other measures until the health situation improves again. As we have done in the past, we will continue to follow the science.
Students who attend classes in Washington state will need to attest to full-vaccination status or declare a vaccination exemption. Attestation Forms must be completed by October 18, 2021. Students who require a medical or religious vaccination exemption will need to fill out the self-attestation form and declare an exemption. Those that declare an exemption will need to provide documentation.
Please complete the Student Attestation Form. If you require a paper version of this form for complete, please email mycityusupport@cityu.edu to request a copy.
Attestation forms and exemption information is secure and limited disclosure regarding vaccination status is allowed, as long as the only serves the need to ensure that vaccination policies and face covering requirements are being followed. Vaccine information will be accessible to specific individuals in Human Resources (employees) and Student Affairs (students). Note that under FERPA, institutions must keep a log of persons who receive access to student vaccine records per 34 CFR 99.32.
Dear Faculty, Students, and Staff,
Now that we are into winter quarter, I want to update you about planning for spring quarter. As we have been since last spring (can you believe it’s almost a year!), we continue to pay close attention to guidelines from government and health officials about exactly when we can return to campus and what guidelines we must follow when we do. While certain areas are beginning to reopen more widely again, it is still unclear when a full return to campus for students and classes is likely. We believe it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff to plan to offer all courses normally schedule as in-class or mixed-mode via synchronous video throughout spring quarter as we have done for the last several quarters.
If more clear guidance suggests we are able to safely return to campus at some point in winter, we will announce a comprehensive plan to begin doing so. Until then, we will plan to continue our current delivery in the spring quarter.
We will continue to offer in-person or face-to-face classes for international students as needed. We are committed to supporting our international students in maintaining their studies, and as we are doing this winter, we will provide face-to-face instruction to maintain international students’ visa status. We have plans in place to be able to do so safely and ensure health and safety guidelines are followed.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work through these extraordinary times.
Thank you and stay well,
Scott Carnz, City University of Seattle Provost
Dear Faculty, Students, and Staff,
Now that fall quarter has started, I have begun to get questions about planning for winter quarter. As we have been since spring, we continue to pay close attention to guidelines from government and health officials about exactly when we can return to campus and what guidelines we must follow when we do. While certain areas are beginning to reopen more widely, it is still unclear when a full return to campus for students and classes is likely. We believe it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff to plan to offer all courses normally schedule as in-class or mixed-mode via synchronous video throughout winter quarter as we have done for the last several quarters.
If more clear guidance suggests we are able to safely return to campus at some point in winter, we will announce a comprehensive plan to begin doing so. Until then, please plan to continue our current delivery in the winter quarter. We will be offering in-person or face-to-face classes for international students, however. We are committed to supporting our international students in maintaining their studies, and as we are doing this fall, we will provide face-to-face instruction to maintain international students’ visa status. We have plans in place to be able to do so safely and ensure health and safety guidelines are followed.
Program Directors will continue to reach out to gather feedback about how this modality is going with an eye towards continuing to improve resources for faculty to be successful in this environment. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work through these extraordinary times.
Thank you and stay well,
Scott Carnz, City University of Seattle Provost
Dear Faculty, Students, and Staff,
I hope that everyone is staying well and safe during these difficult times. I know there is a great deal going on in the world and much uncertainty. I write today in hopes of providing at least one point of certainty about our fall quarter of instruction. We continue to pay close attention to guidelines from government and health officials about exactly when we can return to campus and what guidelines we must follow when we do. While certain areas are beginning to reopen, it is clear that a full return to campus for students and classes is not likely in the near future. We believe it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, and staff to plan to offer all courses normally schedule as in-class or mixed-mode via synchronous video (online) throughout the fall quarter as we have done for spring and summer quarter.
If more clear guidance suggests we are able to safely return to campus at some point in fall, we will announce a comprehensive plan to begin doing so. Until then, please plan for our current delivery in the fall quarter.
However, we will be offering in-person or face-to-face classes for international students. We are committed to supporting our international students in maintaining their studies, and despite recent positive news from Homeland Security if necessary, and allowed by the state and county, we will provide face-to-face instruction to maintain international students’ visa status. We have plans in place to be able to do so safely and ensure health and safety guidelines are followed.
Thank you and stay well,
Scott Carnz, City University of Seattle Provost
Paid Sick Leave & Expanded Family Medical Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
On March 18, 2020, the federal government enacted landmark legislation providing paid sick leave and additional FMLA protection in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation, which becomes effective April 1, 2020*, is intended to ease the economic impact of the global pandemic on employees.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) is intended to help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving businesses (with fewer than 500 employees) funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members.
In the link provided below, you will be directed to the Federal Poster that outlines who is an eligible employee and the available paid leave entitlements under the FFCRA. Emergency paid sick leave and paid family leave benefits will be available for employees to take beginning April 1, 2020*.
Dear Faculty, Students, and Staff,
City University of Seattle faculty have been preparing courses for the Spring Quarter these last two weeks. As you know, the Spring Quarter starts April 6, and face to face and hybrid courses will be delivered virtually through video conference through May 4, at least.
We know there is a possibility that we will need to provide remote learning for face to face and hybrid course for the entire quarter, and we are prepared to do so. CityU was among the first universities to embrace “online” teaching. We first started it in the 1990s; we got this, and we will help you get it, too.
With spring coming quickly, we are looking forward to providing students with a new experience, especially for those who previously only did courses only in person. If you have any questions about your courses, please talk to your advisor or faculty member. We are excited about what we have created for you, and we look forward to seeing you online on April 6th.
Thank you and stay healthy!
Randy Frisch
Dear Faculty, Students, and Staff,
We are closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and are doing our best to keep everyone safe. The situation is rapidly changing, but we know there are ways to decrease your risk of exposure, such as washing your hands for 20 seconds at least every hour and social distancing, which is keeping at least six feet away from others. As part of our effort to keep faculty, staff, and students safe, CityU’s Seattle campus staff will be working remotely until further notice. The building will not be open for students or the public. Our campuses in Everett and Tacoma will be open, but with a reduced staff. Please call ahead for an appointment with a faculty member or advisor.
We will continue you to provide updates to CityU’s main campus and our spring quarter as the situation continues and please visit the FAQ section below for more information.
Thank you, and please wash your hands hourly and practice social distancing! Let’s all stay healthy!
Randy Frisch
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
I want to update you on CityU’s response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Currently, no members of the CityU community have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The University has thorough emergency procedures, and will continue to do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our community. More information on our emergency procedures can be found at my.cityu.edu, under announcements. The University Epidemic/Pandemic plan is on SharePoint.
King County recommends that people who are at high risk, however, take additional precautions. You can get additional information from King County’s website.
It is important to emphasize that thus far the vast majority of people who have become ill with COVID-19 have experienced relatively mild symptoms, such as fever and cough. However, people who are at higher risk of illness should speak with their health provider about ways to lower their risk of infection. This includes people age 60 and older, those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease and lung disease, pregnancy and those who are immune-compromised. If you fall into one of these groups, or care for someone who does, please work with your advisor, manager and/or HR. Together you can determine leave options or other accommodations available to you.
As a reminder, we are following the precautionary measures from the WHO that are listed here. We will continue to assess the situation and update you as our recommendations change.
Sincerely,
President Randy Frisch