ALERT: Continued Utility/Power Failure on Campus

March 26, 2023 - 9:17 AM

There continues to be utility/power failure for some areas of Meadville and Allegheny College. Penelec has been notified and are working to address the problem, but we have no clear timeline for restoration of services. We are working with students in the affected residences to ensure they have access to food, showers, and wifi in other areas of campus. Phone service, including cell service, on campus is unreliable due to the power outage. Students, faculty and staff should monitor e-mail, the college web site, social and local media for updated information and further updates. Contact Campus Safety in the event of an emergency: publicsafety@allegheny.edu or 814-332-3357.

More information on Emergency website

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

This Page Updated December 27, 2021


Allegheny College requires all students accessing or living on campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Beginning on January 10, 2022, all faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Individuals who have previously tested positive should still be vaccinated unless they are currently ill. Requirements are subject to change as we follow the CDC’s recommendations.

Allegheny College’s definition of fully vaccinated is:

  • Two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine within the last six months
  • Two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine more than six months ago PLUS a Pfizer or Moderna booster
  • One dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine PLUS a Pfizer or Moderna booster

Contents

Jump to Sections Below


Benefits of being fully vaccinated with COVID-19 immunization include:

  • Protection against the COVID-19 virus (vaccines are very effective but do not provide 100% immunity)
  • Significantly reduced asymptomatic surveillance testing
  • Exemption from quarantine after known exposure to COVID-19 if without symptoms
  • Travel without quarantining upon return

Fully vaccinated people should continue to:

  • Follow Allegheny College’s Gator Pledge
  • Wear a mask and physically distance yourself while in public spaces
  • Practice good hand hygiene

Information for Students

All students who are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot are required to do so by January 17, 2022. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has strengthened its recommendation regarding booster doses, and the emergence of the Omicron variant has further emphasized the importance of getting the booster.

If you are not yet due for your booster, please wait until six months after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to obtain your booster.

Students need to complete the recommended number of doses of vaccine and be fully vaccinated before joining the campus community. Students are required to provide COVID-19 immunization records to the Allegheny College Health Agency (ACHA). Please upload records here.

Summer & Fall 2021:
Students living on and/or accessing campus during summer 2021 are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination to ACHA by July 1, 2021. Students coming to campus for fall 2021 should complete the full COVID-19 vaccination series at least two weeks before coming to campus for the fall semester. Any students needing assistance in obtaining the vaccine should contact ACHA for support.

Spring 2022:

In light of the continuing devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Allegheny College will continue to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for students. Students coming to campus for spring 2022 should complete the full COVID-19 vaccination series at least two weeks before coming to campus for the spring semester. Any students needing assistance in obtaining the vaccine should contact ACHA for support.

For the Spring 2022 academic semester, Allegheny College will allow two types of exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine, if approved by the review committee:

  • Medical exemption
  • Non-medical exemption

Please see the College’s exemption policy below. Note that students who have not been immunized may be excluded from class and residence halls if an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease occurs on campus.

Allegheny College currently requires enrolled students to be immunized for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. We strongly recommend students also receive meningitis vaccines.

Students who do not provide documentation of immunization or immunization waiver will face conduct review.

Information for Employees

Beginning on January 10, 2022, Allegheny College will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all employees. In addition, employees who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster must do so by January 10, 2022, to maintain their status as a vaccinated community member. If you are not yet due for your booster, please wait until six months after the second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to obtain your booster.


Faculty and staff may provide immunization records by uploading them here.

Those employees who would like to apply for a medical or non-medical exemption from the College’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement may do so by submitting their request to Human Resources by January 10.

  • Medical exemptions will be considered only for documented medical contraindications to the vaccine that are verified by a currently licensed medical professional.
  • Non-medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Some College activity will be restricted to vaccinated employees only. Faculty and staff may contact ACHA for assistance in obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine or booster.

Exemption

The COVID-19 immunization requirement is in place to protect the health and safety of our community. Therefore, very few exemptions will be allowed. Exemptions must be applied for on the appropriate College form and approved by ACHA. There is no appeal process. First-year, transfer, domestic exchange, and international exchange students will not be permitted to move into residence halls and/or participate in classes without the required documentation of immunizations.

Note that students who have not been immunized may be excluded from class and residence halls if an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease occurs on campus.

For the Spring 2022 academic semester, Allegheny College will allow two types of exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine, if approved by the review committee:

  • Medical exemption
  • Non-medical exemption

Students who requested and were granted an exemption for fall semester 2021 MUST resubmit a request by the deadline in order to be considered for the exemption for spring 2022. Exemptions granted for fall semester 2021 will not carry over automatically to spring 2022.

Spring 2022 Vaccination Exemption Policy — Students and Employees

Employee COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption Request Form

Employee Exemption Request

Employees: Please submit exemption requests to Human Resources via email at hr@allegheny.edu by January 10, 2022.

Student COVID-19 Vaccine Exemption Request Form

Student Exemption Request

Students: Please submit exemption requests to ACHA via email at healthagency@allegheny.edu by 5 p.m. on December 13, 2021.


Please submit all student exemption requests to ACHA by 5 p.m. on December 13, 2021. Late requests will not be considered.

Please submit all employee exemption requests to Human Resources by January 10, 2022. Late requests will not be considered.

Medical exemptions will be considered only for documented medical contraindications to the vaccine that are verified by a currently licensed medical professional.

Non-medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which COVID-19 vaccines will Allegheny College accept?

Allegheny College accepts all domestic and international COVID-19 immunizations.

I am coming from a location where the COVID-19 vaccine is not available, but I am willing to get vaccinated when I arrive on campus. What do I do?

There are few places in the world that do not have the COVID-19 vaccine available. Get in touch with ACHA early if you cannot find a viable location. Please note that unvaccinated students will have to quarantine upon arrival on campus for at least seven days.

Will the College offer the vaccine to students, faculty, and staff members?

The College is collaborating with Meadville Medical Center to provide the Pfizer vaccine to all students age 16 and up. You can sign up here. You can also find a location close to you at vaccines.gov.

Do students need to bring a photocopy of their ID to vaccine clinics?

Yes, they need to bring a photocopy of their photo ID.

If students don’t have a Pennsylvania driver’s license, what kind of ID can they use?

Any ID with a student’s name and photo will work. This includes a passport, out-of-state license, or even a library card.

Do I need to continue to follow the College’s testing protocols once I’m vaccinated?

Allegheny College students, faculty, and staff on campus are required to continue following the College’s COVID-19 testing policies even if they have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Will I need to continue wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing once I have been vaccinated?

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is only one tool—albeit a very important one—in the fight against COVID-19. Even if you have been vaccinated, you should continue to wear a mask on campus and wash your hands regularly to help keep yourself and your community safe and healthy.