University students who plan to participate in any on-campus or University System-sponsored experience must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as defined below in this guidance, or obtain a University System-approved exemption.  Booster shots are strongly encouraged for all students as a way to prevent severe cases of COVID-19.

How to Submit Proof of Vaccination or Request an Exemption:

Students are required to submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations or request an exemption by August 31, 2022.

New Students – Complete your ‘COVID Vaccine/Exemption Docs’ found in the Student Center main page under ‘To Do List’.  For assistance or questions, please contact your academic advisor.

Returning Students – To upload proof of your vaccination series or submit an exemption request, please refer to the UMS COVID-19 Portal (External Site).

Important:

• We recommend that students receive COVID-19 booster doses.
• All students are strongly encouraged to upload all COVID-19 vaccination doses, including boosters, in case the University System shifts to requiring boosters in responses to the evolving pandemic.
• Student participation in certain programs may require COVID-19 boosters. Program leaders will communicate these requirements to students.
• Individuals will be required to quarantine for at least 5 days IF:
  • They are deemed a close contact to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, and
  • They are not current with their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

Reference: CDC Quarantine Guidelines (External Site)

Where Can I Get a COVID-19 Vaccine or Booster?

You can locate vaccine sites near you in a variety of ways:

1. Access vaccines.gov. You will need your 5-digit zip code to search.
2. Text your zip code to 438829.
3. Call 1-800-232-0233
4. Look up sites in Maine – Maine Vaccine Site Search
5. Contact your healthcare provider
6. Each University/Law School of the University of Maine System also has, is or will be offering vaccination or booster clinics or otherwise facilitating access to the vaccines and boosters. Please check with your campus for specific information.

Definitions:

1. Fully Vaccinated: This is defined as completing the primary vaccine series doses in a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or completing a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
2. Medical Exemption: Fill out the downloadable UMS form provided in the UMS COVID-19 Portal (External Site), including a signature from a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant that, in the provider’s professional judgment, immunization may be medically inadvisable.
3. Religious Exemption: : Fill out the downloadable UMS form provided in the UMS COVID-19 Portal (External Site), including a physical signature from the student, or guardian if the student is a minor, that the student’s sincerely held religious beliefs are contrary to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.
4. Remote Learning Only Exemption: Fill out the downloadable UMS form provided in the UMS COVID-19 Portal (External Site), including a physical signature from the student or guardian, indicating that the student will only enroll in remote learning courses that involve no participation in an on-campus experience at any University location. Because not all courses are available in an online modality, students who choose this option understand, agree and accept that this may limit their educational options and that, depending on degree program or course of study, it may not be possible to complete a course of study through remote learning only. This form must be completed with each applicable semester.

Compliance:

• Students participating in any on-campus or University sponsored in-person experience will be required to verify their ongoing compliance with the UMS COVID-19 vaccination protocols through the designated University platform; UMS COVID-19 Portal (External Site).
• Student Conduct Code violations should be addressed consistent with the current Code. In general, refusal to engage in COVID-19 vaccination protocols, or other requirements may be resolved through a transition to remote learning and absence from campus without the need to resort to the Code. However, certain extenuating circumstances may require a case-by-case approach. The Office of General Counsel and each campus’ Office of Student Affairs are available to assist with such case-by-case review. Anyone who is concerned about a violation of the pandemic protocol requirements may report that concern by calling 207-581-2681 or emailing umaine.alerts@maine.edu.

• Students in a higher risk category, or with severe illness or underlying health conditions or other applicable circumstances who may need disability accommodations in connection with this protocol should contact the disability or accessibility services office on their campus.

Face Covering Requirements:

In general, face coverings are optional and welcomed across the University of Maine System, indoors and outdoors for all persons regardless of vaccination status.  There are many important exceptions, including in classrooms, when face coverings will or may continue to be required.  Those exceptions and many other details of this update are described below.

Note: The U.S. CDC recommends wearing face coverings in indoor public settings in areas where there is substantial transmission of COVID-19. To see which counties in Maine face coverings are recommended, consult this map from U.S. CDC.

Face coverings continue to be welcomed when individuals choose to wear them as a matter of personal choice. There may be certain exceptions related to security-sensitive circumstances or other matters when face coverings must be removed but, in general, the wearing of face coverings may not be prohibited.

• Exceptions to the optional face covering protocol:
  • Face coverings continue to be required in all classrooms, research spaces and instructional circumstances unless the requirement is waived by the relevant faculty member.
  • Face coverings continue to be required when a person or persons are visiting an individual office space unless the primary occupant of the space or host of the meeting waives the requirement.
  • Face coverings continue to be required when recommended by the U.S. CDC in connection with exposure to or during recovery from a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.
  • Face coverings may continue to be required at any indoor university events open to the public (i.e., events open to individuals beyond students, staff and faculty) as follows:
    • For indoor events of more than 75 persons, face coverings are required unless proof of vaccination or a negative test is required as a condition of entrance, in which case face coverings can be optional as determined by the organizing authority. (Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test already is required at indoor University events of more than 250 persons, meaning face coverings can be optional at such events as determined by the organizing authority.)
    • For indoor events of 75 or fewer persons, face coverings are optional.
  • Face coverings may continue to be required by organizers of specific events or activities indoors or outdoors as determined by the organizing authority. Individuals should be prepared to wear a face covering if requested to do so.
  • Face coverings continue to be required in spaces where health care is provided unless the circumstances are such that relevant health care authority which occupies and controls the space waives the requirement.

• Face coverings continue to be required in any circumstance necessary to meet the requirements of a civil authority or other relevant regulatory body with jurisdiction over the University or the activity (for example, transportation circumstances when face coverings may be required by federal or civil authorities).

• These requirements may be revised as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, as public health best practices change or emerge, and based on current federal and state laws.
• When or if face coverings are required to be worn as described above, they are to be of the type recommended by public health officials such as the U.S. or Maine CDC. Regardless of material or style they are to cover the nose, mouth and chin and be well-secured without gaps or openings. For more information about styles and types of face coverings which meet the University of Maine System’s (UMS) requirement (and those which do not), please reference the UMS Face Covering Guide found below.

• In general, current public health guidance (External Site)  supports the use of devices such as a KN95 in addition to, or in place of, a face covering or a surgical face covering alone or in combination with a face covering. These practices are welcome at the university in accordance with public health guidance.
• The University’s minimum requirement if or when a face covering is required remains a multi-layer appropriate material face covering as described in the face covering guide, below.

Students in a higher risk category, or with severe illness or underlying health conditions or other applicable circumstances who may need disability accommodations in connection with this protocol should contact the disability or accessibility services office on their campus.

Employees in a higher risk category, or with severe illness or underlying health conditions or other applicable circumstances who may need disability accommodations in connection with this protocol should contact the University of Maine System Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator at:

Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator
Address: 101 North Stevens Hall
University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754
Phone: 207-581-1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System)
Email: adacoordinator@maine.edu

The University’s face covering requirements are subject as applicable to the UMS employee progressive discipline policy, the UMS Student Code of Conduct (Board of Trustee Policy 501) and the respective associated disciplinary practices and provisions. These procedures also apply to anyone submitting false or fraudulent vaccination verification information.

Unless specifically authorized by the University to do so, students and employees, including faculty, may not conduct student conduct code or employee disciplinary policy-related face covering enforcement activities. Any member of a UMS university community concerned about a violation of the face covering requirements may report that concern by calling 207- 581-2681 or by selecting your campus using this online reporting tool (External Site).

The University asks everyone to aim for not mere technical compliance with the face covering requirement if confronted with one, but rather to meet the spirit and intention of the face covering requirement when wearing your own face covering.

Note that this and all University guidance on COVID-19 is subject to change in accordance with the evolving circumstances of COVID-19.

Reference:

• United States Centers for Disease Control Guide for Face Coverings (External Site)
• The United States Center for Disease Control – Mask Effectiveness (External Site)
• For more information about the protocols for ‘voluntary use’ under the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard of such equipment, please review the video University of Maine System Protocols for Voluntary Use of Filtering Facepieces (External Site).
• To request a medical and other accommodations as required by law, contact
  adacoordinator@maine.edu.