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As always, our highest priority is protecting the health of our students, faculty and staff. The best way we can achieve that is for everyone in our community to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Vaccination is simply the most effective protection against COVID-19. Even with the Delta variant, vaccination helps prevent the onset of severe illness, hospitalization and death, and stop the spread of the virus. By getting vaccinated, you will not only be providing a crucial safeguard for yourself, but you will be contributing to the wellness of everyone else. Vaccines are free and available on the Atlanta Campus.
What You Need to Know
President Joe Biden issued an executive order in September requiring federal contractors, including federal contractors within the University System of Georgia, to comply with COVID-19 guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.
Under this guidance, federal contractors must ensure that all employees covered under the executive order (“covered employees”), including those working remotely, are fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022.
Georgia State does work on federal contracts and is subject to the provisions of this order.
Additional information will be forthcoming regarding these requirements, but please be aware that the federal government has defined covered employees and covered contractor workplaces broadly.
The Office of the Dean of Students will provide verification for all professors at the request of students when seeking excused absences for documented medical/health-related and other emergency circumstances. Absence policies and all decisions regarding excused absences and coursework-related matters are made by the individual professors. The role of the Office of the Dean of Students is to review the submissions and notify professors that we have verified that documentation was submitted.
USG Vaccine Day Administrative Leave
To encourage unvaccinated USG employees to schedule their COVID-19 vaccine appointments and to thank those who are already vaccinated, the USG will provide employees, including temporary faculty and staff, with up to eight hours of administrative time off.
COVID-19-Specific Leave
COVID-19-specific leave for isolation and quarantine is no longer available.
- Employees who must isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 illness or exposure may telework during this time with the approval of their supervisor. The nature of their position influences whether an employee is able to telework since some positions are not able to be performed remotely.
- Any change in the modality for a class requires the approval of the Provost’s office. Change in modality is subject to an end date and is correlated to isolation or quarantine timelines.
- Department chairs will make arrangements for class coverage when faculty are unable to teach due to illness.
- Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to quarantine.
- When telework is not possible, employees who must isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 must use their accumulated leave to be away from work.
Non-Closure Emergency Leave for Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine
Employees may continue to use COVID-19 Vaccine leave in order to receive the vaccine and if they experience side effects from receiving the vaccine. The availability of COVID-19 Vaccine leave has been extended to Nov. 27, 2021, in accordance with the State of Emergency for Continued COVID-19 Economic Recovery declared in the Governor’s Executive Order No. 06.30.21.01. We encourage employees who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine to do so and to use this leave while it is available. An employee may take up to eight (8) hours of Non-Closure Emergency Leave for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, an employee may also take up to sixteen (16) hours of Non-Closure Emergency Leave if he or she receives a COVID-19 vaccine and experiences severe negative side effects that prohibit the performance of their duties of employment.
Employees
Alternate Work Arrangements or accommodations granted to employees for fall 2020 or spring 2021 due to increased risk for severe illness with COVID-19 ended June 30.
Students
Alternate Educational Arrangement or accommodations granted to students for fall 2020 or spring 2021 due to increased risk for severe illness with COVID-19 ended June 30.
Department heads or their designees have the authority to establish teleworking arrangements. Telework should not be considered an employee right or entitlement. Telework requests and designations are based upon management discretion and in accordance with the determination of what best serves the university and its students.
Georgia State will continue to provide vaccine availability for faculty, staff and students. You can schedule a vaccine here. Beginning Aug. 16, the vaccination site on the Atlanta Campus will move from Dahlberg Hall to the first floor of 55 Park Place, with parking available in the T Deck.
Getting your COVID-19 vaccine at Georgia State means you can receive an e-gift card for $50, good for redemption at any of a number of retailers of your choice, for each dose you receive.
When receiving your shot, simply scan your PantherCard to receive an email with your unique Giftogram code. Visit Giftogram.com/redeem to enter the code and redeem your gift amount.
From there, you can select which retailers you’d like to shop. At checkout, enter your Panther email and first and last names. Once your order is complete, your e-gift card(s) will be available from the checkout screen and emailed to the address provided.
Students, faculty and staff are eligible for a $50 e-gift card with each vaccine dose they receive. Click here for full terms and conditions.
Students, faculty and staff who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease and show no symptoms.
In accordance with University System of Georgia guidance, campus events and gatherings will resume as normal for fall.
Georgia State personnel may travel domestically as needed while continuing to follow appropriate safety protocols.
International travel remains heavily restricted by many foreign governments, and there are COVID-19 testing requirements for entry into the United States. State Department travel information can be found at:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go.html.
Faculty who wish to travel internationally for conferences or research should follow Georgia State travel request processes and confirm country entry requirements and those set by the airline. Faculty planning travel to level 3 or 4 travel advisory countries will be prompted to obtain approval from their chair and dean after submitting a travel request in Panthermart.
Students who wish to travel internationally for study abroad or exchange programs should follow the guidance of the Office of International Initiatives. International students planning to travel should follow the guidance of International Student and Scholar Services.
Georgia State will follow COVID-19 guidelines of the Sun Belt Conference.
Social Distancing
Fully vaccinated individuals can resume campus classes, work and other activities without physically distancing. Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to continue socially distancing from others when possible.