Widener University Student Immunization and Tuberculosis Testing Policy
Purpose:
Widener University strives to maintain a healthy environment in and out of the classroom. The university follows the American College Health Association (ACHA), the Pennsylvania State Mandatory Vaccination Code, the Advisory College of Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the CDC’s recommendations for immunization compliance guidelines. Widener University has adopted this policy to safeguard the health and well-being of its community from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Policy:
Widener University requires immunizations and tuberculosis blood test for the indicated groups of students below. Additionally, specific programs may distribute specific requirements, directions, and deadlines for clinical and/or education placements. Failure to comply with health requirements may prohibit completion of the program.
Requirements:
Exemption/Accommodation Requests:
Exemptions and/or accommodations from the COVID-19 vaccine and/or Meningitis vaccine requirement and/or M.M.R. (DE Campus) will be considered for medical, philosophical, or sincerely-held religious beliefs. The university also considers medical exemptions/accommodations for Tdap, M.M.R., Varicella and/or Hepatitis B. Please call (610-499-1183) or email Student Health Services (studenthealth@widener.edu) to request specific immunization exemption form(s).
The university will engage in a process to determine if an exemption/accommodation can be provided as long as it does not create an undue hardship for the university and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others on campus and/or to the student.
Please note for any student seeking a degree that may include clinical, field, or educational placements.
All students must understand and acknowledge that the degree they are seeking may include clinical, field or educational placements, and that the University has no control over the policies, rules and regulations of such clinical, field or educational sites. Each clinical, field or educational site may require specific immunization, TB testing, health assessments or other requirements, regardless of a student’s reason and request for an exemption. A student’s failure or refusal to comply with the policies, rules and regulations of clinical, field and/or educational placements will prevent the completion of their chosen University educational program. Therefore, all students must understand and acknowledge that there can be no assurance, and the University cannot guarantee, that they will be able to complete their degree requirements if they have not received required vaccinations, testing or health assessments and/or complied with any other requirements mandated by such clinical, field or educational site.
Medical Exemption/Accommodation Requests:
The university is committed to an academic environment that is free from unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation. As such, the university is committed to complying with all laws protecting students with disabilities or medical conditions. When requested, the university will provide an exemption/reasonable accommodation for any known medical condition or disability of a qualified individual which prevents the student from receiving a vaccine required by this policy, provided the requested accommodation is reasonable and does not create an undue hardship for the university and/or pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others on campus and/or to the requesting student.
Medical exemptions/accommodations will be considered if the student provides a completed COVID-19 Waiver Form, completed Meningococcal Disease Waiver Form and/or Tdap, M.M.R., Varicella and Hepatitis B Waiver Form along with written documentation from a licensed treating medical provider [a physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA)] stating that the student may not receive the vaccination. The statement must include the physical condition of the student or medical circumstances relating to the student such that immunization is not considered safe, indicating the specific nature of the medical condition or circumstances that contraindicate immunization with the vaccine at issue.
Religious or Philosophical Exemption/Accommodation Requests (COVID-19 for all students, Meningitis Vaccine for Chester or Harrisburg Students and MMR Vaccine for Delaware students):
The university is committed to an academic environment that is free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. As such, the university is committed to complying with all laws protecting students’ religious beliefs and practices. When requested, the university will provide an exemption/accommodation for a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, and observances or philosophical beliefs which prohibit the student from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and/or the Meningitis vaccine and/or the MMR vaccine, provided the requested accommodation or exemption is reasonable and does not create an undue hardship for the university and/or pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others on campus and/or to the requesting student.
A religious exemption/accommodation will be considered if the student has notified the university of a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance that prevents the student from getting a COVID-19 and/or Meningitis vaccine and/or MMR vaccine. However, if the student requests a religious accommodation, and the university is aware of facts that provide an objective basis for questioning either the religious nature or the sincerity of a particular belief, practice or observance, the university may request additional supporting information in support of the student’s request.
To obtain either a religious or philosophical exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine and/or Meningitis vaccine and/or MMR vaccine, a student must submit a completed COVID-19 Waiver Form and/or Meningococcal Disease Waiver Form and/or MMR Disease Waiver Form describing the student’s sincerely held religious beliefs, practice or observances or philosophical beliefs and why those beliefs, practices or observances prohibit the COVID-19 and/or Meningitis and/or MMR vaccination.
___________________________________________
Exemption/Accommodation Request is Approved:
Students with an exemption/accommodation from a vaccine required by this policy may be subject to reasonable measures to promote the health and safety of the Widener community.
___________________________________________
Exemption/Accommodation Request is Not Approved:
If a student’s exemption/accommodation request is not approved, the student must be fully vaccinated and vaccination documentation must be submitted to the university.
___________________________________________
Non-Compliance with Policy:
Students who fail to submit an exemption/accommodation request(s) and/or who are not eligible for an exemption/accommodation and who do not plan to become fully vaccinated will not be permitted on campus. If you do not comply with Widener’s immunization requirements, a registration hold will be applied to your account, restricting you from all future enrollment activities.
