Dear Kent State University Student,
Welcome to Kent State and to our Golden Flashes family!
Part of being a Flash means learning and understanding the core values that are behind every decision we make for the university. We say Flashes Take Care of Flashes often, and that’s a true reflection of how everyone – students, faculty and staff – operates on our campuses. We take care of each other and always look out for each other.
At no greater time have we seen our Flashes Take Care of Flashes spirit in action than in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We know that it takes everyone working together to keep this deadly virus at bay and our campus community healthy and safe.
That’s why we have a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all students, faculty and staff.
We have options for you to get compliant with the COVID-19 vaccine requirement. You can meet this requirement in two ways: Get vaccinated and report your status to the university or receive an exemption from vaccination.
- If you are already vaccinated, simply upload your vaccine information here.
- If you desire an exemption, here you will find the necessary forms to fill out to make that request. Exemptions are considered for three reasons: medical, religious or personal conscience. Keep in mind that if you receive an exemption, you will be required to submit to COVID-19 virus testing once a week. You also must test weekly until your exemption is approved.
- If you aren’t yet vaccinated, getting a vaccine is easy. You can find a shot at many locations near all our eight campuses.
You have 30 days from receipt of this notification in which to begin the vaccination/exemption process. By March 1, 2022, you must either have received your first vaccination dose or requested your exemption. By March 31, 2022, an additional 30 days later, you must have finished your vaccination process and reported your vaccine or received your exemption and started your testing protocol.
We urge you to become compliant by March 31. Failure to comply with the university requirement to be vaccinated or receive an exemption and test regularly, will result in a registration hold being placed on your record.
Until you are compliant, you must get tested for COVID-19 weekly.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days, you do not need to take this weekly test. You will be exempted from the weekly testing during that 90 day period, but you must submit proof of your positive COVID-19 diagnosis here. After the 90 days are over, you must test weekly.
There are two ways you can comply with this testing requirement.
- You may perform an at-home test and submit your results here: My COVID-19 Dashboard - Kent State University. This test does not have to be proctored. Test kits are available free on our regional campuses at these locations. You may order free, at-home tests from the federal government here, or you may purchase test kits at a pharmacy, the cost of which may be reimbursed through your medical insurance carrier.
- If it is more convenient, you may stop by and get tested at one of the Visit Healthcare locations on the Kent Campus. For the week of Jan. 31, only the Eastway Lounge site is open, offering testing between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expanded morning hours are available on Thursdays beginning at 7:30 a.m. When you get your test results, you will need to submit them here: My COVID-19 Dashboard - Kent State University.
We remind you that failure to comply with this required testing may result in a referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation as we strive to keep everyone on our campuses healthy as this pandemic continues.
Sincerely,
Lisa Dannemiller, M.D.
Chief University Physician
Interim Director, University Health Services
Melissa Zullo, Ph.D., MPH
Director, Pandemic Institutionalization Effort
Interim Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Program Coordinator – Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Professor of Epidemiology, College of Public Health