Campus-wide messages
Dec. 8, 2021: University suspending vaccination requirement for employees after nationwide injunction
On Dec. 8, the Chancellor sent a message to faculty, staff and student employees sharing that a federal court in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction prohibiting the federal government from enforcing the COVID vaccination mandate for federal contractors. Since the executive order was stayed, the university is suspending its efforts to require vaccination for employees. Read the complete message.
Nov. 8, 2021: Revised deadline for employees to fulfill COVID-19 vaccine requirement
On Nov. 8, the university sent a message to faculty, staff and student employees sharing updated federal guidance that states that employees are required to receive both shots of a two-dose vaccine, or one shot of a one-dose vaccine, by Jan. 4. Read the complete message.
Nov. 2, 2021: Update on deadline for COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees
On Nov. 2, the university sent a message to faculty, staff and student employees sharing that on Nov. 1, federal officials issued clarifying guidance that now permits the university to allow unvaccinated employees to continue to work after the Dec. 8 deadline “through a limited period of counseling and education.” Read the complete message.
Oct. 25, 2021: All university employees required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8
On Oct. 25, the university shared a message with faculty, staff and student employees about compliance with the terms of an Executive Order issued by President Biden on “Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors” that requires all employees, including graduate and undergraduate student employees, working on or in connection with a federal contract to be vaccinated, and also requires all employees working in a covered contractor workplace to be vaccinated. Read the complete message.
Employee Vaccine Mandate FAQs
How to submit a vaccination record
The vaccination record must be submitted by the end of day on Dec. 3. The vaccination record must include verification of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Employees should not submit the record until the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine has been administered.
Submit vaccination record here
Step-by-step instructions to upload card once vaccinated:
1) Take or get a digital photo of your vaccine card (once you have had the J&J vaccine or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna).
2) Upload the digital photo on the portal (visual instructions).
3) You are finished! That is all you need to do.
You must submit a picture of your vaccine card, no matter where you were vaccinated. The submission portal is secure and confidential. The document will be handled as sensitive and confidential and will not be intermingled with Employee Health records. The vaccination record will be reviewed for legibility and employees will be alerted via olemiss.edu email if the image is deemed invalid.
If you cannot recall your single-sign on login information, visit the IT Helpdesk at 100 Weir Hall with a picture ID.
If you need a replacement vaccination card, please visit the MS State Department of Health website and login to or create an account with MyIR (My Immunization Records) to print your immunization record.
How to submit an exemption request
To prevent delays in processing requests for medical or religious exemptions, and to enable the university to be in compliance with the Executive Order, requests for an exemption must be filed by Dec. 3.
Please complete the appropriate form based on the request that you are making. There are two, different exemption request forms – one for medical exemptions and one for religious exemptions.
Step-by-step instructions for religious or medical exemption from the vaccine mandate:
1) Click on the link to the appropriate form: UM COVID medical exemption request form or UM COVID religious exemption request form
2) Complete the form for the exemption you are requesting (digital forms are described and linked below).
– Note that instead of uploading, you may also print the form, complete it, and hand deliver it to EORC, 120 Lester Hall.
3) Once completed (and for a medical exemption, signed by your medical provider), click the link to the Box upload system and upload the form to the portal.
4) Check your email for further communications. (Additional questions and final approval, if approved, will be communicated to your olemiss.edu email address.)
Requests for medical exemptions from being vaccinated for COVID-19 will be evaluated by a designated panel, in order to evaluate whether the employee’s request meets the requirements to be exempt from the vaccine requirement. Medical exemptions will be evaluated based on medical considerations. In accordance with Executive Order guidance, requests will be handled according to the same process as a disability accommodation, and evaluated and decided under applicable legal standards for reasonable accommodation requests absent undue hardship to the University. The medical exemption form can be found at this link: UM COVID medical exemption request form.
Once completed by you and your health care provider, it can be submitted using the university’s secure Box folder system at this link: Box file upload for exemption form.
A request for a religious exemption is a request to be exempt from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on the basis of a religious belief. Requests will be considered and decided by a panel of decision-makers that is coordinated by the University of Mississippi’s Equal Opportunity and Regulatory Compliance (EORC) office. To be eligible for a possible exemption, you must first establish that your request for an exemption is based upon a sincerely held belief that is religious in nature. An exemption is based on whether the request meets the requirements to be exempt from the vaccine requirements, and will not be granted if the reasons are based upon personal preference, concerns about the possible effects of the vaccine, or political opinions. The form to submit a religious exemption can be found at this link: UM COVID religious exemption request form.
Once you have completed the form, it can be submitted using the university’s secure Box folder system. Follow this link: Box file upload for exemption form.
The submission portal for these exemption requests is secure and confidential. The document will be handled as sensitive and confidential. To submit, you will be asked to sign on using your single-sign on UM WebID. If you cannot recall your single-sign on login information, visit the IT Helpdesk at 100 Weir Hall with a picture ID.