COVID-19 Protocols

May 23, 2023: Update on University COVID-19 Protocols

Dear St. Thomas faculty and staff,

With the end of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 on May 11, the University of St. Thomas has announced the following changes to its pandemic response:

Vaccination

Effective immediately, the university is lifting its COVID-19 vaccination requirement for all students, faculty and staff. St. Thomas is still strongly recommending for community members to be vaccinated against COVID-19; the university will continue to work with any employees who need accommodations due to health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to the virus.

Cases Dashboard

The COVID-19 cases dashboard will be updated for the final time on May 22, 2023, with case counts from the week of May 13-19. This corresponds with the end of the spring semester.

COVID Leave Policy

On June 30, 2023, the university will formally end its COVID Leave benefit, which was seldom used over the last year. Human Resources will continue to work directly with any hourly employees who test positive for COVID-19 and do not have enough sick leave to cover their isolation periods. Please contact your HR representative or askHR for more information.

Isolation Spaces

In the fall, the university will no longer hold residence hall rooms to use as isolation spaces for resident students. Students will be required to isolate in their residence hall room or return home to complete their isolation requirement. The university will continue to work with any students who test positive for COVID and do not have a location to isolate.

Self-Reporting

Consistent with Minnesota Department of Health requirements, individuals who live on campus (students and employees) will still be required to self-report if they test positive for COVID-19. Keeping this requirement will enable the university to assist students or employees who live on campus. All other students, faculty and staff who do not live on campus will no longer be required to self-report a positive test result, but they must isolate in accordance with CDC guidance. Currently, the CDC isolation period is five days.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to create a safe and healthy environment on campus this past year!
The University Action Response Team

One St Thomas (intranet) Links

Center for Well-Being Services

The Center for Well-Being remains open to offer a range of physical health, mental health, and health promotion services to St.Thomas students, faculty and staff.

Funding Information

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Reporting: Reports on the use of the funds St. Thomas has received from the HEERF (including CARES Act, CRRSAA and ARP Act) for student grants and institutional support.

St. Thomas Responds to COVID-19

May 17, 2022

'Pandemic Superstars': STELAR Ushers Campus Into New Era of Blended Learning

Tucked away in the basement of the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library you’ll find a very humble group. A group of technical heroes of sorts, who very well may have held the university together back in March 2020. Two years and thousands of Zoom calls later, the team behind STELAR is finally getting a chance to catch their… The post 'Pandemic Superstars': STELAR Ushers Campus Into New Era of Blended Learning appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.

February 25, 2022

St. Thomas Updates Face Covering Requirements

Thanks to strong COVID-19 vaccination rates, a declining number of infections on campus and changes to city ordinances, St. Thomas is lifting its face covering requirement in many spaces, effective Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. Face coverings will still be required in: Classrooms and labs St. Thomas shuttle The Center for Well-Being The University… The post St. Thomas Updates Face Covering Requirements appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
August 19, 2021

St. Thomas Updates COVID-19 Protocols for Fall

St. Thomas will require face coverings in indoor public spaces when others are present, beginning Monday, Aug. 23. The recent surge of the COVID-19 delta variant in Minnesota unfortunately means campus life cannot be quite as normal as hoped at St. Thomas. The university's campuswide vaccination rate continues rising – 83% as of Aug. 19… The post St. Thomas Updates COVID-19 Protocols for Fall appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
August 17, 2021

Tommie Experts: Father Collins on the Catholic Church’s Pro-Vaccine Stance

"The Church authoritatively is teaching that it's morally permissible to get the vaccine." St. Thomas’ recently announced COVID-19 vaccine requirement has helped drive up the university’s vaccination rate among students, faculty and staff; as of this week, more than 80% of the community has received at least one dose. With assistance of the Office for Mission,… The post Tommie Experts: Father Collins on the Catholic Church’s Pro-Vaccine Stance appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.
August 13, 2021

In the News: ‘We need to mandate the vaccine’ - Sister Mary Haddad, head of Catholic Health Association, is ready for bold action

Sister Mary Haddad, RSM, a member of the St. Thomas Board of Trustees, and the CEO-President of the Catholic Health Association, was interviewed by the Jesuit magazine, America, about the COVID-19 vaccinations and the rise of the delta variant. She told the publication: “I do believe that we need to mandate the vaccine.” That is a personal,… The post In the News: ‘We need to mandate the vaccine’ - Sister Mary Haddad, head of Catholic Health Association, is ready for bold action appeared first on Newsroom | University of St. Thomas.