COVID-19

Beginning Oct. 19, employees who are not fully vaccinated and lack an approved exemption will not be able to engage in university work.

During their meetings in Pullman, the regents also learned about the latest enrollment figures and continued efforts to stop the spread of COVID‑19.

Cougar Health Services staff immediately stepped up to the challenges posed by an emerging pandemic and continue to serve the Pullman student population as the fall semester unfolds.

To comply with the state’s vaccination requirement, unvaccinated WSU employees have until Sept. 13 to get the first Pfizer shot, or they can get the single-dose Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Oct. 4.

The new process, which supersedes WSU’s previous vaccination declaration system, applies to all employees regardless of work location.

While an improving state economy leaves WSU’s state appropriations intact, an estimated decline in tuition revenue requires all campuses, colleges and departments to continue to operate with lesser budgets.

The deadline for faculty and staff to declare their status was Aug. 23.

Although the state’s new mask requirement doesn’t take effect until Aug. 23, WSU strongly urges students, faculty and staff begin wearing masks immediately when in public indoor spaces at all university facilities.

Data on student vaccination rates was provided during Thursday’s Returning to WSU: Fall Semester Town Hall. The event was broadcast on Youtube and is available for anyone who missed it.

WSU will update its COVID-19 policies to reflect these new state mandates.