Dear Detroit Mercy Community:
I am writing to thank all of you who have provided your vaccination information and, more importantly, to urge colleagues and students who have not uploaded your vaccination confirmation to do so now. The University’s deadline of August 16 is almost three weeks away, so it is imperative that you comply with this requirement as soon as possible.
On June 10, the university announced that all students, faculty and staff would be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the fall semester begins for the safety of everyone on our campuses and the surrounding communities. This decision was arrived at after considerable consultation and discussion among numerous campus constituencies; and, as the health data have shown in recent months, we feel confident that being vaccinated is the most effective and safest way for the University to return to in-person events, conduct in-class instruction and restore the vibrancy of all of our campuses. Moreover, demonstrating our “care for each other and ourselves” through this action epitomizes the Jesuit and Mercy mission and values on which the University was founded. As we have already seen through our successful Titans Together campaign, the number of cumulative COVID-19 cases was very small because the Detroit Mercy community collectively followed safety protocols that have kept colleagues healthy and safe. Obtaining your vaccination and uploading your vaccine information will make our campus community even safer as we return to campus this fall.
Please take a few minutes and go to the online system for students and employees to confidentially verify your vaccination status or request a waiver. To get started, employees please click here; students can go here. To help encourage everyone in helping to make our Detroit Mercy community safe, we will offer a series of prize drawings starting next week. More information on the drawings is forthcoming.
Currently, only a few hundred faculty, staff and students have uploaded their vaccination information. If the University is unable to achieve a high enough vaccine rate for faculty, staff and students, the University will reinstate several emergency measures that we have previously used. This may mean that large gatherings will be restricted, social distancing will be in effect and masks will be required. I hope that we do not have to implement these safety practices; but based on scientific information gathered during the pandemic, these measures help prevent transmission of the coronavirus and its variants.
If employees and students do not upload their proof of vaccination or do not receive a waiver, the University will have to implement actions such as employee separations and placing holds on student accounts that may prevent them from registering for winter 2022 classes.
Thank you for giving this message serious attention, and I look forward to seeing you all on campus soon.
Sincerely,
Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.