Masks must be worn inside public places on JWU’s campuses until further notice, regardless of vaccination status. On July 27, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) revised its guidance on mask wearing to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others. The CDC now recommends that all persons, whether fully vaccinated or not, wear a mask indoors in public if located in an area of substantial or high transmission. Currently, Rhode Island and Charlotte are both areas of substantial or high transmission, but that is subject to changes as circumstances evolve. All persons should continue to wear a mask where required by laws, rules, regulations, or local guidance.

A reminder to all who have not yet been vaccinated: you must monitor and abide by evolving local, state, and federal guidelines and requirements as well as university policy related to COVID-19, including the requirement that you continue to wear a mask when you are indoors on campus

After careful consultation with government and public health officials, the university will require that all students be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to their arrival to campus for the 2021 fall semester.

Adding the COVID-19 vaccination to our student immunization requirements will aid our efforts to provide a safer and more robust college experience for our entire JWU community. Moreover, students who are vaccinated will not need to adhere to the extensive quarantine protocols that have been in place. Through widespread vaccination, we can accelerate the return to a more traditional college experience, including seamless delivery of in-person courses, attending athletic games, more on-campus events and activities, and the resumption of our on-campus visitor and guest policy.

Students are required to upload their medical record verifying their COVID-19 vaccination into the Medicat Student Patient Portal. The university will not accept student vaccination records via email.

To upload medical records verifying COVID-19 vaccinations, visit jwu.medicatconnect.com and follow these steps:

• Enter your JWU log in
• Once the portal is open, click Upload
• Select 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Covid 19), NAA (Third Party) from the drop down menu
• To upload take a photo or screenshot of your vaccination card with your phone, email that to yourself, open your email up on your computer, then you can drag/drop or browse for the file that you would then upload to the portal.

JWU asks that students provide proof of vaccination by no later than August 6, 2021. 

Students may request an exemption from this requirement for medical, religious or other reasons. Students are able to complete the attestation form directly on the Medicat webpage: jwu.medicatconnect.com when they log in. Look for the COVID Vaccine exemption form.

Students should allow one week to receive confirmation of their exemption or full vaccination status and should continue to monitor their JWU email.

The student would be advised to complete the exemption form on the Medicat webpage: jwu.medicatconnect.com or schedule a vaccination appointment, providing proof when they receive their shot(s). Students in this instance would have a temporary hold on their account during the university’s consideration of the exemption request or until proof of compliance is entered into the student’s Medicat account.

For tracking purposes. COVID-19 Vaccination Holds are active for students who have not satisfied the vaccine requirement.

Students who live off-campus and are enrolled in online classes are encouraged to get the vaccine to support in-person connections with campus. Students who decide they do not wish to be vaccinated should complete the exemption form and will be expected to abide by the safety protocols that are in place for unvaccinated individuals.