Petrel Pledge & Policies

A shared responsibility and commitment to the health and well-being of the Oglethorpe community

COVID-19 Handbook

The COVID-19 Handbook has been updated for Spring 2022. Please review the policies and procedures in the COVID-19 Handbook below.

COVID-19 Handbook

Vaccine Policy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends COVID-19 booster shots for all who are eligible (see details). To ensure that our campus community has the highest level of protection against COVID-19 and its variants, all faculty, staff and students must receive a COVID-19 booster by January 31, 2022, or when eligible. Those in compliance with the fall 2021 vaccine mandate should be eligible for a COVID-19 booster.

Update your vaccination status or apply for a medical or religious exemption through the appropriate method below. If you already received a medical or religious exemption, you are exempt from the booster and do not need to resubmit your information. Additionally, if your vaccination status has changed, or you now have your booster, you must also update your status through the appropriate method below.

Student vaccine acknowledgment form (students log in using Slate ID)
Employee vaccine acknowledgment through Paycom (contact HR Director Sandy Butler for further questions)

FOR FACULTY/STAFF: Please update your vaccination status and your completed vaccination card through the module in Paycom if you have not done so already (you should have been prompted to do so from Paycom). If your booster is on a separate card, then include both cards when you upload the photo of your completed vaccination card(s).

Quarantine and Isolation

Please refer to this helpful infographic as a quick reference to distinguish the difference between isolation and quarantine. Isolation refers to those who have tested positive for COVID-19. Quarantine refers to those who are determined to be a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19. Quarantine protocols differ for individuals depending on vaccination status.

Note: The CDC has updated its vaccine guidance with the following terms:

Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible.
Fully vaccinated means a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.

Feeling Sick?

If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, please inform your instructors or supervisor, and stay home as you monitor your symptoms. If you test positive for COVID-19, please refer to the following reporting instructions.

Students who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must report their case to [email protected].
Faculty and staff who test positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, must report their case to HR Director Sandy Butler.

Any individual testing positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate, regardless of vaccination status. On-campus residents may choose to return home to isolate or isolate on campus. Residents who relocate to a temporary housing assignment on campus will have access to support services (dining, educational, etc.). Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Face Coverings

Face-coverings will continue to be required indoors on campus unless you are alone in your office or room, or while actively eating or drinking. Masks must be worn as recommended, fitting snugly against the face and completely covering your nose and mouth. Additionally, you may consider N95 or KN95 masks, which are now more widely available than they were at earlier stages of the pandemic.

In addition to proper mask-wearing and vaccination, there are many other ways to mitigate COVID-19 spread. The CDC continues to recommend that you:

Avoid large crowds
Wash your hands regularly
Stay aware of COVID-19 symptoms and monitor your health daily

COVID-19 Vaccine

Hear from OU students, faculty and staff as they share why they got vaccinated.

Getting your COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to commit to the health and well-being of every member of the Oglethorpe community. Oglethorpe joins other institutions in mandating that students and employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 this fall.

Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Visit the FAQ page for additional information on the vaccine.

Petrel Pledge

As Oglethorpe University enters the 2021-2022 academic year, we continue to be reminded of the extraordinary changes occurring at Oglethorpe and around the world in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

These changes affect everyone’s lives, creating anxiety, fear, confusion, and frustration.

The threat of COVID-19 cannot be ignored. A shared commitment to the health and well-being of every member of our Oglethorpe community—especially those with compromised health, communities of color, and older populations—is imperative. That responsibility lies with everyone—students, staff and faculty alike.

To uphold that shared responsibility, members of the Oglethorpe community are asked to pledge to:

Practice care for individual health, as well as the health of others.

Demonstrate respect and compassion for fellow Petrels.

Adhere to public health guidelines and the policies in the COVID-19 Handbook.

By practicing these social guidelines both on-campus and at home, members of the Oglethorpe community can work together to protect the health of themselves and others – and enable us to reunite our entire community.

We are in this together. Like true Stormy Petrels, we will rise to face this challenge and persevere. Nescit Cedere!