This periodic update is intended to keep you informed of the latest developments from our Protect the Nest Team. Please visit www.otterbein.edu/covid19/ for additional general and student-related information. If you have questions or concerns, contact the COVID Hotline at covid@otterbein.edu.

Need to Know:

• All students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear masks indoors in common spaces, including classrooms, all building hallways and stairwells, the library, and residence halls. Remember, the mask must cover both your nose and mouth to be effective!
• Forgot your mask? Masks are available in the Campus Center office.
• All visitors to campus must perform a daily self-assessment before coming to campus. Download the self-assessment guide.

New Vaccine Requirement

Otterbein now requires students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This, combined with our current mask mandate, will offer the highest level of protection to our community and allow us to continue to offer in-person classes and activities. Factors in the decision include guidance from Franklin County Public Health, the rapid spread of the Delta variant, and the safety and effectiveness of the available vaccines.

STUDENTS: If you are already fully vaccinated — THANK YOU! If you are vaccinated and have not already done so, please report your status by sending a copy of your vaccination card to covid@otterbein.edu. Students who are not fully vaccinated (two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) will not be able to register for spring semester classes. Registration for spring semester opens Monday, Oct. 25, 2021.

FACULTY AND STAFF: If you are already fully vaccinated —THANK YOU! Faculty and staff are expected to be fully vaccinated by Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. More information will be forthcoming on how to share proof of vaccination with the Otterbein Office of Human Resources.

EXEMPTIONS: Students, faculty, and staff may request a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement. Exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. To request an exemption, students must contact covid@otterbein.edu and faculty and staff must contact sfitzgerald@otterbein.edu. For a medical exemption, students, faculty, and staff will be required to provide documentation from their licensed healthcare provider. For a religious exemption, students and employees will be asked to complete a separate religious exemption form.

 Next On-Campus Vaccine Clinic

A Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, at The Point, room 165. Register here: https://armorvax-app.azurewebsites.net/Home/Invitation?code=GCV-YT5

Virtual Town Hall – TIME CHANGED! 

The Protect the Nest Team will host a virtual mini-town hall at 4 p.m. on Sept. 9. We’ll talk about our fall semester protocols, share our latest campus statistics, and answer questions you might have.

Otterbein’s COVID-19 protocols are developed in consultation with Franklin County Public Health and OhioHealth (Otterbein’s campus healthcare provider) and adhere to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ohio Department of Health. Otterbein’s protocols are subject to change based on new guidance issued by these agencies.