All staff, students and contractors of the University of Waikato are required to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to work and study on campus from 14 February 2022.
Similarly, all visitors to their campuses and sites for general university business will also need to be able to provide evidence of vaccination.
According to the university’s notification updated on 13 December, this provides “certainty for everyone that the University can remain open as a safe place of study and work, no matter what level of the traffic light system we are at.”
On 11 October 2021, the Government announced that workers in the education, health and disability and corrections sectors must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The extended Covid-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021 (“the Order”) came into effect at 11:59pm on 25 October 2021.
Under Ministry of Health mandates, “specific programmes require students to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to undertake internships, placements and practicums, these programmes include teaching, nursing, social work and others.”
University will accept Ministry of Health’s My Vaccine Pass as evidence of appropriate vaccination or exemption.
According to the notification, only students who have provided evidence of vaccination will be permitted to enrol in papers that are delivered exclusively face-to-face.
Option to study online will be available for those students who choose not to be vaccinated or do not wish to share their vaccination status.
Such students, however, will be required to discuss with their intended department of study to identify papers that can be delivered remotely.
Online student support services of the university will be available to those who enrol to study remotely.
The University has already directed all its staff to provide evidence of their Covid-19 vaccination (or exemption) in Āku Mahi. Reminders have already gone through to those who are yet to upload their record.
Waikato University has still not come out clearly what the impact of being unvaccinated may have on their role, but it is understood university is already engaged with staff with regard to their concerns.
Meanwhile, as NewsViews reported exclusively yesterday, one staff member of the Hamilton campus of Waikato University was tested positive of Covid-19 yesterday.
– from NewsViews
