Posted: August 11, 2021 at 9:15 a.m.

To the Thomas community,

Throughout the pandemic, Thomas College has continuously made decisions that put the health and safety of our community first. Since the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available, we have stressed that getting vaccinated is the single biggest risk mitigation step you can take for yourself, your family, and the Thomas community. We have also worked to honor your personal choices and committed to making your experience as close to “normal” as possible.

Now, given that incidence rates have risen dramatically in our region and state and given the deeper understanding that even vaccinated people can get and spread the virus, we simply have no choice but to take the steps to protect the people we care about the most – each of you in the Thomas family. After consulting with our partners at the Maine CDC, MaineGeneral, and our Board of Trustees, the College is immediately modifying its vaccination policy and is mandating that all in-person students, faculty, and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Students:

• All students who attend classes on campus must be partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have submitted their vaccination cards to the Health Center before you arrive on campus, no later than Tuesday, August 31, 2021
• Students who are partially vaccinated upon their arrival to campus will be required to follow all College mitigation protocols (masking in-doors, routine testing, etc.) until they are deemed fully vaccinated
• All vaccine doses must be administered by September 30, 2021
• The College will allow limited vaccine exemptions. Students, please contact the Health Center for more information

Faculty and Staff:

• All faculty and staff must be partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have submitted their vaccination cards to Human Resources before Tuesday, August 31, 2021
• All faculty and staff who are not fully vaccinated will be required to follow all College mitigation protocols (masking in-doors, routine testing, etc.) until they are deemed fully vaccinated and their vaccination cards have been submitted to Human Resources
• All vaccine doses must be administered by September 30, 2021
• The College will allow limited vaccine exemptions. Faculty and staff, please contact Human Resources for more information

I understand that some of you may have questions and concerns about this policy. Please contact vaccinequestions@thomas.edu where they will be answered as quickly as possible.

If we are to end this pandemic, we must do everything in our power to be nimble and make choices that protect each other the best that we can with the information at our disposal. I humbly thank you for all you’ve done and will do to ensure we all have the safest possible year.

With deep respect, 

Laurie G. Lachance, President

Students should submit their vaccination record to the Health Center.  Faculty and staff please submit your vaccination record to Human Resources using one of the methods below:

• Scan and email the vaccination card/exemption form (please be sure to conceal your date of birth)
• Take a photograph of your vaccination card/exemption form using your smart phone and email (please be sure to conceal your date of birth)
• Deliver a photocopy of the vaccination card/exemption form (please be sure to conceal your date of birth)
• Bring your original vaccination card form to the Health Center (students) or Human Resources (faculty and staff) and the College will make a copy
• Students, new and returning may upload a copy of the vaccination card/exemption form via myThomas and/or the New Student Day dashboard (please be sure to conceal your date of birth)