Dear Lake Superior College Colleagues and Student Workers,
Starting September 8, 2021, if your job requires you to be in the workplace (campus or system office); need access to the workplace (campus, system office, etc.) for more than 10 minutes; or otherwise provide Minnesota State college and university services outside of your home, you must either provide proof of being fully vaccinated or consent to, and participate in, weekly medical testing for the COVID-19 virus. Individuals who attest to the fact, and provide proof, that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are exempt from the mandatory COVID-19 testing process. Refusal to get mandatory testing as directed may result in denied entry to your workplace, being sent home and placed in no-pay status, and you may be subject to disciplinary action. We strongly encourage you to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Minnesota State has developed a systemwide proof of vaccine and testing management tool that will allow you to provide your proof of vaccination or weekly testing process and results. The instructions for using this tool are attached to this message, and also in this video.
You will access this tool using your StarID and password to complete an attestation form and provide proof of vaccination. If you indicate you have not been vaccinated, you will be asked to complete the Testing Consent Form. You will then be scheduled for weekly testing by your Human Resources Office and be provided instructions on how to do so.
Lake Superior College Attestation Form
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination can be:
- Your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card; or
- An alternative official vaccination record if vaccinated in another country; or
- Other records that legibly show your name, date of birth, vaccine manufacturer, date of vaccine.
Copies and electronic copies are acceptable. Please do not provide records that include vaccines other than the COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have lost your vaccination card or don’t have a copy, contact your vaccination provider directly to access your vaccination record. If you cannot contact your vaccination provider directly, contact your state health department’s immunization information system (IIS). You can find state IIS information on the CDC website. Vaccination providers are required to report COVID-19 vaccinations to their state’s IIS and related systems.
Weekly Testing Process
If you are assigned to work at the workplace, need access to the workplace (campus, system office, etc.) for more than 10 minutes; or otherwise provide Minnesota State college and university services outside of your home and do not submit an attestation and proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, you are required to get a COVID-19 test each week.
You only need to sign the consent form once and it will apply during the entire time that mandatory testing under HR/LR Policy # 1446 is in effect. Once you sign the consent form, if you wish to rescind your consent, you must do so in writing and submit it to Jestina Vichorek, Executive Human Resources Officer at [email protected].
- LSC will provide on campus testing, Mondays between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm in room H355.
- After your test has been collected on campus, St. Luke’s Hospital will process in lab and results will be sent directly to Human Resources within 36 to 48 hours. A new test date will be uploaded through the vaccine and testing management tool and you will be notified via email of your new testing date.
- St. Luke’s Hospital will submit COVID-19 test results through MDH RePortal, a secure web application.
If you receive your results directly, follow the attached instructions on how to upload your results.
Testing will occur during work hours and be considered work time. Please review your collective bargaining agreement or compensation plan to determine whether and to what extent mileage for travel during work time is reimbursable. Once you have tested, you are permitted to come to work while you are waiting for your results. Some tests can take up to 72 hours to receive results.
What if I receive a positive COVID-19 test result?
If you receive a positive COVID-19 test result, you must go home or stay home. You must promptly notify HR about your positive result by submitting a positive result to Jestina Vichorek, Associate Vice President of Human Resources at [email protected] and report your absence to your supervisor. Follow current Minnesota Department of Health guidelines about what to do if you test positive for COVID-19. Your supervisor will determine if your duties temporarily can be performed through telework. If they cannot, you must take leave. You may contact HR to determine what type of leave you may be eligible to use.
If you have questions, please contact HR or your supervisor. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our colleagues, workplaces, and students safe.
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