The Mandatory Vaccination Policy will apply to all full-time and part-time associates, faculty, adjuncts, Federal Work Study (FWS) students, and Student Aides who are required to be physically present at a Berkeley College campus as part of their job responsibilities.
The policy also applies to any person or entity entering a Berkeley campus and performing work for Berkeley College (e.g. temporary workers or independent contractors).
All associates will be required to provide proof of their vaccination status no later than March 16, 2022.
All covered associates (as defined in this policy) who are required to report to a Berkeley College campus as part of their job responsibilities must comply with this policy. Remote associates who work exclusively from home are exempt from the vaccination requirement. However, all covered associates, including remote associates who may be required to report to campus for isolated events, including, but not limited to department meetings, trainings, or other required on-campus events, are subject to the mandatory vaccination requirement in order to enter the campus.
A person is considered “fully vaccinated” under Berkeley’s policy if (i) the person has received two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and at least two weeks have passed since the second dose was received or (ii) the person has received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 vaccine and at least two weeks have passed since the dose was received.
Beginning on March 16, 2022, associates who have not provided proof of vaccination or have not been granted an approved medical or religious exemption may not enter any Berkeley campus. These associates should inform to their supervisors that they will not be able to enter the campus.
Additionally, beginning March 16, 2022, only associates who have uploaded their proof of vaccine status in UKG Pro will be able to access the Berkeley College COVID-19 Health Questionnaire.
Booster shots are not currently required under Berkeley’s policy. As you get your COVID-19 booster, please keep us updated by uploading your proof of booster in UKG Pro.
New Jersey:https://covidvaccine.nj.gov Twitter: @NjVaccineFinder and @nj_vaccine. NJ Vaccine Call Center: (855) 568-0545 (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week).
New York State:https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov NY vaccine eligibility: 1-833-697-4829. Once you have successfully scheduled an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a barcode. You will need to bring this to your appointment.
For those associates who are currently fully vaccinated, please upload your vaccination card to UKG Pro – Employee Documents as soon as possible. This information will be reviewed by Human Resources. This approval process may take up to seven days. Associates will be notified via email from UKG Pro that their proof of vaccination was approved.
For those associates who are not currently vaccinated, please upload your card to UKG Pro after receiving your final dose no later than March 16, 2022.
The following list includes the acceptable documentation for proof of vaccination:
the record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy;
a copy of the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;
a copy of medical records documenting the vaccination;
a copy of immunization records from a public health, state, or tribal immunization information system; or
a copy of any other official documentation that contains the type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s).
The documentation should include the associate’s name, type of vaccine administered, date(s) of administration, and the name of the health care professional(s) or clinic site(s) administering the vaccine(s).
Associates who do not possess their COVID-19 vaccination record (e.g., because it was lost or stolen) should contact their vaccination provider (e.g., local pharmacy, physician’s office) to obtain a new copy or utilize their state health department’s immunization information system.
To assist any associate who has a qualifying medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief that contradicts receiving the COVID-19 vaccine Berkeley will engage in an interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation can be provided, so long as it does not create an undue hardship for the college and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace and/or to the associate.
To request an exemption for one of the above reasons, please complete the Request for Medical Exemption Form or Request for Religious Exemption Form and submit via email to Eileen Rizzo, ADA Coordinator for Associates and HR Manager at enr@berkeleycollege.edu. These forms can be found on Berkeley365- Human Resources – Policies.
Once Berkeley is aware of the request for an exemption, we will engage in an interactive process to identify possible accommodations.
Covered associates who are granted an approved medical or religious exemption are expected to comply with additional health and safety requirements which may include, but are not limited to, weekly COVID-19 testing from a medical facility each week and use of medical grade masks. In general, remote work will not be an accommodation for job responsibilities that are required to be performed on campus.
Speak to your healthcare provider about when you may be vaccinated. If your health care provider advisors you to wait, please contact Eileen Rizzo in Human Resources.
Associates who do not receive the vaccine or approved medical/religious exemption will be put on unpaid leave (without benefits) until further notice. An interactive dialogue with Human Resources will take place at that time.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors will continue to be required to complete the COVID-19 Health Questionnaire (https://berkeleycollege.edu/checkin) each time they come to campus. Respondents will be asked to complete the questions and a date- and time-stamped “cleared to enter” screen message must be provided to Public Safety before being allowed to enter the campus.
Only associates who have uploaded their proof of vaccine status in UKG Pro will be able to access the Berkeley College COVID-19 Health Questionnaire beginning on March 16, 2022.
Effective March 22, 2022: Masks or cloth face coverings are required inside all classrooms and on all College shuttles. Masks are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas of campus buildings.
Associates will be granted up to four hours of excused time per shot (including booster shots) that will not be charged against any other leave time the associate has earned or accrued (PTO or Sick Time). The up to four hours of excused time are applied to the day of the COVID-19 vaccine appointment. Staff should code their timesheets as worked; no special code is required for this time. Please notify your supervisor about your expected time out of the office/offline.
Each state has its own plan for deciding how vaccines are distributed. Please visit the following websites to check your vaccine eligibility and to schedule an appointment.
Please check the site frequently for updates on your state’s appointment availability.
Once you have successfully scheduled an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a barcode. You will need to bring this to your appointment.
The New Jersey Vaccine call center number is 855-568-0545, which is open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM seven days a week.
In keeping with the prioritization of the health and safety of the entire Berkeley College community, the College will implement a Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for all students.
The deadline for submitting proof of COVID-19 vaccination has been extended. Proof of vaccination is not required for the spring 2022 semester.
Students must submit proof of full vaccination by or beforeTuesday, September 6, 2022. A person is considered “fully vaccinated” (i) two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna); or (ii) two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson Janssen). Vaccines approved by the World Health Organization are also acceptable.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that all COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. The CDC’s goal is for everyone to be able to easily get the COVID-19 vaccine as supplies becomes available. Please speak to your health care provider for guidance.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines require two shots to be effective. The timing between the shots depends on which vaccine you receive. For the Pfizer-BioNTech, 3 weeks (or 21 days) after your first shot and for the Moderna, 1 month (or 28 days) after your first shot, according to the CDC. The CDC recommends that you should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible and should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval.
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine requires one shot to be effective.
None of the FDA-authorized vaccines or COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States contain the live virus that causes COVID-19. This means that a COVID-19 vaccine cannot make you sick with COVID-19.
The vaccine teaches our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause side effects, such as fever.
It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity (protection against the virus that causes COVID-19) after vaccination.
It is possible a person could be infected with COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection.
According to the CDC, side effects are a sign that your body is building protection against the virus. The side effects from the COVID-19 vaccination may feel like the flu and might even affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Side effects may include injection site pain, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, and low-grade fever. Contact your healthcare provider if you see increased redness or tenderness where you received the injection or if your side effects worsen. If you have a severe allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention and call 911.
Effective March 22, 2022: Masks or cloth face coverings are required inside all classrooms and on all College shuttles. Masks are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas of campus buildings.
According to the CDC, re-infection is possible. The vaccine should be offered to you regardless of whether you already had the COVID-19 infection. Students with any questions about their recovery period, or with any concerns about receiving the vaccine after being infected with COVID-19, should contact their medical provider.
You should consult with your medical provider. The CDC recommends that anyone currently infected with COVID-19 should wait to get vaccinated until after their illness has resolved and after they have met the criteria to discontinue isolation.
The spring semester at Berkeley College begins on Monday, April 25, 2022. All campuses are open. Students are strongly encouraged to reach out to any department to make an appointment prior to traveling to campus. All support services also remain available remotely.
Maintaining a safe campus is a shared responsibility. The College has undertaken several initiatives to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure. These efforts include, but are not limited to, increased cleaning and disinfection; enhanced air filtration; reduced capacity in classrooms; additional availability of hand sanitizer dispensers and disposable wipes; and requiring the daily COVID-19 Health Questionnaire. All students, faculty and staff members who are new to the College must complete a virtual health and safety training before arriving on campus.
Effective March 22, 2022: Masks or cloth face coverings are required inside all classrooms and on all College shuttles. Masks are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas of campus buildings. Masks or cloth face coverings must cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
Masks with inappropriate, violent, or offensive graphics are not permitted. The College will provide a disposable mask to any student, faculty, staff member, or visitor who does not have their own. Sharing of masks or face coverings is prohibited.
Any student who is unable to wear a mask or cloth face-covering due to a disability (such as an underlying health condition) should request an accommodation through Disability Services.
School of Health Studies (SHS) students must wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) when instructed to do so by SHS faculty during clinical and/or laboratory instruction. The College will provide additional PPE (such as gloves and/or face shields) to SHS students, faculty and staff in connection with clinical and/or laboratory instruction. Sharing of PPE is prohibited.
A COVID-19 Health Questionnaire must be completed each day a student, faculty or staff member enters the campus, within three hours of arrival. Students traveling to campus via shuttle transportation must show documentation of the questionnaire prior to getting on the shuttle.
To complete the COVID-19 Health Questionnaire, users must log on to berkeleycollege.edu/checkin and enter his/her Berkeley College username and password. Users must answer questions about their health and wellness, including if they have recently tested positive for COVID-19 and if they are experiencing any symptoms. Students, faculty, or staff displaying symptoms upon check-in will be sent home.
Any students who experience COVID-19 symptoms while on campus should immediately email COVID19@BerkeleyCollege.edu with his/her name, student ID number, telephone number, and campus location.
Any faculty or staff member who experiences COVID-19 symptoms while on campus should immediately inform (1) his or her supervisor (staff) or department chair (faculty); and (2) send emails to Human Resources at ENR@BerkeleyCollege.edu.
Individuals who commute using their own car must promptly leave campus and return home. Individuals who do not have transportation will be moved to a designated isolation room until transportation can be arranged. The College will arrange for the prompt cleaning of the rooms and areas where the student, faculty or staff member was present.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.
As guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is regularly updated, please refer to the Spring 2022 Operations Plan for the latest Return to Campus protocols.
All students, faculty, and staff members are required to log any international travel (outside the U.S. and U.S. territories) through the Berkeley College Travel Registry. Registry information will be kept confidential and may be used to contact you in case of an emergency. As guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is regularly updated, please refer to the Spring 2022 Operations Plan for the latest Return to Campus protocols.
When Berkeley receives a report of a positive COVID-19 case, the College will begin to gather additional information, identify close contacts while adhering to applicable privacy laws, and promptly arrange for the cleaning of affected areas. Any individual(s) identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 at a Berkeley campus will be notified by trained College staff in connection with contact tracing efforts. All confirmed COVID-19 cases of individuals on campus during the semester are documented on the COVID-19 Dashboard.
Effective March 22, 2022: Masks or cloth face coverings are required inside all classrooms and on all College shuttles. Masks are recommended, but not required in all other indoor areas of campus buildings. Masks or cloth face coverings must cover the nose, mouth, and chin.
Any faculty or staff member who is unable to wear a mask or cloth face covering due to a disability (such as an underlying health condition) should request an accommodation. Contact Eileen Rizzo, Human Resources Manager, at ENR@BerkeleyCollege.edu.
Any faculty or staff member who experiences COVID-19 symptoms while on campus must promptly leave campus and return home. Individuals who do not have transportation will be moved to a designated isolation room until transportation can be arranged.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should be encouraged to contact their healthcare provider. However, an associate cannot be required to seek medical attention.
Faculty or staff with questions about the health assessment screening should contact: Eileen Rizzo, Human Resources Manager, at ext. 5110 or ENR@BerkeleyCollege.edu or Galina Kapitanker, Manager, Benefits Planning and Administration, at ext. 5121 or GLK@BerkeleyCollege.edu.
Staff should limit non-essential travel to other campuses. Faculty and staff have access to RingCentral and Zoom video-conference systems that can help facilitate meetings with staff at multiple locations. Contact the Information Systems (IS) HelpDesk at ext. 1540 with questions regarding these technologies.
For full-time faculty and staff through our group coverage with Reliance Standard, you automatically receive travel assistance services provided by On Call International (On Call). On Call is a 24-hour, toll-free service that provides a comprehensive range of information, referral, coordination and arrangement services designed to respond to most medical care situations and many other emergencies you may encounter when you travel.
To use this service, contact:
In the U.S., toll free (800) 456-3893
Worldwide, collect (603) 328-1966
For additional details, please go to Berkeley365 – Human Resources – Benefits – Travel Assistance Services.
The Employee Assistance Program is designed to assist families with balancing the demands of work with those of their personal lives. The Employee Assistance Program is a one-stop resource that offers consultation, information, and personalized community referrals, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for you and your family members.
When you call, you will be assisted by expert consultants who can help with emotional well-being. These calls are confidential. When face-to-face sessions are warranted, you may receive up to three. You can call any time, day or night at 855-775-4357 or Online Work-Life EAP Resources.
Additional details can be found on Berkeley365 – Human Resources – Benefits – Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Please contact Human Resources. The current coronavirus situation remains fluid. Be sure to check your Berkeley College email and this webpage for the latest information from Berkeley College.
