Southern A&M University News August 25, 2021 President-Chancellor Belton announces COVID-19 vaccine protocols Greetings Southern University Family, This semester, more than ever before, we are particularly excited to welcome you back to Southern University! Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, our university community has maintained a steadfast commitment to safety and wellness. As we manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to need your assistance and support. As you are aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fully approved the Pfizer vaccine for COVID-19, and it is anticipated that the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines will be approved by the FDA in the near future. Due to these recent changes, the Southern University System will add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of immunizations required for admission to any Southern University System campus. As such, all students will have to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to the Spring 2022 pre-registration period. Students may be eligible to opt out by completing and submitting the necessary forms. In the coming days, you will receive instructions on how to submit proof of vaccination or to opt out. Additionally, we are also requiring faculty and staff to show proof of vaccination. Within days, you too will be able to upload correlating documents, along with the opportunity to opt out. Details and instructions will be communicated via campus email accounts. COVID-19 vaccinations remain the safest and most effective defense against the virus and its variants. Therefore, I strongly encourage each of you to get vaccinated to protect yourselves, your loved ones, and our campus community. It is important to note, that our campuses will be instituting a required testing program for members of our community who are not vaccinated, choose to opt out, or those who simply do not report their vaccination information. All campuses have made the necessary provisions for all faculty, staff and students to have immediate access to both testing and vaccination sites. Please contact your campus Office of Student Affairs (students) or Human Resources (employees) for campus specific testing and vaccination information. Sandra M. Phoenix HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> Honor the ancestors, honor the children and those yet to come. Building Capacity for Humanities Special Collections at HBCUs - Become an ally and partner with us to protect, preserve and share a more authentic record of American history. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/humanities-2019.html for more information. Follow this link http://hbculibraries.org/ and click on the Donate Now button to invest in this project. Your support is appreciated. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/