Va. Gov. Issues Vaccination Requirement for Faculty, Staff

Dear NOVA Community,  Late last week, Governor Northam—through an executive directive—announced a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for state employees. 

The scope of the directive includes community college faculty, staff, part-time employees and contractors who enter the workplace or have public-facing duties. It requires employees to disclose their vaccination status by September 1. 

Employees who are not fully vaccinated by September 1, refuse disclosure of vaccination status or have an approved exemption for medical/religious reasons will be required to provide evidence of weekly negative COVID test results. 

Employees who fail to comply with the requirement may face corrective action.

The Virginia Department of Human Resource Management is required to provide guidance to all state agencies by August 15 that will support the implementation of the directive for employees. NOVA’s Associate Vice President for Human Resources Charlotte Calobrisi is in contact with VCCS and DHRM and will share more information as it becomes available.

To date, there has been no indication from the Commonwealth or VCCS of a vaccination requirement for students.

Once more, I urge all NOVA employees to become vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccinations are free, accessible, safe and effective. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report on state data on “breakthrough” infections notes that over 99% of COVID cases reported in Virginia have occurred among unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination is simply your best protection against COVID.

If you still need a vaccine, you can make an appointment to receive one at the Alexandria Campus until this Friday, August 13. If you can’t make that date, visit the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Covid-19 Vaccine site.

Thank you for all you are doing to keep our community healthy!

Sincerely,

Anne