Important Update:
Vaccination Policy & Accessing Campus
To the UWindsor Campus Community,

As recently announced, the University of Windsor is following the provincial directive stating that COVID-19 Vaccination Policies are mandatory for a number of high-risk settings. This also follows recommendations made by the Council of Ontario Universities and the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health in efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on campus communities.

Vaccine Policy

In order to align with the provincial directive, for anyone who will be on campus, at least a first dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine will be required by September 7, 2021 and a second dose will be required by October 7, 2021.

Our main priority is campus safety and encouraging a higher rate of vaccination on our campus. As announced in the Take a Jab campaign, we encourage all members of our University of Windsor community to become fully vaccinated as soon as possible. A vaccine clinic will be held on campus on September 10, 2021 in the Faculty of Education parking lot from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. No health card or appointment is required. Appointments for COVID-19 vaccination can also be booked through Student Health Services or vaccine appointments are readily available locally by visiting wevax.ca.

A process for applying for an exemption under this policy is being finalized. In the interim, beginning Tuesday, September 7, individuals who are not fully vaccinated (including those who are only partially vaccinated with one dose), will need to participate in the on-campus rapid antigen testing program to access campus. Information about this process is below.

This policy applies to all staff, faculty, students, visitors and contractors and will be available in the coming days.

Proof of Vaccination Required

It is mandatory for everyone coming to our campuses to attest that they are vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination is required.  
 
To attest to your vaccination status and upload your proof of vaccination (if applicable), visit uwindsor.ca/vaccine. You will need your vaccination certificates and your UWinID and password.

To get a copy of your vaccination certificate, if you received your COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, please visit the Health Canada website.

All members of the UWindsor campus community will be required to fill out the vaccination attestation form, even if you are partially vaccinated (one dose) or unvaccinated, by no later than October 7, 2021.

Partially vaccinated individuals will be required to submit the form after each vaccination to ensure all vaccine records are captured accurately.

When you submit your documentation, the interface will generate a confirmation code. It is important that you capture the confirmation code after completion of the form as this code will be required for the Safe Lancer App Daily COVID-19 Self-Assessment to access campus.

Requests for Exemptions to the Vaccine Policy
 
Exemptions to the vaccine policy can be requested for medical reasons or under the ground of Creed (or religion) protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
 
Those whose applications for exemption have been approved in accordance with the vaccine policy will be provided with an accommodation to participate in the University’s rapid antigen testing program to access campus. There is no exemption from the testing protocols under this policy.
 
Applications for exemption under this policy will be available by 12 p.m. on Tuesday, September 7, and a further communication detailing next steps will be forthcoming.

While you await to apply for an exemption under the vaccination policy, or while you await the status of your application for an exemption, you will still be required to participate in the University’s rapid antigen testing program to access campus as of Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

Testing

Beginning on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, testing will be mandatory for the following individuals to access campus:
  • Those who are partially vaccinated (one dose in a two-dose series)
  • Those who are unvaccinated
  • Those who are awaiting to apply for an exemption from the vaccination policy
  • Those who are awaiting a determination about their request for exemption from the vaccination policy
  • Those who have received an exemption from the vaccination policy

Individuals are required to have a negative test result within 72 hours before accessing campus. Those coming to campus every day will require a test twice per week. Testing to access campus will be completed in the Faculty of Education Gym from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Booking an appointment is encouraged and can be done online by visiting uwindsor.ca/covidtest. Walk-ins are also permitted. Testing should only take approximately 30 minutes to complete, but please plan for up to a 60-minute wait time should a delay occur.

If you receive a negative test result, you will be provided with a confirmation code to enter into your Safe Lancer App COVID-19 Daily Self-Assessment to access campus.

If you receive a positive test result, Health and Safety staff on-site will assist you with next steps and you will not be permitted to access campus.

COVID-19 Daily Self-Assessment & Safe Lancer App

The COVID-19 daily self-assessment screening tool found on the Safe Lancer App is required to be filled out every day before you plan on visiting campus. After answering all of the questions and inputting your appropriate confirmation code, you will receive a Green (permitted) or Red (not permitted) QR Code (badge).

A Green badge will grant you access to campus and is required to be scanned at all campus buildings you enter and some classroom entrances for the purposes of contact tracing. COVID-19 Student Ambassadors/Screeners may also ask to see your badge, so be prepared to have it available at all times.

If you receive a Red badge you are not permitted to come to campus. Please stay home and follow the instructions here (bottom of page) for next steps.

The Safe Lancer App can be downloaded visiting the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Before completing your next self-assessment, make sure you've updated to the latest version by opening the app and simply tapping the University of Windsor Safe Lancer App banner at the top of the page. Or, to manually update, open the Safe Lancer App and scroll down to select About/Preferences. Scroll down again and select Data Update. Click the Check for Updates button.

If you do not have access to a smartphone, a paper copy of the COVID-19 Daily Self-Assessment is available. Please be prepared to show your paper copy while on campus, if approved to access campus.

Building Access and QR Code Scanners
 
If provided with a Green QR Code (badge) after completing your COVID-19 Daily Self-Assessment, buildings must be accessed using the designated entrances and your UwinCARD or key fob.

The Green QR Code (badge) must be scanned every time you enter a campus building or space. You may be also be asked to show your Green QR Code to Student Ambassadors/Screeners.

Health & Safety Protocols

We all play a vital role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our community. There are important steps we are required to take to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy while on campus. Please also follow these health and safety protocols every time you are on campus:

  • Practice good hygiene by washing your hands properly and frequently
  • Socially distance by staying 2 metres from others and following health and safety signage throughout campus.
  • Wear a non-medical face mask. If unable, students must seek accommodation from Student Accessibility Services. Please also remember that masks are required in all indoor campus spaces and in areas where physical distancing may be difficult.

Thank you for your patience and understanding - we need to work together to keep our campus as safe as possible. Additional information will be available soon, including Frequently Asked Questions. Please visit our Return to Campus website regularly for updated information.