This October 2020 file photo shows the University of Alaska Southeast Campus, which doesn't currently have a broad COVID-19 vaccine mandate but UA President Pat Pitney said Monday one would have to come eventually. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

UA president: No systemwide mandate for now, but vaccine requirement coming

Federal requirements mean mandate

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will not be requiring a COVID-19 vaccine at this time, University of Alaska President Pat Pitney announced Monday, but said the school’s status as a federal contractor meant that a mandate was likely coming.

Pitney told reporters during a news conference university officials reviewed the legal, health and logistical requirements of implementing a vaccine requirement for the university and decided against it. But Pitney said they recognized that either through status as a federal contractor or from the U.S. Department of Education there will likely be an eventual requirement for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I just feel like it’s coming and I want everybody to understand, although we’re not ready at this time, we are putting systems in place,” Pitney said. “We will end up going to a full vaccinated requirement.”

In a letter addressed to the UA community, Pitney said the system was already getting information about targeted federal requirements and it appeared a systemwide mandate would be necessary to maintain federal funding. The university will consider implementation once there is more clarity on the extent and scope of the anticipated requirements, the letter said.

Vaccination rates are already fairly high among faculty, Pitney said, and staff rates were lower but still high. It was the student population where Pitney expected the most difficulty. Pitney strongly encouraged students, staff and faculty to get vaccinated, saying it was the best way to combat the spread of COVID-19.

So far the system has left mitigation policies to the individual campuses, Pitney said, but as the University of Alaska was a single employer, it would be difficult to require vaccines at one university and not another. Pitney couldn’t say when a full mandate could be expected but noted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it would be releasing guidelines soon.

Pitney said there were workers that said they’d quit if a vaccine requirement were implemented, but that didn’t factor into the decision not to mandate vaccines at this time.

“We would see come people choose to find another option, but I think it would be much less than what we hear anecdotally,” Pitney said.

[Then Now: Looking back on pandemic response]

In Southeast

Currently, only residential students at UA Southeast are required to be vaccinated, said Vice-Chancellor Michael Ciri, the school’s COVID-19 incident commander, and the COVID-19 vaccine was recently added to the list of required inoculations.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, residential students at UAS are required to have inoculations for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and tuberculosis.

Other students or university employees may be required to be vaccinated if their job or program requires it, Ciri told the Empire in a phone interview Monday, but there was currently no broad vaccine mandate in place at the school. The university does provide exemptions to vaccine mandates for medical or religious reasons, Ciri said, but documentation needs to be provided.

There were currently fewer than 200 residential students at UAS, Ciri, and while there were no testing facilities on campus the university was able to use services in the community.

Both Ciri and Pitney cited Juneau’s high vaccination rate as contributing to UAS’s current low risk for COVID-19. According to the City and Borough of Juneau, 79.6% of the eligible population is fully vaccinated.

According to UAS’ mitigation plan, masking is required on campus and different buildings have different restrictions. Ciri said he wasn’t aware of any positive COVID cases among UAS residential students this semester.

“In Southeast, we have found the community is doing a great job,” Ciri said. “We’ve not had trouble getting people tested should that be necessary.”

• Contact reporter Peter Segall at psegall@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @SegallJnuEmpire.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast for the week of March 18

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

A board in the House Chambers at the Alaska State Capitol shows Monday’s vote tally of 39-20 to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of Senate Bill 140, one vote short of the two-thirds necessary. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Legislature fails by a single vote of 39-20 to override Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s veto of education bill

Legislators warn bad blood may hamper other issues as numerous Republicans abandon earlier support.

With COVID-19 aid, more schools gave students and families experiencing homelessness prepaid cards to buy necessities like groceries and gas. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
Grocery cards and car repairs: How COVID aid changed the way schools can help homeless kids

Juneau student services specialist among those finding creative ways to provide assistance.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Saturay, March 16, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Friday, March 15, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy discusses his veto of a wide-ranging education bill during a press conference Friday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Veto override vote on education bill expected to have consequences — and no assurance of extra funds

Retaliation by governor, fractured relationships within Legislature on other issues among concerns.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Thursday, March 14, 2024

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Kaskanak Creek in the Bristol Bay’s Kvichak watershed is seen from the air on Sept. 27, 2011. Threats to the watershed and other sites were cited by the Environmental Protection Agency when it issued a decision barring permitting of the Pebble mine. But the Dunleavy administration and Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. have taken legal action to try to reverse that decision. (Photo provided by Environmental Protection Agency
State lawsuit claims federal government owes Alaska $700 billion for quashing Pebble mine

The federal government owes Alaska more than $700 billion in compensation for… Continue reading

Tongass National Forest (Photo by U.S. Forest Service)
New Department of Interior opinion promises to recognize expanded tribal jurisdiction in Alaska

Tribes can exert jurisdiction over allotments granted to individual Natives, opinion states.

Most Read