Current through all regulations passed and filed through December 16, 2024
(A) Purpose. This policy is intended to
provide Kent state university with the ability to take certain community health
measures to respond to a public health emergency related to a transmittable
disease, epidemic, and/or pandemic that may affect the health and safety of
persons associated with Kent state university.
(B) Scope. This policy applies to all faculty, staff,
students and student organizations while conducting any activities on or off
campus ("community members") and to visitors of Kent state university while
present at any university location.
(C) Implementation.
(1) Authority to establish health
requirements. The president, in consultation with the university chief
physician ('UCP'), shall hold the authority to establish specific health
requirements for community members and/or visitors appropriate to community
health risks as recommended by the United States department of health and human
services centers for disease control and prevention ('CDC') or the Ohio
department of health. All community members of any campus of Kent state
university shall be required to comply with all specific health requirements
promulgated under this policy as may be prescribed by the president pursuant to
an identified community health risk. The president will communicate via
electronic mail to community members all specific health requirements
promulgated under this policy. All specific health requirements will also be
posted on the Kent state university website to provide notice to visitors of
the specific health requirements that are applicable to their visit.
(2) Modifications or rescission of specific
health requirements. The president shall hold the authority to modify or
rescind any previously established specific health requirements for community
members and/or visitors. The president or the UCP will communicate any
modifications or rescissions of all specific health requirements promulgated
under this policy via electronic mail to Kent state university faculty, staff,
and students. Modifications and rescissions will also be posted on the Kent
state university website to provide notice to visitors of the specific health
requirements that are applicable to their visit.
(3) Public health orders. In the event that
the Ohio department of health or other authorities with jurisdiction under Ohio
law issue orders, directives or other mandatory guidance (for example, public
health orders signed by the director of the Ohio department of health) that
imposes restrictions upon or mandates certain actions by members of the
university community and/or visitors that are similar to the matters addressed
or promulgated by this policy, it is the intention of this policy that the more
stringent restriction or requirement apply. To the extent that there is a
conflict between a public health order and any provision of this policy, the
public health order will control.
(D) Actions. Each person within the Kent
state university community shall be required to comply with this policy and all
specific health requirements promulgated under this policy. Failure of
community members to comply with this policy and established requirements may
result in disciplinary action under the code of student conduct or the employee
disciplinary process, as may be applicable. Visitors found in noncompliance
with this policy may be prohibited from remaining on or returning to
campus.
(E) Exemptions. All
requests for exemptions from this policy must be in writing and provided to the
appropriate office as provided herein.
(1)
Medical exemption from the temporary health requirement may be granted upon
submission to university health services of a licensed physician's statement
that the community member has a valid contraindication to the health
requirement.
(2) Religious
exemption from the health requirement may be granted if a student aged eighteen
or older (or parent/guardian if student is under eighteen years of age),
submits a signed religious exemption form to university health services.