Effective December 6, 2021, the University of Pittsburgh requires all Pitt affiliates on all campuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. This includes:
- Faculty (including full-time, part-time, and adjunct)
- Staff (including full-time, part-time, and temporary)
- Students (including both graduate, professional and undergraduate)
- Postdocs
To be fully vaccinated an individual must have completed a primary COVID-19 series of vaccine doses as authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO) or have received a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. If added vaccine doses are later designated a part of any vaccine sequence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA or WHO, each student, staff and faculty member must be compliant with that change.
The most successful and sustainable approach to keeping our community healthy and safe is one that utilizes vaccination as a condition of studying or working on our campuses. By enforcing this requirement now, we will be able to maintain a high immunization rate on our campuses, while continuing to support our students and research, as well as protect our workforce, with minimal disruption to our programs, activities, or operations.
Failure to upload proof of vaccination or have an approved exemption on file will result in the following:
- Students enrolled in classes but fail to provide proof or obtain an exemption will be disenrolled.
- Faculty, staff and postdocs will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the University’s disciplinary guidelines, including loss of access to electronic resources and other disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment.
This is an interim policy. A formal charter and committee are being formed to create a permanent policy.
Read more about how to upload your proof of vaccination and booster.
Exemptions
Faculty, staff, and students can request an exemption from this vaccine requirement. Exemption requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) and can only be requested for medical reasons, or reasons based on sincerely held religious belief or because of a strong moral or ethical conviction. Faculty, staff, and students who are granted an exemption may be subject to additional mitigation measures.
Medical exemptions require a doctor’s signature. Religious and moral exemptions require a notarized attestation. Download and print one of the following forms:
Medical Attestation Form
Moral Attestation Form
Religious Attestation Form
A photo or scan of the signed or notarized form must be uploaded to request an exemption.
Before requesting an exemption, please review the following recommended eLearning resources:
CDC Facts
CDC FAQ
"Know Your Risk of Getting COVID-19" CDC Video
If you need assistance with understanding the exemption process, completing forms, uploading documents or have other questions, you may email exemptions@pitt.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everyone covered by this policy?
The University requires every faculty member, staff member and students to comply with the policy. Graduate and professional students enrolled in 100% online programs, guests, vendors and volunteers do not need to submit proof of vaccination or submit an exemption request. Guests must register online prior to entering University facilities.
What documentation is required for exemption?
Individuals who wish to request an exemption from the vaccine must complete three steps:
1. Download, print and complete one of the exemption forms (available for download above).
2. Obtain a signature from a doctor for medical forms or a notary for moral or religious forms.
3. Before requesting an exemption, please review the recommended eLearning resources from the CDC above.
4. Upload a photo or scan of your signed or notarized document to the Exemption Request Form online.
Can I attach an additional documentation to supplement the attestation form?
Yes, you can provide additional documentation. However, all of the documentation must be saved as a single file for upload to the online exemption request.
Who can notarize a religious and moral exemption attestation form? Any notary public may notarize these documents. A notary public commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may charge $5.00 to attest a signature. If you need help getting a form notarized, please use one of the following links to request assistance:
Email Bradford
Email Greensburg
Email Johnstown
Email Pittsburgh
Email Titusville
Can I complete my vaccine requirement exemption request through student health?
No, students should not go to Student Health. Students should seek exemption approval from their primary care physician and must submit through the vaccine requirement exemption process in the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
How will I know if my exemption is approved?
OEDI will email individuals regarding the approval or denial of their request.
I am working or taking classes remotely 100%. Do I still need to upload proof or obtain an exemption request?
Yes, employees who have a flexible work arrangement that permits them to work remotely 100% of the time still need to upload their vaccination card or submit a request obtain to an exemption. Students who are taking classes remotely must also provide proof of vaccination or obtain an exemption, except for graduate and professional students solely enrolled in 100% online program.
I currently attend class remotely. Do I still need to upload proof or obtain an exemption request?
Yes, with one exception: Students who are enrolled solely in an online program are excluded from the policy.
Do I have to wait the full two weeks to upload my proof of vaccination?
No, you are in compliance with this policy immediately following the single dose of a one-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine.
What are the vaccination requirements for new employees or new students?
Effective December 6, 2021, new employees must submit proof of vaccination or have received an exemption from the requirement prior to beginning work at the University, and new students must submit proof of vaccination or have received an exemption to enroll in courses.
My vaccination record is not written in English. Is an English translation required?
Yes, vaccination records must be translated to English in order for student health services to validate.
I already uploaded my vaccine card. Why am I still receiving noncompliance notification?
Go to https://pi.tt/conform and check that you have a green check mark. If you do have a green check mark, it’s just a timing issue and you will be listed as compliant by the next day.
If you do not have a green check mark, please resubmit vaccination information at https://pittforms.tfaforms.net/f/myvaccinecard.