Eastern Oregon University > Coronavirus Information > Archives > Oct. 15, 2021 – Friday COVID Update

Oct. 15, 2021 – Friday COVID Update

EOU Employees and Students,

Important Deadline for Student and Employee Vaccination Requirement

Students and employees who work, learn or engage in-person on EOU’s La Grande campus have until next Friday, Oct. 22 to submit their proof of vaccination or request and receive an exemption. 

The vaccination rate among students and employees is considerably higher than that of the local general population. The vaccination rate among students attending in-person classes is 76% and among main campus employees it is 80% – both are considerably higher than that of the local general population. We are seeing this same trend at universities across the state, where campuses like EOU are generally the safest zones in the community. See the EOU dashboard for updated information. 

EOU meets weekly with the county health authority and hosted an on-campus vaccination clinic last week. We also follow state and federal laws that require us to offer certain medical and non-medical exemptions to vaccinations of any kind for both students and employees. 

Students who are unvaccinated completed a COVID-19 test prior to attending in-person classes. They also complete daily health checks, and if they are exposed they must follow strict quarantine and testing rules to ensure the continued health and safety of all. Additionally, face covering policies and continued physical distancing where possible for all members of the campus community build out a toolkit for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 at EOU. 

Weekly vaccination clinics and testing for COVID-19

  • Friday vaccination clinics at CHD: Union County’s public health authority, CHD Inc., is offering free vaccinations in La Grande. These drop-in clinics take place at the Center for Human Development (2301 Cove Avenue), and offer first and second doses on a first-come, first-serve basis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Friday.
  • Tuesday testing at Bi-Mart: Free COVID tests are available each Tuesday at the La Grande Bi-Mart. 

Regular hand-washing, proper face coverings and completing the Daily Health Check remain critical to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment. Contact your supervisor if you feel unwell, or if you have questions about COVID-19 safety measures. Do not come to campus if you are sick in any way.

Thank you for your vigilance in protecting the welfare of our campus community as we work to provide a high-quality education in rural Oregon. Find more information at eou.edu/coronavirus

Thank you, 

Executive Leadership Team