1. Purpose

   This policy is intended to provide Ohio University with the ability to take appropriate community health measures to address threats caused by transmittable disease, epidemics, pandemics, and other threats to the health and safety of persons associated with Ohio university. Faculty, staff, student organizations and students of all campuses are all members of the Ohio University community (“community members”). Being part of a public university requires that all community members have an obligation to protect personal health as well as each other. To reduce the risk of exposure to serious illness from infectious disease and other threats to public health, all community members have a vital role in limiting the threats to health and safety.

2. Policy

   This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students and student organizations while conducting any activities on or off campus and to visitors of Ohio University while present at any university location.

   1. Authority to establish health requirements

      The President, or their designee, in consultation with the Chief Medical Affairs Officer (“CMAO”), has the authority to establish specific health requirements for community members appropriate to current community health risks as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) or the Ohio Department of Health. All community members of any campus of the Ohio university must comply with all specific health requirements promulgated under this policy that may be prescribed by the President pursuant to an identified community health risk. The President or the CMAO will communicate via electronic mail to Ohio university faculty, staff, and students all specific health requirements promulgated under this policy. All specific health requirements in effect will also be posted on the Ohio university website at for visitors.

   2. Modification or Rescission of Specific Health Requirements

      The President, or their designee, has authority to modify or rescind any previously established specific health requirements for community members. The President or the CMAO will communicate any modifications or rescissions of all specific health requirements promulgated under this policy via electronic mail to Ohio university faculty, staff, and students. Modifications and rescissions will also be posted in appropriate locations for employees and will be noted on the Ohio university website for visitors.

   3. Public Health Orders

      In the event that the Ohio Department of Health or other authorities with jurisdiction issue orders, directives or other mandatory guidance (Public Health Orders) that imposes restrictions upon or mandates certain actions by members of the university community that are similar to the matters addressed or promulgated by this policy, it is the intention of this policy that the more stringent restriction 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.

   4. Sanctions

      Each person within the Ohio university community must comply with this policy and all specific health requirements promulgated under this policy. Failure to comply with this policy and established requirements may result in disciplinary action under the code of student conduct or the applicable employee process. Visitors failing to comply with the policy may be prohibited from remaining on or returning to campus.

Reviewers

Proposed revisions of this policy should be reviewed by:

1. CMAO

2. Chief Human Resources Officer

3. Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Safety

4. Vice President for University Communications and Marketing 

5. Special Assistant for Public Health Operations 

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   The following form is specific to this:

   There are no forms that are specific to this policy 

2. References

   The following items are relevant to this policy:

   1. Policy  44.109 , "Safety Management."

   2. Student Code of Conduct Part D. 16, "Violation of University Policy."

3. History

   A prior version of this policy was approved on:

   1. September 2, 2021 (revisions issued to comply with public health directives issued on August 31, 2021)

   2. June 28, 2021 (revisions issued to comply with public health directives issued on June 16, 2021) 

   3. July 22, 2020 (approved for interim use in accordance with Policy 01.001