Hello--I was curious about this and queried the president's office/VPA. I specifically asked if the University or the Province had made the decision to forego a vaccine mandate.
I got a response from the Covid-19 Response Team at SFU.
This is what they said:
"Regarding mandatory vaccinations, there is no requirement for proof of immunization under the University Act, making it impossible for the university to establish such a mandate, which would also be difficult to enforce. There are no universities in British Columbia currently requiring proof of immunization. All post-secondary institutions continue to monitor the advice of the province and will take the Provincial Health Officer’s direction on this."
My reading of this is that the university could mandate more than the province is recommending--masks, or distancing, or other measures perhaps?--but not vaccines.
I thought this might clarify things a bit.
Chris
Hi Chris,
My understanding is that yesterday Dr. Henry said it is up to each university/college to set their standards above and beyond provincial health orders.
Best, Baharak
_________________
Baharak Yousefi (she/her)
Librarian for History, International Studies, Graduate Liberal Studies, & Political Science
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Regarding frustration with the university's lack of a vaccine requirement: my understanding, which might be incorrect, is that SFU must follow provincial direction on any vaccine mandate. That direction comes from the Ministry of Health and the Min. of Adv. Education, or whatever it's called these days.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
So if faculty and staff want to pressure the university to implement a vaccine requirement, pressure would have to be applied to the university and to the relevant levels of government.
Such requirements are common in the US.
Best Chris On Jul 29, 2021, at 10:46 AM, Lyn Bartram < lyn@sfu.ca> wrote:
Dr. Lyn Bartram
Professor, School of Interactive Arts and Technology Director, Vancouver Institute of Visual Analytics Simon Fraser University | SRYC
250 – 13450 102nd Avenue, Surrey, B.C. V3T 0A3
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************************************** Christopher Pavsek, Ph.D., MRM-Planning Associate Professor of Film Simon Fraser University 149 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4 Canada cpavsek@sfu.caI respectfully acknowledge that I work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
************************************** Christopher Pavsek, Ph.D., MRM-Planning Associate Professor of Film Simon Fraser University 149 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4 Canada cpavsek@sfu.caI respectfully acknowledge that I work on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
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