Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone entering CIIS campuses needs to have proof of vaccination. CIIS has joined many public and private universities around the country, including the University of California system, in adopting a vaccine requirement to protect the health of our communities. CIIS has been following CDC guidelines and attending regular SF Health Department briefings to ensure that we are taking all recommended actions to provide a safe and healthy campus environment for everyone.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will soon require all employers with 100 or more employees to have a  fully vaccinated workforce or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement. This requirement will impact over 80 million workers in private sector businesses with 100+ employees. It absolutely impacts our university.

A vaccine requirement is our best opportunity to ensure that everyone who works and studies on campus is safe. This is especially important for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and those who live with young children and others who cannot yet be vaccinated. Additionally, we now know that the Delta variant is much more transmissible than earlier forms of the virus. We understand that this decision impacts our entire community, and we are taking that impact seriously.

Masks are always required at our Arkansas building. For gatherings of 30 or more people masks are required at the Mission building and all external CIIS functions. 

Students who only enroll in virtual/online courses are not required to provide proof of vaccination. However, these students will need to declare/attest on their Self-Certification form that they do not plan to access Campus/Programs, and that if their plans change, they will submit a revised Certification in advance of any such access. If students need to access in-person support services, they will need to revise their Certification ahead of arriving on campus.

As of September 15, 2021, everyone who enters CIIS buildings, on either Mission Street or Arkansas Street, needs to show proof or have uploaded proof of vaccination. Students need to complete a simple COVID-19 Self-Certification form that is available through their student portal. Students are required to upload a copy of their vaccine card, an electronic copy of their vaccine record, or another type of documentation that confirms their vaccination. A student may be excused from vaccine requirements if they attest to a medical or religious exemption. Any medical exemption must be verified by a licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). No other healthcare professional, licensed or otherwise, will be accepted.

All students and employees entering campus will need to complete a short online health screening form daily, that affirms that they are fully vaccinated and are not experiencing any COVID symptoms. Here is a link to that form Health Screen Form, which we encourage you to bookmark

For verification purposes, you are considered to be “fully vaccinated” two weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two weeks after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  

Mission campus does not require boosters at this time. Arkansas campus as a health care facility requires one booster at this time. 

If students fail to comply with these policies, they will not be permitted to be on campus.

No. You will not be able to register for classes. You need to upload your vaccination proof. Here is the link.

Vaccines are available at many sites throughout the state of California and San Francisco country. The city and county of San Francisco also hosts a website that helps to get a vaccine appointment for anyone who lives, works, or learns in San Francisco. Click here to find an appointment.

If you are having trouble locating a testing site or securing a vaccine appointment, please email OperationsRequests@ciis.edu

No. But free vaccinations are offered at local hospitals, clinics, drugstores, and community centers.

If you are having trouble uploading to Med Proctor, locating a testing site, or securing a vaccine appointment, please contact Operations at email OperationsRequests@ciis.edu

We encourage all community members who have been vaccinated in California to get a California State QR code that certifies you have been vaccinated and are in the State’s database. This QR code is often asked for in various venues around San Francisco. The process is easy and fast: you simply input your name, birth date, and phone number, and if the information syncs with State of California records, they will send a QR code to your phone.  

Please visit the State of California COVID-19 website to get verified. 

This will not substitute the requirement to follow the process below to verify your status through our third-party service.

CIIS recognizes that in rare instances, individuals’ health or medical conditions may rise to level of a necessary exemption. To request an exemption for medical reasons, please use the following link:  

Exemption Form

Your request and supporting documentation will be reviewed by a panel chosen by CIIS leadership. If granted an exemption, you will be expected to follow alternative protocol for the health and safety of the community. This will include regular Covid-19 testing, verification of results, use of masks at all times while indoors (including rest break and bathroom facilities), use of masks while outdoors when unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others, and in other settings as deemed necessary by the CIIS Director of Operations.

Your exemption status will be kept confidential and use of masks by vaccinated individuals will continue to be an accepted community norm and as designated as a requirement by the City and County of San Francisco. For mask requirement accommodation requests, please submit a separate request to HR (if you are faculty or staff) or the Office of Student Accessibility Services (if you are a student). Additional documentation will be required.

Wearing face coverings indoors is not optional for students, staff, or faculty who have approved vaccine exemptions. Individuals who do not comply will be asked to leave the campus buildings.

If a student submits a declaration for a medical exemption, they will need to upload documentation that is verified by a licensed medical doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Please send this documentation to exemptions@ciis.edu. 

Please note: We do not accept exemptions from any other healthcare professional than the two listed above.

If you are seeking an exemption on the basis of religion, you must provide supporting documentation for review by the CIIS Virus Task Force Exemption Committee. The University reserves the right to seek further documentation in any instance where there is significant evidence that a student has fraudulently requested the exemption.

Exemption Form

For students who have received an approved exemption from CIIS, the University requires mandatory mask wearing and proof of a negative COVID-19 test every week that you enter the CIIS campus buildings.

No, there is no exemption granted for personal beliefs of vaccination abstention. We hope that your practice of vaccination abstention is outdistanced by your sense of responsibility to the collective immunity and well-being of your community.

We realize this impacts people with nontraditional religious beliefs, as well as those within organized denominations. We also recognize how this is a sensitive and difficult issue for some. While we respect personal beliefs and the many ways our University honors diverse systems of knowledge, we still must make final decisions that support the overall health and safety of the community based on medical expertise and public health rulings. Please know that these decisions are not made lightly. Our sincere intent is to help our community endure these challenging times together and plan for a return to vibrant, in-person communal spaces.

We have explored this issue extensively and discovered that the religious denominations that have traditionally been granted exemptions have issued statements that they support vaccination guidelines offered by public health departments and the CDC; moreover, those denominations have urged their members to make personal choices based on safety. Many local branch churches do not have the authority to provide support for exemption; such authorization must go through the national office.

For further reading:

Christian Scientist:

https://www.christianscience.com/press-room/a-christian-science-perspective-on-vaccination-and-public-health

Jehovah’s Witness  https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/g201103/protect-your-health/#?insight%5bsearch_id%5d=d0c40694-0b06-4343-82b7-321abed5f19f%26insight%5bsearch_result_index%5d=1

No, not at this time.

Yes, but only if the vaccine is authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has developed a process for assessing and listing unlicensed vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics during public health emergencies. Through that process, several vaccines not available in the United States have received Emergency Use Listing (EUL). 

• To protect your personal health, as well as that of others, including friends, loved ones, and your campus community. Getting immunized helps prevent serious illness, even death, due to COVID-19.
• Vaccines are safe, effective, free, and convenient at upcoming campus clinics.
• The vaccine helps to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading and replicating, which would allow it to mutate and possibly become more resistant to vaccines.
• The sooner we stop the spread of COVID-19, including variants.

All guests entering the CIIS buildings will need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours.

Contact: onlinelearningsupport@ciis.edu.

Yes, you will be asked to answer a digital form at the front desk.

We ask that you take the necessary precautions; receive advice from your health care provider; and stay at home for the required amount of time. Please report any COVID-19 exposure on campus to the Human Resources office and Fraylanie Aglipay, Dean of Students, faglipay@ciis.edu.

The CIIS Wellness Center is dedicated to fostering a sense of wellness and mental well-being within the community. In this period of rapid change and uncertainty, students are encouraged to take part in holistic and whole-person supportive services, at no additional cost. Tuition fees include one-on-one counseling, group counseling, wellness coaching, yoga, and other activities.

You can also access an evidence-based stress management personalized service known as Neolth. Most services are accessible at both Mission Street and ACTCM campuses and available through online platforms. 

To set up an individual counseling appointment, please email counseling@ciis.edu. Once your request is received, a counselor will contact you by phone within 1-2 business days. Current students are provided a limited number of free counseling sessions through their Wellness Fee each academic year.

If you need urgent or crisis care, please call 911 or your primary care provider.

Please contact Fraylanie Aglipay, Dean of Students, faglipay@ciis.edu or Deon Ridgell, Associate Dean of Students, dridgell@ciis.edu with all questions.