Latest Updates

University Covid-19 Vaccination Policy

St. Edward's University's Covid-19 vaccination policy is aligned with federal, state, and local laws and committed to ensuring the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff, campus guests, and the greater Central Texas community. 

The policy announced on Monday, March 29 provides exemption pathways supporting student and employee choices related to religious beliefs, underlying medical conditions, and concerns associated with Emergency Use Authorization. The university is following similar procedures for documentation and exemption submission as those established by the Texas State Legislature and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for meningitis vaccinations (THECB Rules, Chapter 21, Subchapter T, §21.612, §21.613, and §21.614). 

In compliance with the Governor of Texas' Executive Order GA-35, issued April 5, 2021, the university's policy will not deny services to those submitting documentation or a qualifying exemption. Qualifying exemptions for students include declining to provide the university an individual's Covid-19 vaccination status. In accordance with CDC guidelines, regional health authority guidelines, and external medical advisors, vaccination and exemption status is instrumental in supporting testing protocols, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation management protocols. We will continue to communicate our evolving health and safety policies and clarify any questions for our students and community as we work to ensure the safe expansion of in-person learning, teaching, and student on-campus residency.

St. Edward's University Covid-19 Vaccination Policy: https://bit.ly/seucovidpolicy

Vaccination Documentation and Exemption Process

As we plan for increased on-campus capacity this fall and with expanded vaccine availability, the university has established a Covid-19 vaccination policy for students studying on-campus, faculty, and staff. Students and employees must submit a copy of their vaccine documentation or religious/medical/EUA decline to share vaccination status exemption through the secure submission portal by September 1, 2021.

Student, Employee and Family Covid-19 Vaccine Pre-Registration

The university has established a pathway for qualifying St. Edward's students, student's family members, employees, and employees' family members ages 16 years or older to pre-register for vaccination appointments through Ascension Medical Group.

Eligible students must be enrolled in one or more courses for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2021. Students are encouraged to review the pre-registration process for more details.

Find a Vaccine Provider

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) expanded general vaccination availability for eligible individuals 16 and older. The university encourages all eligible community members to sign up and get vaccinated. If you have questions or concerns about the vaccines contact your healthcare provider or review these helpful CDC resources.

St. Edward's continues to work with regional partners to ensure students and employees have equitable access to the vaccine no later than their return to campus for the fall semester. The information and vaccine resources on this page will be updated with regional hubs and primary providers. Additionally, please monitor your email and check healthy hilltop website regularly for updated St. Edward's specific access information.

More doses are allocated to regional hubs than other sites. The list of organizations is not fully inclusive and are in no way affiliated with the university.  Please note they may require you to create a third party account. 

St. Edward's does not directly qualify under DSHS current guidelines to be a vaccine provider; however, the university remains in regular communication with vaccine providers about future distributions. Under current distribution, on-campus vaccinations may not be available until early Fall. We recommend all eligible individuals seek and receive the vaccine as soon as it is available to them.

University Community Standards

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the university's primary focus has been on our faculty, staff, and students’ health and safety. The health of the Hilltopper community also directly impacts the greater Austin community. With these considerations in mind and based upon current guidance from the CDC, AMA, ACHA, and university medical advisors, the university will continue our current Covid-19 community standards, and face coverings over the nose and mouth are required outside when 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained and indoors in shared campus spaces at all times. Additionally, the university encourages our community to practice masking up, backing up, and washing up when away from the hilltop.

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69,885
TopperSafe screenings 

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100%
contact trace rate 

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cases of campus-based
or co-curricular transmission

Fall 2021 Planning

Thank you to all students, faculty and staff for their ongoing adherence to our community health guidelines. We are looking forward to an on-campus experience for the Fall 2021 semester. 

We have implemented an in-person and hybrid learning plan as well as a residential housing plan that maintain the best educational experiences and support to our students aligned with the highest levels of health and safety. All course disciplines are scheduled for socially distanced, in-person classroom instruction. Some classes will have a hybrid of in-person and virtual experiences. (Fully online graduate programs are not impacted.)

The university remains committed to the health and safety of all students, faculty and staff. We continue to work with our team of medical advisors on safety precautions for Fall 2021. The university plans on expanding on-campus health services, as well as implementing asymptomatic Covid-19 testing. 

These important webinars will provide you with information on plans for the 2021 fall semester:

Student Support

The university community remains committed to supporting our students through the pandemic. Students can apply for emergency assistance, and community members can submit a Student of Concern form for any student (undergraduate or graduate) experiencing an emergency. Examples of emergencies include assistance with technology needs, rent, utilities, food and other essential household expenses. Learn more about support and resources for student emergencies. 

Support emergency grants for Hilltoppers impacted by Covid-19.

Our Planning Structure

The university’s Covid-19 planning is led by the Risk and Emergency Management Team (REMT), university leaders who guide the safety and planning of all university issues related to any emergency, including a global pandemic. The team is led by vice presidents and reports to the university president. Eight cross-campus workgroups consist of faculty and staff who are experts in their respective fields. In addition, the workgroups incorporate student input through surveys and focus groups. St. Edward’s University is extending its expertise by working with a panel of medical advisors. A core team of physicians and other subject-matter experts are assisting the university with student and staff training, risk assessment, and policy changes. Dr. Nick van Terheyden, former chief medical officer for Dell, and Fred Goldstein, an expert in population health at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, lead the team of advisors. 

Updated April 29, 2021