Welcome to Fall; Vaccine Requirement Update

August 24, 2021

Dear LSU Faculty and Staff,

I am excited to be starting my first fall semester here at LSU, and I look forward to experiencing all that LSU has to offer alongside you.

Thank you in advance for your role in enabling us to offer the in-person experience students deserve and have been hoping for this semester. I recognize the road has not been an easy one, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk through the challenges we face together. With your support, I am confident we can resolve most issues and work hand-in-hand to keep the LSU community safe and healthy.

As you may know, yesterday the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 16 and over, paving the way for LSU to now require vaccines for students, faculty and staff. Louisiana law allows for students to opt out of vaccinations, and those who choose this route will be required to be tested for COVID on a regular basis. While the law does not allow the same for university employees, it does provide certain exemptions including for medical reasons. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, employees will be able to submit proof of vaccination or complete a vaccine accommodation request form for an exemption. More information on this will follow. Like students, those employees who are exempted from vaccinations will still be required to be tested for COVID on a regular basis.

I also want to let you know that today we will be announcing protocols for home LSU football games that will require either proof of vaccination or a recent COVID test to enter Tiger Stadium. Please be on the lookout for that information as well.

As an epidemiologist, I know that vaccination is the way out of this pandemic, and I’m grateful to everyone who has already been vaccinated for helping us move in that direction. Those who have not yet been vaccinated can do so at one of several locations on campus. We have striven to balance the LSU experience with the necessary steps we must take to protect our community in our fall COVID-19 mitigation protocols. Please help us keep campus safe by reviewing and following our protocols.

Again, thank you for all you have done and continue to do to create an outstanding educational experience at LSU. I feel optimistic about the semester ahead of us, and I look forward to accomplishing great things with you this year.

Sincerely,

William F. Tate IV

LSU President