Employees of the University of Alabama Systems and Auburn University must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8, as ordered by the federal government, the University of Alabama System said Friday.
President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14042 on Sept. 9, which requires federal contractors to mandate employees be fully vaccinated.
“As federal contractors, and like most higher education institutions, the University of Alabama System campuses – including The University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama in Huntsville – and Auburn University must comply with the Executive Order and accompanying guidance unless that Executive Order is withdrawn or modified,” the University of Alabama System said in a statement.
The universities are required to ensure all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8 “unless they have an approved medical, disability, or religious exemption” the statement reads.
“Because this vaccination requirement is mandated by the federal government, our institutions do not have flexibility in its application or enforcement. Failure to comply will place our universities in jeopardy of losing hundreds of millions of dollars received through federal contracts and awards, as well as thousands of jobs funded by those dollars,” the statement continues. “This outcome would severely impact our institutions’ teaching, research and service capabilities and could hamper economic development activity.”
