COVID-19 accommodations and/or exemptions
Case Western Reserve University's (CWRU) Office of Equity is committed to providing all faculty, staff and students with equal opportunities to take full advantage of the university's educational, academic, and residential programs and services. CWRU's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy requires that all faculty, staff, and students whose work or study requires their presence on campus must establish that they are fully vaccinated, i.e., it has been two weeks since they have received their final dose of an COVID-19 vaccine.
The Office of Equity recognizes that employees with documented disabilities may need assistance or accommodations in order to achieve this objective, and that some employees may require an accommodation that exempts them from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement. The Office of Equity is also aware that some students and employees may hold sincere religious, ethical or moral beliefs which prevent them from becoming vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
Students and employees who preiously requested and received an exemption from the Office of Equity, permitting them to be excused from the COVID-19 vaccination and/or booster requirement, do not need to request another exemption. Rather, Students and employees 2022-2023 exemptions will be renewed to cover the 2023-2024 academic year.
Students enrolled or who will be enrolled in a health education program which requires participation in clinical experiences to graduate are advised that this exemption applies only to the CWRU campus and not to any clinical partners with whom you may have opportunity to gain clinical experiences. No document created or used in this process maby be used to establish an exemption with any CWRU clinical partner, and you will be required, separately, to obtain exemptions from any vaccine or booster requirements set by clinical partners. It is possible that stidemts who are unvaccinated or not boosted against COVID may ultimately be unable to find sufficient clinical experiences to meet graduation requirements in their academic program.
Request for Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
Medical Request for Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirements: If you are a staff or faculty member seeking an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to a personal medical condition, please instruct your medical provider to complete the medical accommodation request form and follow the form's instructions for submitting it to equity@case.edu or Fax to 216.368.8805. You will also need to provide information from your health care provider identifying your diagnosis and explaining how your condition prevents you from becoming vaccinated and/or boosted against COVID-19. You must also submit a signed HIPPA Release Form.
Religious Accommodation Request for Exemption from COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirements: If you are a student, staff or faculty member seeking an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement due to a sincerely held religious, moral or ethical belief that prevents you form beoming vaccinated or boosted, please complete the request for COVID-19 religious accommodation form online and follow the form's instructions for submitting it to equity@case.edu.
No student or employee may request an exemption prior to receipt of their CWRU Network ID. A person who is seeking an exemption in order to assess whether to become employed by or enrolled in CWRU, and who does not yet have a network ID, may contact the the Senior Acssociate Vice President - Equity, at 216.368.6841 or rxl768@case.edu to request an advisory opinion about whether an exemption will be granted.