Dear Faculty and Staff of Shoreline Community College,

Governor Jay Inslee released a new proclamation with updated COVID-19 guidance for Washington colleges. The full proclamation is available online, it provides two paths forward for colleges: (1) require vaccinations on campus and operate with no social distancing requirements; or (2) have no vaccine requirement and operate under many of the same restrictions that were in place this past year. 

Based on this guidance, we have made the decision that, effective September 7, 2021, Shoreline Community College will require students, staff, and faculty to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. However, as there continue to be concerns related to new variants of the virus, and to ensure a safe environment, the College will continue to require that masks be worn at all times while indoors in settings with other people (offices, meetings, classrooms). 

By September 7, 2021 employees (regardless of work location) will need to verify that they have been fully vaccinated unless they are claiming a medical, religious, or philosophical (personal) exemption. Students who are taking classes on campus will also need to provide this verification before classes begin in Fall 2021. Please note, students who are enrolled exclusively in online or virtual classes and will not be required to verify their vaccination status. We are currently developing a system that will allow you to submit COVID-19 vaccination verification or exemptions (for staff and students). Watch for more details on this process in the coming weeks.  

In tandem with the gradual re-opening of our campuses, the College will continue to offer robust online learning options and virtual services so that all of our students can learn in the environment that works best for them with the support they need, as they pursue their education at Shoreline.  

We are hopeful that, by working closely with all employees regarding safe re-opening options, this will allow the College to focus on rebuilding enrollment while ensuring that Shoreline stays at the forefront for education in the Seattle region. Our hope is that being a fully vaccinated campus will be the best and quickest way for us to get back to in-person learning in a way that protects our individual and collective health and safety while maintaining an abundance of caution.

While this message provides a broad overview regarding the vaccination required direction the College will be moving in, in the coming weeks the College will continue to post updated COVID guidance and FAQ’s on the Shoreline Community College website.

Sincerely,

Phillip J. King

Acting President