Current COVID-19 Requirements

For Employees

Experiencing symptoms or exposed to COVID-19?

Have you been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19? Please contact your supervisor to let them know. Then, follow our guide

CCS Employee Vaccine Mandate FAQs

What are the new rules?
On August 18, Governor Jay Inslee announced a directive requiring all employees working in higher education to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain a religious or medical exemption by October 18, 2021, as a condition of employment. There are limited exemptions for medical and religious reasons. There no longer is a philosophical exemption or an option to have ongoing testing instead of a vaccination. In addition, all higher education employees without an approved exemption will have to provide proof of vaccination to CCS. The process for validating vaccination documents and evaluating exemption applications is being developed and we will update this information when it is available. This rule also applies to all contractors and volunteers working on CCS properties.

In this same announcement, the Governor declared that masks will be required for all vaccinated and unvaccinated people in any indoor public setting, so CCS will continue its current policy of requiring indoor mask wearing.

This new vaccination requirement also applies to all employees working in K-12, most childcare and early learning. Earlier proclamations already put these requirements in place for most state employees and all health care workers.

On what legal grounds can the Governor issue this requirement?
In response to the emerging COVID-19 threat, the Governor declared a state of emergency on February 29, 2020, using his broad authority under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 43.06. More specifically, under RCW 43.06.220, after a state of emergency has been declared, the Governor may suspend statutes and prohibit any activity that he believes should be prohibited to preserve and maintain life, health, property, or the public peace. Under an emergency such as this, the Governor’s paramount duty is to focus on the health and safety of our communities.

What does “fully vaccinated” mean?
Fully vaccinated is defined as two weeks since the final dose of vaccine. This means the final dose of a two-dose vaccine must be received no later than Oct. 4. To allow for the time medically required between doses in the two-dose vaccine series the following timeline applies:

Moderna: First dose no later than Sept. 6, second dose no later than Oct. 4
Pfizer: First does no later than Sept. 13, second dose no later than Oct. 4
Johnson & Johnson: Single dose no later than Oct. 4

What exemptions are allowed?
We do not yet have the language from the state for the exemptions in higher education. We will update this FAQ as soon as we receive that information. This new requirement will include well-defined exemptions to the vaccine. Individuals with legitimate medical reasons or sincerely held religious reasons will be exempt. The exemptions do not include personal or philosophical objections and medical exemptions will require documentation.
While we await language specific to higher education, exemptions for state agency employees were communicated recently and provide the following:

If entitled under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Washington Law Against Discrimination to a disability-related reasonable accommodation or a sincerely held religious belief accommodation, then:
- For disability-related – The employer must obtain from the individual requesting the accommodation documentation from an appropriate health care or rehabilitation professional authorized to practice in the state, stating that the individual has a disability that necessitates an accommodation and the probable duration of the need for the accommodation.
- For religious belief – The employer must document that the request for an accommodation has been made and the document must include a statement regarding the way in which the requirements of this order conflict with the religious observance, practice, or belief of the individual.

Again, the above is currently specific to non-higher education state employees and we await higher education specific language. The above is for information only at this time.

What will happen to employees who do not get vaccinated and are not granted an exemption?
The new rules state that employees who do not meet these requirements will be subject to dismissal from employment for failure to meet legal job qualifications.

Does this apply to faculty and staff who are working remotely or only teaching online?
Yes. The rules are the same for in-person and online/teleworking faculty and staff. Everyone must comply as a condition of continued employment.

Can I agree to regular testing instead?
No. Testing in lieu of vaccination is not allowed.

What is the process for requesting an exemption?
This will be managed through the CCS Human Resources Office and the necessary forms and process are under development now. We also are awaiting state authorized exemption forms. We will update this information as soon as possible.

What is the process for proving my vaccination status?
This process is being developed now. Our plan is to offer multiple times and places for people to bring their vaccination information so that we can verify it. We do not yet have this information. We will update this information as soon as possible.

What will be acceptable forms of proof of vaccination?
Employees must provide proof of vaccination by showing their vaccine card, certificate of COVID-19 vaccination, or Washington State Immunization Information System printout. See the Visual Guide to Official Washington State Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination to see what each kind of documentation looks like.

Can employees prove their vaccination status through an attestation?
No. Employees must provide proof by showing one of the documents listed in the Visual Guide to Official Washington State Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination.

If I have already been infected with COVID-19 and have natural immunity, do I need to be vaccinated?
Yes. So far, data show it is uncommon to be reinfected with COVID-19 the 90 days after someone was infected, but we don’t know how long that “natural immunity” lasts as people can get COVID-19 more than once. In addition, the risks of infection outweigh the risks of immunization. The COVID-19 vaccines offer better protection than “natural immunity” alone and help prevent reinfections. That is why the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends anyone who previously had COVID-19 get the vaccine.

Can I come to work before I am fully vaccinated?
Yes. If you are not fully vaccinated, you may continue working as you take the time to get fully vaccinated or request a medical or religious exemption. You must be fully vaccinated or obtain an exemption by October 18, 2021, as a condition of continued employment.

Will this rule apply to CCS students?
At this time, the new vaccination requirements do not apply to our students. But that could change in the future.

Will this apply to student employees?
Yes

What happens if I refuse to get vaccinated?
All employees must be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical or religious exemption by October 18, 2021 as a qualification of fitness for continued employment. Employees who do not provide proof of vaccination or a medical or religious exemption will be subject to nondisciplinary dismissal from employment for failing to meet the qualifications of the job. There may be continued or additional safety requirements for employees who are granted exemptions.

Are my only options to get vaccinated or lose my job?
No. The Governor’s order allows staff to obtain a medical or religious exemption if necessary.

Why don’t you have more information and processes available now?
CCS and our state community college system were not told about these new health regulations in advance of the Governor’s announcement on Aug. 18. We wanted to share with you what we know now so that everyone has as much time as possible to comply with the new regulations. We are developing processes to document proof of vaccinations and to evaluate requests for exemptions as quickly as possible. We are also awaiting authorized forms from the state. The information here will be regularly updated as we know more. Please check here for updates.

Here is a link to the Governor’s announcement.

Employee Travel
CCS prohibits employees who are not fully vaccinated from traveling outside the CCS service area for college related business. The CCS service area encompasses Spokane,

Vaccinations required for all CCS employees

Community Colleges of Spokane is requiring vaccinations for all employees in accordance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s Vaccination Proclamation 21-14.1.

All CCS employees are required to verify vaccination status through ctcLink and through the CCS Human Resources department.
For help completing the ctcLink form, please read these step-by-step instructions.

Employee Vaccination Verification Process

Verification Process

Visit an authorized “Vaccination Documentation Verifier.”

Verification can also be completed by electronic meeting (ZOOM or TEAMs). Contact an authorized verifier to arrange an e-verification.

Bring the following two (2) pieces of information with you to be verified:

One of the following acceptable forms of proof of your full vaccination status:
- CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card (or a legible photo of the card), or
- Documentation of vaccination from a health care provider or electronic health record, or
- State immunization information system record.
- See Visual Guide to Official Washington State Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for more information on acceptable forms of documentation.
Your ctcLink Employee ID #

What happens next?

The verifier will review your documentation against state requirements and let you know if your documentation is accepted or not.

If accepted, your information will be logged and submitted to the HR Office
- HR will update your vaccination status on your ctcLink Bio Page. You can confirm this has occurred by doing the following (wait five working days after verification):
  - Go to ctcLink and sign in
  - Select “HCM”
  - Select “Employee Self Service” tile titled…
    - “Immunization tile”
- If you do not see your status verified or believe there is an error, contact Melody Matthews at melody.matthews@ccs.spokane.edu to confirm.
If not accepted, you will be told why by the verifier and given direction of how to proceed.

Per the Governor’s Proclamation 21-14, employees must be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment.

Exemptions

For those claiming a religious or medical exemption, please email completed Religious Exemption Request Form or Vaccine Medical Exemption Form to Grace Leaf, HR Services Director, at Grace.Leaf@ccs.spokane.edu by no later than September 24, 2021.

If you are denied an exemption you will instead have a choice between becoming vaccinated or subject to non-disciplinary dismissal from employment for failing to meet the requirements of your job. If choosing vaccination, you must complete the full vaccination series by not later than October 4, 2021.

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days following their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or 14 days following their single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

	Series Dose Requirement	First Dose No Later Than	Second Dose	Completed Series	Fully Vaccinated
Pfizer	2 doses, 21 days apart	09/13/21	10/04/21	10/04/21	10/18/21
Moderna	2 doses, 28 days apart	09/06/21	10/04/21	10/04/21	10/18/21
Johnson & Johnson	Single dose	10/04/21	N/A	10/04/21	10/18/21

Vaccination Requirement for CCS Contractors

CCS is in compliance with Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.1 – COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement. The proclamation requires contractors who have goods, services, or public works contracts with a higher education institution to ensure that their personnel (including subcontractors) who perform contract activities on site comply with the COVID-19 vaccination requirements, by requiring such personnel to be fully vaccinated, unless properly exempted for disability or sincerely held religious beliefs, as set forth in the proclamation.

CCS requires all contractors who have employees working at CCS facilities to attest that their employees are fully vaccinated or exempt from vaccination due to disability or sincerely held religious beliefs. Contractors must also determine any accommodations needed for such exemptions. For more information, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions for Contractors, or contact the CCS Business Office at CCS.BusinessOffice@ccs.spokane.edu.

Indoor Mask Policy

CCS will be requiring all individuals – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a face covering while indoors on campus, in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent indoor mask mandate. There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

According to the Washington State Department of Health best practices, a mask or face covering is:

Anything that completely covers your mouth and nose and fits securely on the sides of your face and under your chin
Made of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric with ties or straps that go around your head or behind your ears.

More protective coverings, such as masks or respirators may be required in the workplace.

Employee Travel

Community Colleges of Spokane does not allow employees who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel outside of its six-county service area to conduct CCS business. The CCS service area encompasses Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties and portions of Lincoln County. Employees who are required to follow strict COVID-19 testing protocols per NWAC regulations may travel as long as they do not test positive for COVID-19.

Fully vaccinated employees who are traveling on CCS business are required to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) current COVID-19 travel advisory guidance.

If you are fully vaccinated, it is recommended that you take the following steps to protect others.

Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements, including mask wearing and social distancing while traveling and upon your return.
In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
After travel, self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.

For Students

Experiencing symptoms or exposed to COVID-19?

Have you been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19? Please contact your instructor to let them know. Then, follow our guide.

Vaccinations or exemptions required for all CCS students

Community Colleges of Spokane will be requiring COVID-19 vaccinations in accordance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s Higher Education Proclamation. All students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they claim a religious or medical exemption.

All CCS students are required to fill out the “Immunization Attestation” information found on their Student Homepage of ctcLink. Students who do not attest will not be allowed to register for winter quarter classes.

Immunization Attestation Guide

For returning students who wish to be fully vaccinated and register for winter quarter at the earliest opportunity (November 1):

The Moderna sequence must begin by September 20
The Pfizer sequence must begin by September 27
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine received by October 18

For new students who wish to be fully vaccinated and register for winter quarter at the earliest opportunity (November 8):

The Moderna sequence must begin by September 27
The Pfizer sequence must begin by October 4
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine received by October 25

For new students who wish to be fully vaccinated by the first day of winter quarter classes (January 4):

The Moderna sequence must begin by November 23
The Pfizer sequence must begin by November 30
The Johnson and Johnson vaccine received by December 21

Attestation forms can be updated and changed at any time.

Fully Vaccinated Campus FAQs

Q: What are the rules around masking?
A: CCS will be requiring all individuals – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a face covering while indoors on campus, in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent indoor mask mandate. The mandate goes into effect Monday, Aug. 23. There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, a mask or face covering is anything that completely covers your mouth and nose and fits securely on the sides of your face and under your chin. It should be made of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric with ties or straps that go around your head or behind your ears. More protective coverings, such as masks or respirators may be required in the workplace.

Q: Will unvaccinated employees or students be prevented from coming to campus?
A: No. Students with an exemption status may come to campus as long as they comply with masking requirements. CCS faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18 unless they have a legitimate medical exemption, or claim a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with Gov. Inslee’s Aug. 18 vaccination mandate.

Q: What kind of mask should I wear?
A: According to the Washington State Department of Health, a mask or face covering is anything that completely covers your mouth and nose, and fits securely on the sides of your face and under your chin. It should be made of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric with ties or straps that go around your head or behind your ears. More protective coverings, such as masks or respirators may be required in the workplace.

Q. If I was previously diagnosed with COVID-19, do I still need to get vaccinated?
A. Yes. A previous COVID-19 infection/diagnosis does not satisfy the vaccination requirement.

Q: Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with masking requirements?
A: Faculty will work with their students in their classroom to maintain compliance with the new guidelines. Students who do not comply with masking requirements when directed by faculty or staff may be subject to disciplinary action through the student code of conduct. Supervisors will work with their employees in their area to maintain compliance with the new guidelines. Individuals who fail to comply with masking requirements may be subject to discipline as outlined in their respective collective bargaining agreement and master contract, and non-represented employees under CCS policies and procedures.

Q: What are the consequences for not wearing a required mask?
A: Individuals who fail to comply with masking requirements may be subject to discipline.

Q: What rules apply to visitors and guests?
A: Visitors and guests must comply with the Governor's face covering mandate and any applicable L&I workplace safety requirements. This applies to guest speakers, advisory committee members and other industry partners, and prospective students, among others. Currently, this means all students, faculty, staff, visitors and guests must wear facemaks indoors with limited exception.

Q: Is proof of vaccination required or can self-attestation information be verified?
A: The self-attestation form does not require proof of vaccination to be entered, only the dates that shots were received and that the individual attests to the truthfulness of their attestation. Immunization status may be verified with the Washington State Department of Health. Assertion of exemption status does not require any documentation. CCS and state and local public health officials may ask for verification of student vaccination status in the future. CCS and state and local public health officials may ask for verification of student vaccination status in the future.

Q: Is there any distinction between medical and religious exemptions?
A: Medical exemptions are granted to those with documentation on file including allergies, pregnancy, or other conditions the CDC considers contraindication for the COVID-19 vaccination. Students and employees may also claim an exemption because of conflicts with their religious beliefs and practices. The College will receive exemption claims in good faith, not questioning the reason. Exemptions will be submitted through the same ctcLink online portal.

Q: Will the campus know what percentage of employees and students are vaccinated?
A: Yes.

Q: What are the consequences for misrepresentation of vaccination status?
A: Individuals who misrepresent their vaccination status may be subject to discipline.

Q: What are the social distancing requirements now?
A: All social distancing requirements are removed under the new protocol, except dining areas which are three feet; this applies to all individuals on campus equally.

Q: Are we still checking temperatures, completing daily health attestations, and checking in at building entrances?
A: The daily health attestation will be discontinued, no daily health checks will be performed and building check-in stations will be removed.

Q: Do the new guidelines mean students can be on campus outside of class time and use the common areas?
A: Yes, campuses are fully re-opening!

Q: How will COVID cases on campus be reported and tracked?
A: The Stay Safe, Stay Open Committee is reviewing the current protocol for reporting and tracking. A new procedure for both employee and student situations could come soon.

Q: Will online students be required to complete an attestation?
A: An attestation is required of any CCS student or employee, regardless of location. This is because many fully-online students access on-campus services, such as the bookstore, tutoring and financial aid.

Q: What steps are needed for job accommodation for employees?
A: The Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) law went into effect in May 2021. More information about the act is at F417-291-000 Q&A - Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) (wa.gov). If you are at high risk due to COVID-19, and want to request an accommodation, please contact Reggie Eans at the Human Resources office at reggie.eans@ccs.spokane.edu.

Indoor Mask Policy

CCS requires all individuals – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a face covering while indoors on campus, in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s indoor mask mandate. There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

According to the Washington State Department of Health best practices, a mask or face covering is:

Anything that completely covers your mouth and nose and fits securely on the sides of your face and under your chin
Made of two or more layers of tightly woven fabric with ties or straps that go around your head or behind your ears.

More protective coverings, such as masks or respirators may be required in the workplace.

Student Employees Must be Fully Vaccinated by Oct. 18

Student employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18. As with state employees and private healthcare workers, there will be no test out option. The governor’s requirement provides exceptions that employees may apply for, including “legitimate medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Student Employee Vaccination Verification Process

Verification Process

Visit an authorized “Vaccination Documentation Verifier.”

Verification can also be completed by electronic meeting (ZOOM or TEAMs). Contact an authorized verifier to arrange an e-verification.

Bring the following two (2) pieces of information with you to be verified:

One of the following acceptable forms of proof of your full vaccination status:
- CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card (or a legible photo of the card), or
- Documentation of vaccination from a health care provider or electronic health record, or
- State immunization information system record.
- See Visual Guide to Official Washington State Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for more information on acceptable forms of documentation.
Your ctcLink Employee ID #

What happens next?

The verifier will review your documentation against state requirements and let you know if your documentation is accepted or not.

If accepted, your information will be logged and submitted to the HR Office
- HR will update your vaccination status on your ctcLink Bio Page. You can confirm this has occurred by doing the following (wait five working days after verification):
  - Go to ctcLink and sign in
  - Select “HCM”
  - Select “Employee Self Service” tile titled…
    - “Immunization tile”
- If you do not see your status verified or believe there is an error, contact Melody Matthews at melody.matthews@ccs.spokane.edu to confirm.
If not accepted, you will be told why by the verifier and given direction of how to proceed.

Per the Governor’s Proclamation 21-14, employees must be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment.

Exemptions

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days following their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or 14 days following their single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

	Series Dose Requirement	First Dose No Later Than	Second Dose	Completed Series	Fully Vaccinated
Pfizer	2 doses, 21 days apart	09/13/21	10/04/21	10/04/21	10/18/21
Moderna	2 doses, 28 days apart	09/06/21	10/04/21	10/04/21	10/18/21
Johnson & Johnson	Single dose	10/04/21	N/A	10/04/21	10/18/21

Previous COVID-19 Updates

July 29, 2021 -- CCS to be fully vaccinated campuses; students must attest to vaccination status

Updated Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021

Community Colleges of Spokane to require vaccinations from all students, faculty and staff

CCS will be requiring COVID-19 vaccinations starting Fall Quarter 2021 in accordance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s Higher Education Proclamation 20.12.4 of July 12, 2021. That means all students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they claim a religious or medical exemption. CCS faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18 unless they have a legitimate medical exemption, or claim a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with Gov. Inslee’s Aug. 18 vaccination mandate. Requiring vaccines allows us to offer the most engaging, effective and comprehensive college experience possible this fall.

All CCS students are required to fill out the “Immunization Attestation” information found on their Student Homepage of ctcLink by the first day of class. For help completing the form, please read these step-by-step instructions.

Resources and what to expect

Face coverings

CCS will be requiring all individuals – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a face covering while indoors on campus, in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent indoor mask mandate. The mandate goes into effect Monday, Aug. 23. There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

Fully vaccinated status

A person is considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19:

Two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) or
Two weeks after they have received a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use by the FDA (e.g., Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen).

CCS may also consider a person fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine that is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization

Exemptions

Students may claim a religious or medical. Those who claim an exemption will be required to continue to wear a face covering or mask when on campus or in district offices. Similar to verifying vaccination status, exemptions will be submitted online through ctcLink.

On Aug. 18 Gov. Jay Inslee announced a vaccination requirement for all public and private higher education employees, in addition to applying this requirement to all K-12, childcare and early learning workers in the state. The new requirement applies to all SFCC staff, faculty, volunteers and contractors and requires we be fully vaccinated by October 18.

As with state employees and private healthcare workers, there will be no test out option. The governor’s requirement provides exceptions that employees may apply for, including “legitimate medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs.”

Social distancing

Social distancing will not be required in classrooms or offices. A three-foot distance will be required in food service establishments, regardless of vaccination status.

In-person classes

For the first time since winter 2020, SCC and SFCC will offer in-person dining. Services will resume normal operations come Fall Quarter.

On-campus dining

For the first time since winter 2020, SCC and SFCC will offer in-person dining. Services will resume normal operations come Fall Quarter.

Online learning and running start

Students enrolled exclusively in online or virtual classes – like all CCS students and employees – are required to verify their vaccination status. Similarly, Running Start students will follow the college’s vaccination requirements.

Volunteers, contractors and visitors

Every volunteer, contractor and visitor must wear a face covering at CCS locations in accordance with the Secretary of Health’s face covering order and comply with any applicable L&I workplace safety requirements.

Stigma reduction

Misinformation can spread faster than a virus. Everyone can help stop stigma related to COVID-19 by sharing accurate information about how the virus spreads in addition to accurate information about vaccines and their effectiveness.

Please remember that all official communication from the college is done through the Marketing and Public Relations Office.

Vaccine Resources

Aug. 19, 2021 -- Employee Vaccination Mandate and Indoor Mask Policy

Updated Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021

COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for all college employees

On Aug. 18 Gov. Jay Inslee announced a vaccination requirement for all public and private higher education employees, in addition to applying this requirement to all K-12, childcare and early learning workers in the state The new requirement applies to all CCS staff, faculty, volunteers and contractors and requires we be fully vaccinated by October 18.

Community Colleges of Spokane to require masks for all individuals regardless of vaccination status

CCS will be requiring all individuals – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a face covering while indoors on campus, in compliance with Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent indoor mask mandate. The mandate goes into effect Monday, Aug. 23. There will be limited exceptions when face coverings won’t be required, such as office spaces not easily accessible to the public where individuals are vaccinated, and when working alone indoors or in a vehicle with no public face-to-face interaction.

This new face mask requirement does not supersede CCS' decision to become “fully vaccinated” campuses. All students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they claim a religious, medical or philosophical exemption. CCS faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18 unless they have a legitimate medical exemption, or claim a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with Gov. Inslee’s Aug. 18 vaccination mandate.

Aug. 23, 2021 -- Employee vaccination verification process ready

Updated Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2021

Vaccination verification process for all Community Colleges of Spokane employees and student employees is now ready

On Aug. 18 Gov. Jay Inslee announced a vaccination requirement for all public and private higher education employees including student employees, in addition to applying this requirement to all K-12, childcare and early learning workers in the state. The new requirement applies to all CCS staff, faculty, volunteers and contractors and requires we be fully vaccinated by October 18.

Note: This verification is for CCS employees and student employees only. All SCC and SFCC students are required to fill out the “Immunization Attestation” information found on their Student Homepage of ctcLink by the first day of class. Student employees must fill out both the employment verification and immunization attestation. For help completing the form, please read these step-by-step instructions.

Verification Process

Visit an authorized “Vaccination Documentation Verifier.”

Verification can also be completed by electronic meeting (ZOOM or TEAMs). Contact an authorized verifier to arrange an e-verification.

Bring the following two (2) pieces of information with you to be verified:

One of the following acceptable forms of proof of your full vaccination status:
- CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card (or a legible photo of the card), or
- Documentation of vaccination from a health care provider or electronic health record, or
- State immunization information system record.
- See Visual Guide to Official Washington State Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for more information on acceptable forms of documentation.
Your ctcLink Employee ID #

What happens next?

The verifier will review your documentation against state requirements and let you know if your documentation is accepted or not.

If accepted, your information will be logged and submitted to the HR Office
- HR will update your vaccination status on your ctcLink Bio Page. You can confirm this has occurred by doing the following (wait five working days after verification):
  - Go to ctcLink and sign in
  - Select “HCM”
  - Select “Employee Self Service” tile titled…
    - “Immunization tile”
- If you do not see your status verified or believe there is an error, contact Melody Matthews at melody.matthews@ccs.spokane.edu to confirm.
If not accepted, you will be told why by the verifier and given direction of how to proceed.

Per the Governor’s Proclamation 21-14, employees must be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021 as a condition of employment.

Exemptions

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days following their last dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or 14 days following their single dose of Johnson & Johnson.

Aug. 31, 2021 -- Student philosophical exemption no longer allowed