A few moments ago, Gov. Walz announced an important safety measure to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect Minnesotans. Starting September 8, state employees working face-to-face or on state property will be required to show proof of having received a COVID-19 vaccination or will be required to submit to a COVID-19 test each week. This policy DOES include employees at Minnesota State universities.

There are still many questions to be answered as this policy is implemented. The IFO will be at the table to provide our important input at the state level, the system level, and the campus level. We encourage our members to contact their local faculty association or email advocacy@ifo.org if you wish to share ways that we can ensure effective and inclusive implementation of this policy.

A few points we want to make clear:

The IFO believes this decision is an important measure to protect faculty, staff, students, and the larger public from the spread of this deadly virus. We spoke to the Governor as recently as Monday to advocate for action from his administration.
The IFO has and will continue to advocate to state, system, and campus officials for additional safety measures, including masking and flexibility for faculty, coaches, and counselors to conduct their work online.
The policy announced by the Governor DOES NOT impact students. The IFO will continue to work with state, system, and campus leadership to implement safety protocols that apply to students, including a student vaccine mandate.
The IFO has been the lone voice among student, staff, and faculty groups within MinnState advocating for a vaccine requirement. We will continue to engage with the student organization and fellow unions to push additional safety measures.

The health and safety of our members and students continues to be a top priority for the IFO. Since the outbreak of COVID 19 impacted MinnState in March 2020, the IFO has been in ongoing and regular discussions with the System office – to keep that priority on the table as we navigate the evolution of this pandemic. We will continue to advocate for your safety and well-being.

Even though this policy does not take effect until September 8, we strongly encourage everyone that is able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Vaccines are the quickest way to end this pandemic. They are safe and protect our campuses, our communities, and our families. Vaccine appointments are available at VaccineConnector.mn.gov. You are still eligible to receive a $100 Visa gift card if you are vaccinated by August 15!