Due to the potential for prolonged exposure risk through travel, the University has established travel protocols based on an individual’s vaccination status and the type of travel. These travel protocols apply to employees, students, and travel volunteers/guests ages 12 and older.
Domestic Employee Travel
Local Travel:
Employees traveling on local day-trips (within an 80-mile radius of Berrien Springs, MI) may travel for essential work as approved by their supervisor.
Outside the Local Area:
Employees who are either fully vaccinated or have acquired immunity are permitted to participate in University-sponsored or approved work-related travel outside of the local area. Established COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, remain in place. For the specific purpose of travel, acquired immunity is defined as: having completed the required isolation and that the positive COVID-19 test occurred within 90 days of the travel, including the return date.
Day travel outside the local area by unvaccinated employees, who do not have acquired immunity, for essential work may be approved in exceptional cases through the Office of the Provost.
Domestic Employee Travel with Students
Overnight Travel:
Students and employees (faculty/staff) who are either fully vaccinated or have acquired immunity are permitted to participate in University-sponsored domestic travel. For example, such persons may engage in approved academic-related travel, such as overnight field trips, class trips and study tours. Established COVID-19 protocols, such as wearing masks, remain in place. For the specific purpose of travel, acquired immunity is defined as: having completed the required isolation and that the positive Covid test occurred within 90 days of the travel, including the return date.
Unvaccinated students or employees (faculty/staff), who do not have acquired immunity, shall not participate in any academic-related overnight trips.
Day Trips:
Students who are cleared to attend in-person classes may also participate in approved academic day trips (such as field trips or class trips) if the trips are for the currently enrolled students in a particular class and the students are going on the field trip or class trip together as a class.
International Travel
Students and employees must be fully vaccinated to travel. Those with only acquired immunity will not be permitted to participate in University-sponsored international travel.
Limited Variance
While Andrews University continues to respect and support the decision of students and employees to not take the vaccine because of medical reasons or religious convictions, such decisions will not normally be considered as a valid basis for exceptions to travel requirements. Students and University employees may email the Office of the Provost at provostoffice@andrews.edu to request exemption from the vaccinated/acquired immunity travel requirement if there is an exceptional reason for the request. This request must be submitted at least one week prior to making travel arrangements (flights, hotels, etc.). Those requesting a medical variance should be prepared to provide the Office of the Provost with; documentation from a physician regarding the contraindication for the vaccine, as well as alternate mitigation plans from the trip organizer (such as a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test no earlier than 3-days prior to the trip departure and a single occupancy hotel room). However, the final decision on whether the variance is accepted will up to the University in consultation with the Office of Risk Management. Due to the increased complexity and risk attached to international travel, exemptions for international travel are very unlikely to be approved.