As of May 15, 2022, SMU has sunset most pandemic protocols. The following are archived messages that are not reflective of the current campus COVID-19 policy. Visit the Mustang Strong website for the latest information on testing, masking, vaccinations and more.
A federal judge in Georgia has entered a nationwide injunction that temporarily stops the enforcement of Executive Order (EO 14042). Consequently, SMU is pausing the requirement that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 18, 2022, unless and until the courts instruct otherwise.
I want to thank you for your remarkable response to our request to upload your vaccination information. So far, 92% of our full-time faculty and 88% of our staff members have verified that they are fully vaccinated. While students were not required to get the vaccine, we know that at least 70% are vaccinated. Many more are likely vaccinated but have yet to report it. The high vaccination rate coupled with the low number of COVID-19 cases on campus in recent weeks is reassuring as we face the latest virus variant, Omicron.
SMU recognizes the value of vaccinations in maintaining a healthy and safe campus. We encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center or wherever is convenient for you. We will monitor all court cases affecting EO 14042 as they move forward and will remain prepared to comply.
Thank you for your commitment to staying Mustang Strong through the second year of this challenging pandemic. It has been a long haul, and it is not over yet. As we head into the holiday season, I wish everyone a restful, rejuvenating break and a wonderful time filled with family and loved ones.
If you remain unvaccinated, tomorrow, December 7, is the last day to receive the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and still meet the federal requirement to be fully vaccinated by January 18, 2022.
You can make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment on campus at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center through the health center portal.
Please upload your COVID-19 vaccine information by today through the secure University health center portal to provide proof of vaccination.
If you received your vaccine at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center or already uploaded your card or other proof of vaccination, no further action is needed. Click here for steps to check if you are unsure.
If you have not yet received your vaccine, time is running out to meet the federal requirement deadline. To be “fully vaccinated” by January 18, 2022, you must receive the first dose by:
December 7 for Moderna (two doses, four weeks apart)
December 14 for Pfizer/BioNTech (two doses, three weeks apart)
UPDATE [12/8/2021]: Since this announcement was initially made, a federal judge in Georgia entered a nationwide injunction that temporarily stopped the enforcement of Executive Order (EO 14042). SMU is now pausing the requirement that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 18, 2022, unless and until the courts instruct otherwise. Follow smu.edu/coronavirus for the latest updates.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Friday, November 19, 2021
Dear SMU community,
The pandemic has threatened what matters most to our community and the rest of the world – our health and well-being, our times together and cherished traditions. Yet, through it all, our campus has met these challenges and remained Mustang Strong. Now, we face another one.
SMU must comply withPresident Biden’s Executive Order (EO) 14042 requiring those that receive federal contracts and their employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 18, 2022. Although EO 14042 faces multiple legal challenges and a separate federal vaccine mandate has been halted by court action, this EO currently remains active and requires our compliance. We will continue to monitor these developments and how they might impact our response.
The EO applies to research universities that accept funding through various federal contracts. It requires all SMU employees (anyone paid through the University’s payroll system) – faculty, staff, adjunct faculty, temporary employees including those contracted through Kelly Services, student workers, graduate research/teaching assistants/associates and postdoctoral scholars – to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they apply for and are granted an exemption for religious or medical reasons. To request an accommodation, please apply through the Office of Institutional Access and Equity by December 17 to ensure that it can be evaluated before the deadline.
Approximately 75% of faculty and 65% of staff have confirmed that they are vaccinated. Those of you who received your vaccine at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center or previously uploaded your vaccination card to the University health portal have met the vaccination requirement of the executive order. If you received the vaccine at an off-campus location but have not yet uploaded your vaccination information, please do so by December 1. If you have not gotten the vaccine, there is still time to do so before the January 18 deadline. Depending upon the vaccine that you choose, you may need to obtain the first dose by December 7. (see below).
Frequently Asked Questions
We know you may have many questions. Please see the answers to some of the most common ones below.
Until now, we have strongly encouraged, but not required, the vaccine. This EO makes COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment and is mandatory. If you are not vaccinated or have not received an accommodation by January 18, University employment policies will apply, which can result in discipline up to and including unpaid leave and /or termination.
I am sure you have questions about how this change affects you personally, so we have added more answers to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Mustang Strong website to address masking and other safety requirements that are part of the mandate. Also, more information and updates will be provided as we move forward.
We will continue our efforts to keep this campus safe and healthy while navigating these changing circumstances. You and your colleagues are vital to the educational mission of SMU. We value your dedication and don’t want to lose you, so please get vaccinated and stay Mustang Strong.
SMU, along with many other institutions and companies, is continuing to review two separate and distinct federal mandates requiring COVID-19 vaccinations and other protocols for employees:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS), which applies to organizations with more than 100 employees; and
Executive Order 14042, which applies to organizations with federal government contracts or subcontracts.
Both of these federal mandates potentially affect SMU. However, both are also facing legal challenges. The OSHA ETS has already been halted temporarily by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals this past weekend. As decisions are made, the University will provide specific information about how these mandates will impact you and the campus going forward.
Boosters are now available at the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center for all three U.S. COVID-19 vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has approved booster vaccinations for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, along with a “mix and match” approach, which allows eligible individuals to choose which vaccine they receive for their booster even if it is different from their original vaccine.
For individuals who received a Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their primary series:
65 years and older
Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings
For individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, the same eligibility criteria applies. However, boosters can be given as soon as two months after the initial J & J vaccination.
We highly recommend consulting with a healthcare provider if you have questions about your risks from COVID-19 and whether a booster dose would be beneficial.
To schedule an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccination please follow this link.
It is heartening to learn that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has received full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA endorsement should bolster confidence in the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, which will hopefully lead to an increase in vaccinations. Getting the vaccine remains the best way to protect your health and that of your fellow Mustangs.
SMU will continue to strongly encourage everyone to get the vaccine, but will not require it at this time. Besides considering federal approval, SMU generally follows state health laws for requiring vaccinations for entering students. We will closely monitor local, state and federal health recommendations and guidance following this important federal approval and work to make sure our new students and others in our community know how quick and easy it is to get the vaccine right here on campus.
The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center currently has about 1,500 doses of the Pfizer vaccine available for students, faculty, staff, employees’ spouses and dependents (age 12 and older) and campus strategic partners. Limited supplies of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson and Moderna (second and third doses only) vaccines are also available. The health center currently offers third doses for moderately to severely immunocompromised individuals who are fully vaccinated with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and will provide booster shots to others when they are approved and available.
We have also transitioned to a new way of voluntarily reporting your COVID-19 vaccination through the SMU Health Portal which is maintained by the health center. The portal gives students and employees convenient access to this important health record and should provide a better estimate of our campus vaccination rate. If you received the vaccine at the health center, it was automatically recorded. If you got it at an off-campus location, please take a few minutes to upload your vaccine card, even if you used the previous reporting tool.
Some of you have asked how long SMU will maintain the temporary mask requirement. Based upon the upward trend in COVID-19 cases that occurred as students arrived on campus last fall and spring, we will continue to require masks indoors for at least the first few weeks of this semester. After that, we will review the situation on a weekly basis using our assessment tool to measure the impact of the pandemic on our campus while taking into consideration the most up-to-date health guidance from local, state and federal authorities. Factors such as the number of cases at SMU and in the county; infection and vaccination rates; local hospitalizations; and campus isolation capacity will help determine when the mask requirement should be lifted.
It is such a pleasure to see the campus filled with excitement and activity as we begin this new academic year. Let’s continue to do our part to stay Mustang Strong.
As we prepare for the fall semester, SMU has transitioned to a new way of voluntarily reporting your COVID-19 vaccination status. The vaccine reporting tool previously located on the Mustang Strong website has now moved to the SMU Health Portal and is maintained by the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center.
If you were vaccinated on campus, your information will automatically be uploaded into your health record under immunizations (no action is necessary).
However, if you were vaccinated off campus, we ask that you now upload that information directly to the SMU Health Portal, even if you already voluntarily shared your status through the vaccine reporting tool last spring.
2. Click “Enter my COVID-19 vaccine information” on the portal’s main home screen.
3. In the appropriate fields, enter the vaccine you received and the dates they were administered.
4. Upload a photo of your COVID-19 vaccine card.
5. Click “Done.”
Reporting your vaccination information through the SMU Health Portal provides you with easy access to this important record, in case you are identified during contact tracing.
You can always view your COVID-19 vaccination record at the Health Center via the Health Center portal. Reporting your vaccine is a voluntary submission of information that helps SMU make informed decisions regarding any additional changes to its operations and on-campus activities.
COVID-19 Vaccinations Available on Campus
SMU is strongly encouraging members of our community to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Taking this important step remains the best measure for protecting your health and that of your fellow Mustangs.
Both the Johnson & Johnson (one dose) and Pfizer (two dose) vaccines are offered at the Health Center. Additionally, second doses of Pfizer are available for individuals who may have gotten their first Pfizer dose elsewhere.
All current and incoming students as well as SMU employees and their spouse/dependents age 12 and older are eligible. Please schedule your vaccination appointment through our health portal. If you do not have access to the portal please call the Health Center at 214-768-2141 (option 1) to schedule an appointment.
Thank you for doing all you can to help keep us Mustang Strong, and we wish everyone a healthy and successful start to the new academic year!
The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center continues to offer COVID-19 vaccinations and COVID-19 testing for members of the SMU community during the summer months. The Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Vaccinations
COVID-19 vaccinations are available to all current and incoming students, SMU employees and their spouses/dependents. An appointment is required and may be scheduled through the health portal or by calling the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center at 214-768-2141 (option 1).
SMU strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccine has shown to be safe and highly effective at protecting against COVID-19 and preventing its spread.
Vaccinations moving inside the Health Center
The vaccination tent will be removed on Monday, June 21. Moving forward COVID-19 vaccinations will be administered to patients inside the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. As a reminder, face coverings are required inside the Health Center.
Accessing your immunization record
If you or a family member received your COVID-19 vaccine at SMU, a record of the vaccination is maintained by the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. Individuals can access their vaccination records online at any time, through the health portal by following these instructions.
Vaccine Reporting
After receiving the vaccine, please remember to fill out the self-reporting tool on the Mustang Strong vaccine page. Your voluntary submission of this information is critically important to manage the health and safety of our community, and helps inform future decisions about additional operational changes to the campus.
Testing
COVID-19 testing is available at the Health Center for SMU students, faculty, staff and their dependents . Call 214-768-2141 to schedule an appointment.
As SMU moves toward a fully in-person semester this fall, updates and modifications will be communicated during the summer months. Most of the changes were already shared in a letter from President Turner and are detailed in the “operations at a glance” grid that accompanied it. Here are some updates and reminders for Summer I – June term:
SMU moves to “low” operational level
After following guidelines under the University’s COVID-19 operational levels of “high” or “moderate” for more than a year, on June 1 the campus will move to “low,” which means a return to near regular activities. This designation means vaccines are widely available and infection rates are low, allowing prevention practices to be gradually lifted. The full, updated 2021 COVID-19 Operations Plan and other information about campus pandemic resources and responses can be viewed on the Mustang Strong website.
Campus buildings are returning to regular occupancy levels. Instructors will notify students attending in-person prior to the start of class and include information in their course syllabus if masks are required in their classrooms.
Signs on campus about masks and distancing are being replaced with new signage displaying a QR Code that links to the most up-to-date COVID-19 requirements on campus. While masks are no longer required in campus buildings or offices, some people may not be vaccinated and/or may choose to wear a mask for their own protection and that of others. Please be respectful of individual responses to pandemic health concerns.
Vaccines will continue to be available by appointment from the Health Center throughout the summer. The SMU Vaccination Tent will be removed in mid-June and all vaccines will be administered in the Health Center. After receiving the vaccine – whether on campus or at another location – please record your status in the self-reporting tool on the vaccine page of the Mustang Strong website. Submitting this information is voluntary and helpful in managing the health and safety of the SMU community.
The health center will also continue to offer COVID-19 testing for students and employees over the summer. The on-campus drive-thru test site at Expressway Towers will close on May 28, but employees can still get free tests at other Virtual Care for Families locations around the DFW area.
SMU faculty, staff, and students who test positive for COVID-19 or are close contacts of a known-positive case, must report that information to the University. Employees can utilize the SMU Health Reporting form. Students should submit a CCC form. Links to both forms are also on the Mustang Strong website.
The daily symptom checker will no longer be emailed, but students and employees should continue to monitor their health and get a COVID-19 test, if needed.
For more information
As the campus makes this transition to regular operations, please check the Mustang Strong website frequently for the latest updates and more information about SMU’s response to COVID-19.
The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center is now offering the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine for the campus community.
Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, the J&J vaccine only requires one dose and is an especially convenient for individuals who need to be fully vaccinated before traveling. The J&J vaccine is approved for individuals 18 years of age and older. Please follow this link to schedule an appointment.
The Health Center will continue to offer the Pfizer vaccine upon request and for dependents of SMU employees who are 12 years of age and older.
Accessing your immunization record
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine at SMU, a record of your vaccination is maintained by the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. You are able to access your vaccination record online at any time, and print it for your use, through the Health Portal by following these instructions.
Vaccine self-reporting tool
If you are a current SMU faculty, student or staff member, and you’ve already received your partial or full COVID-19 vaccination series, please fill out the self-reporting tool on the Mustang Strong’s vaccine page.
Your voluntary submission of this information is critically important to manage the health and safety of the SMU community. This information will be used to assess the quantity of vaccines SMU will request from the State of Texas, and may also help inform decisions about additional operational changes to the campus.
The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center is now offering the Pfizer vaccine for dependents of SMU employees who are 12 years of age and older.
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently approved expanded usage of the Pfizer vaccine in children as young as 12.
You can schedule a vaccination appointment for your dependent through the Health Center Portal using your SMU credentials or by calling 214-768-2141. A parent or guardian must be physically present during the vaccination of a minor.
Accessing your immunization record
If you received your COVID-19 vaccine at SMU, a record of your vaccination is maintained by the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. You are able to access your vaccination record online at any time, and print it for your use, through the Health Center Portal by following these instructions.
Update: The offer detailed below expired on Saturday, May 15, 2021. While returning students are still encouraged to voluntarily update their vaccine status through the same portal, the Amazon gift card incentive is no longer available.
April 27, 2021
Dear Mustang,
Greetings from the Office of the Dean of Students! I hope your spring semester is wrapping up successfully and you are looking forward to some well-deserved rest and rejuvenation.
As you know, SMU is reviewing operations and making plans. Having a good understanding of how many members of our campus community have been vaccinated will help inform key operational decisions for the summer and fall terms.
Therefore – and through consultation with SMU CAN, SMU is offering a one-time $10 electronic Amazon gift card to students in appreciation for registering their COVID-19 vaccine status in the self-reporting tool on the Mustang Strong vaccine page.
We appreciate your taking the time to participate. You’ll be asked:
if you have received one or both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine
Once you have completed the reporting tool, you will receive the e-gift card regardless of your response and vaccine intention. Please watch your SMU email address for an Amazon email with a Mustang Strong logo.
You are also eligible for this thank you gift if you already reported your vaccine status on the Mustang Strong vaccine page. You will receive an email asking if you would like to receive the one-time $10 Amazon e-gift card for your response. Just reply “yes” and watch for it to arrive in your inbox.
SMU is planning for our traditional in-person classes and on-campus activities this fall with a continued commitment to the health and safety of our students and employees. Thank you for doing your part in helping SMU stay Mustang Strong.
Our partners at Urgent Care for Kids have notified us that they are providing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at two of their DFW clinic locations: Plano and Alliance (Ft. Worth). The Moderna vaccine is approved for individuals who are 18 years of age or older.
SMU employees and their dependents who wish to receive the vaccine should visit the Urgent Care for Kids website to register for an appointment. Book your appointment as soon as possible as vaccine supplies are limited.
If you have already received a partial or full COVID-19 vaccination series, please complete the self-reporting tool on the Mustang Strong’s vaccine page.
Your voluntary submission of this information is critically important to manage the health and safety of the SMU community. This information will be used to assess the quantity of vaccines SMU will request from the State of Texas, and may also help inform decisions about operational changes to the campus.
We express our gratitude to Urgent Care for Kids for providing our employees with another option to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
A limited number of first doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine are still available this week at the SMU vaccination site for students, faculty and staff, as well as benefits-eligible spouses and dependents. Retired SMU employees are also now eligible to receive the first dose of the vaccine on campus.
Individuals without SMU credentials (SMU ID number), should go to this portal to make an appointment. If you have any difficulties, please contact the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center at 214- 768-2141.
If you will be leaving the campus at the end of the semester, please schedule your appointment as soon as possible to allow time to receive the second dose in three weeks as recommended or make alternative plans to receive it elsewhere.
Second Dose Scheduling
If you got your first vaccine during the initial distribution from March 29 through April 5, it’s time to schedule your second one. Following the recommended 21-day timing, registration is currently available through April 26 for your second dose. A separate invitation will be sent next week to individuals who received their first dose on or after Friday, April 9.
Appointment Information
Both first and second doses of the vaccine are administered by appointment only at the vaccination site on the northwest side of the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. Please bring a physical copy of your vaccine record card and a photo ID with you at your scheduled time. More information about your appointment, including parking information, is available on this page.
Vaccine Reporting
Once you are fully vaccinated, please remember to fill out the self-reporting tool on the Mustang Strong vaccine page. Your voluntary submission is critical to helping the University assess campus operational changes and vaccine quantities to request from the state of Texas.
Appointments are still open for current SMU students, faculty, adjunct instructors and staff to receive their COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine at the on-campus vaccination site.
These open slots, primarily available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week, are for individuals who have not started their vaccine treatment. If you’ve received a first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine elsewhere, please reach out to your initial provider about scheduling your second dose.
Completed your first shot? Fully vaccinated? Remember to fill out the reporting tool to help the University determine how many vaccines to request and make informed decisions about operational changes to the campus.
SMU is receiving another round of the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine for distribution to our University community through the vaccination site near the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center. Once again, all SMU faculty, staff and students are eligible.
Vaccination appointments are by appointment only on a first-come, first-serve basis. Online registration is now open to schedule vaccinations beginning on Friday, April 9.
This additional supply, a transfer allotment from Dallas County, is 1,170 “first doses” of the Pfizer vaccine, along with an equal number of “second doses” to provide required follow-up shots in 21 days.
Please use this registration link to schedule a vaccination appointment. The registration button is also on the Mustang Strong vaccine page along with information about what to expect on the day of your appointment. If you have trouble registering, reach out to the Help Desk at 8-HELP (4357). Here is some additional information for your consideration:
Students who are planning to leave at the end of the semester should make their first dose appointment by April 16 in order to receive a second dose on campus at (or by the CDC recommended follow-up date).
If you have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at SMU’s vaccination site, you’ll be contacted soon to schedule your second dose.
SMU does not currently have second-dose vaccines available for individuals who have already received their first shot at another location. If your first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine was administered elsewhere, please reach out to your initial vaccine provider to complete your treatment.
Spouses and dependents of SMU employees are not currently eligible to register but will have an opportunity at a later date
In addition to the on-campus vaccination site, all SMU students, staff and faculty may also register for the vaccine through the Methodist Health System. Once you receive your vaccine, remember to fill out the reporting tool, which will help the University determine how many vaccines to request and inform decisions about operational changes to the campus.
Even if you have received a vaccine, please continue to follow all safety measures as you finish out the spring semester. Wear your mask, practice social distancing and wash your hands often. Pony up and Stay Mustang Safe.
It’s here! SMU is pleased to announce the campus is receiving an allotment of the COVID-19 vaccine for distribution to our University community. All SMU faculty, staff and students are eligible. Online registration will open at noon today, March 26, to schedule vaccination appointments beginning Monday, March 29. Vaccinations will be administered by appointment only at the SMU COVID-19 vaccination site on the northwest side of the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center.
SMU’s initial allotment will be 1,170 “first doses” of the Pfizer vaccine and an equal number of “second doses” designated for the required follow-up appointments. Please use this registration link to schedule a vaccination appointment which is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The registration button is also on the Mustang Strong vaccine page along with information about what to expect on the day of your appointment. If you have trouble registering, reach out to the Help Desk at 8-HELP (4357).
SMU does not currently have second-dose vaccines available for individuals who have already received their first shot of Pfizer or Moderna elsewhere, so please reach out to your initial vaccine provider to complete your treatment. Spouses and dependents of SMU employees and retirees are not currently eligible to register but may be at a later date
In addition to the on-campus vaccinations, all SMU students, staff and faculty may also register for the vaccine through the Methodist Health System. If the MHS system is full, please check that site frequently as more appointments will become available as supplies increase.
SMU has no information yet on when additional allotments of the vaccine might arrive on campus, so your patience is still needed. Please continue to wear your mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands often and remember to fill out the reporting tool once you receive your vaccine on the Mustang Strong vaccine website. Doing so will help the University determine how many vaccines to request and may help inform decisions about operational changes to the campus.
Like most universities in Texas, we’re patiently waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine allotment from the state. With this past weekend’s news of the Food and Drug Administration granting Emergency Use Authorization of Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine candidate, we’re optimistic some of the supply issues are being alleviated.
Each week, SMU requests an allotment from the State of Texas. To assess the quantity and doses that best meet the needs of our campus, it is important to know how many people have already been vaccinated or are scheduled to get either a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson or the first and/or second doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Please take a minute to fill out the self-reporting survey on this page – and keep it up to date – to report your vaccination progress.
Also, if you receive the vaccine in the future at an off-campus location, please update your vaccination status by completing the same survey. If you have not received the vaccine and are still unsure about which eligibility phase you fall into, the guided survey on the same page may also be helpful for you.
Providing information for this survey is voluntary, but is critically important to SMU’s efforts to manage the health and safety of the SMU community. Your willingness to assist SMU by sharing your vaccine status is appreciated.
Welcome back to the Hilltop for the spring 2021 semester. Many of you have been asking when the COVID-19 vaccine will arrive on campus and how it will be distributed to our SMU community. It’s not here yet. SMU has requested allocations under the state’s first and second distribution phases but has not received confirmation of when we might receive our first allotment or how many doses to expect.
Last week, the state updated its ordering system, and the University made the required formal request through that process. Rest assured, when the vaccine does arrive, we’ll be ready. You may have noticed the large white tent near the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center that will serve as our campus Vaccination Site. We have our system in place and will follow state guidelines in making the vaccine available, beginning with the 1A phase designated for campus health care workers and police. Next, the 1B phase will prioritize people 65+ and/or those with underlying medical conditions who are directly on campus. Students who fit in this category are also included along with faculty and staff.
For more details on how it will work, check out the new vaccination page on the Mustang Strong website. You’ll soon find a survey to help determine your eligibility phase, as well as steps on how to register for and receive the vaccine when the time comes. It also contains answers to frequently asked questions you may have. A map is available to help you find the Vaccination Site and additional parking spaces if needed.
Please note, we will not be registering for or scheduling vaccination appointments until the vaccine arrives on campus. However, you can help our planning efforts by confirming that your contact information is up to date in SMU’s registry. The Health Center will be using your mobile number and SMU email for communications regarding your appointment. To update your information, go to my.smu.edu, click on the Profile tile to review, and verify it. If incorrect, click ‘change number’ and make the necessary edits so that you can be sure to receive notifications about the vaccine.
While we hope to be offering the vaccines on campus in the near future, we encourage you to take advantage of the first opportunity to get it regardless of whether it is through SMU or another provider. Visit the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map for additional vaccination sites and availability.
Along with COVID-19 testing for students available through the Health Center, another quick and easy option for the next month is the Curative kiosk. It uses a self-administered oral swab to collect the test sample at no cost to SMU students, faculty, staff as well as the public. Appointments are required, and you will be asked to provide insurance. Testing is available seven days a week at the kiosk located near the Airline Parking structure at 6501 Airline Court. When you go for the test, scan the QR code on the sign to share your results with SMU.
Whether you’ve received the vaccine or are still waiting to get it, it’s important to continue with the healthy behaviors outlined in our Pledge to Protect. Mask up and Pony up to Stay Mustang Strong.
SMU has received approval from the state to be a COVID-19 vaccination provider for the campus community. Initial supplies allocated to our campus have not arrived yet but are expected in the near future. The Dr. Bob Smith Health Center will administer the vaccine in phases according to the state’s vaccination plan. The first phase (1A) allotment of a limited supply of doses is designated for campus health care workers and SMU police.
As SMU receives additional allotments, distribution to the campus community will follow the state’s 1B guidelines which prioritize both people who are 65 and older and/or who have at least one chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk from COVID-19. This includes students, faculty and staff who fall into either category. SMU employees who were required to work on campus during the pandemic’s “essential workers only” operation last spring are eligible to receive the vaccine next in this phase of distribution.
State health officials have emphasized that no vaccine should be kept in reserve. The University will, therefore, make the vaccine available to next-level eligibility groups once the current phase has been served rather than allowing vaccines to expire.
Plans are in place to offer the vaccine to all faculty, staff, adjunct faculty and students as well as dependents of SMU employees and retirees as supplies become available. However, we encourage you to take advantage of the first opportunity to receive the vaccine regardless of whether it is through SMU or another provider. Check with your primary care physician or pharmacist or visit the Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Locations map for additional vaccination sites and availability.
More information on when the allotments will arrive on campus as well as how to register for the vaccine will be forthcoming. SMU strongly encourages every member of our campus community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to stay Mustang Strong.
SMU is pleased to announce that the Dr. Bob Smith Health Center will be a provider of the COVID-19 vaccination for the campus community. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved an emergency authorization for a vaccine developed by Pfizer/BioNTech.
The Texas Department of State Health Services will be laying out specific procedures and timelines for distribution. Initial allocation of doses will be limited and will focus on health care workers (starting with inpatient facilities), frontline responders and vulnerable/high risk populations.
Our Health Center will administer the vaccine in phases according to the State’s guiding principles for distribution. Supplies allocated to our campus are not expected until after the first of the year, but vaccination plans are in place for when they arrive. Our campus health care workers and frontline responders – Health Center employees and SMU police – will receive the initial allotment of vaccines, followed by members of the SMU community, as directed by county and state health officials. Plans are in place to make the vaccination available to spouses and dependents of SMU employees as well.
More information on what to expect and how to register for the vaccine will be forthcoming, but we wanted to let you know that SMU is making this important preventive measure available to our employees and students. We strongly encourage all members of the SMU community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine when available, and help us all stay Mustang Strong.
