Official SLCC Blog

At more than two years since the start of the pandemic, we at SLCC are in the phase of navigating how we “learn to live” with the virus. With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continuing to decline locally, SLCC is opting to remove its vaccination requirement for students registering for classes from this point forward. You are no longer required to be vaccinated or declare an exemption to attend SLCC.   With the immediate lifting of this requirement, we still believe it important to continue tracking vaccinations, as it will help us measure the overall safety and wellbeing of our entire community across all locations. As such, students are encouraged to update the college on their vaccination status, though it is not required.   Vaccines and boosters are still the best available tools to protect against serious illness and death from COVID-19, so we encourage everyone to keep their vaccinations up-to-date per the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control . More in...

  After requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 for Spring Semester, will SLCC require vaccinations or booster vaccinations for upcoming semesters?   In order to register for the summer and fall 2022 semesters, SLCC students must be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters. Students who were initially vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna more than six months ago or with Johnson & Johnson more than two months ago must receive a booster in order to be considered fully vaccinated. How will SLCC know I am vaccinated or boosted?   The college developed a system that will be part of our online registration module. In order to register for classes, students will need to upload proof of vaccination. Until they do, their account will display a registration hold. Once proof is uploaded, the hold is lifted.  What if I can’t get vaccinated or boosted or if I choose not to?   Utah law requires the college to offer vaccination exemptions to stud...

  As has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Salt Lake Community College is committed to creating a safe and healthy learning environment. To ensure that everyone in our campus community remain as safe as possible, SLCC will require that all students be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, including booster doses as applicable, for the upcoming Summer and Fall Semesters.   Students accessing SLCC’s registration portal will have an automatic hold placed on their registration. To remove the hold, students will need to upload proof of current vaccination or claim an exemption. Exemptions can be granted for medical, religious or personal reasons. Students who are fully vaccinated but are not yet eligible to receive a booster dose are considered to have an up-to-date vaccination status and will be eligible to register for classes. Priority registration for the 2022 Summer Semester begins February 28.   Vaccination is one of the best available tools to prevent...

In an effort to encourage a safe and healthy learning environment, SLCC will host a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic Feb. 18, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Parking Lot V on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, 4388 S. Redwood Road. The lot is located on the north side of the campus, just off the Redwood Road entrance. Vaccines will be available to everyone five years and older – a parent or guardian must be present to vaccinate a minor. No appointment is required, and you can get a free ride to the clinic by calling 211. Booster shots will be available. Learn more at www.SaltLakeHealth.org .

Salt Lake Community College thanks everyone for having the flexibility of a world-class gymnast as we continue to navigate this ever-changing pandemic, and we’d like to provide you with the latest updates regarding self-reporting, COVID testing and masking. Self-Reporting and Isolation/Quarantine Protocols We’ve recently made some changes to our self-reporting protocols. Starting immediately, you only need to fill out the COVID-19 Self-Reporting Form if you had a positive test, you were DIRECTLY exposed to someone who tested positive, or if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. You no longer need to fill out the report if you test negative for the virus. If you test positive for COVID-19, if you are experiencing symptoms of the virus, or if you are unvaccinated and you are directly exposed, plan to quarantine for 10 days. The contact tracers, who will reach you through the information you provided on the self-reporting form, will let you know about...

The Salt Lake County Health Department today issued a public health order requiring everyone in Salt Lake County, regardless of vaccination status or past COVID-19 infection, to wear a proper mask when indoors and when queueing outdoors in public. Salt Lake Community College, in accordance with this order, will require the use of face coverings starting January 8 through 5 p.m. on February 7.  Masks should fit snugly and cover both the nose and mouth, and if possible, high-quality masks, such as KN95s, should be used rather than cloth masks. However, cloth masks are acceptable if no other options are available. If you need a mask while at the college, they are available on all campuses at the information/front desk. They are also available at Faculty Support Centers and the Admissions Hub. More information on face coverings can be found on SLCC’s COVID-19 webpage . Salt Lake County also issued several exemptions to the order, including for those with medical conditions or disa...

As registration has opened for Spring Semester, a few questions have come up regarding  SLCC’s student vaccination requirement.   What if I am not fully vaccinated, but I’m in the process of getting this done?    You can upload your current vaccination card and when you are fully vaccinated, you can update your vaccination card by going to the Campus Life tab in MySLCC and under Health & Wellness select COVID submit vaccination status link.    Do you have more information on exemptions?     Examples of exemptions include:  Personal – Any personal belief that would prevent you from being vaccinated (i.e. philosophical, scientific, moral or personal views on vaccinations).   Religious – Any religious belief that would prevent you from being vaccinated. Some people believe that vaccinations conflict with a genuine and sincere religious belief and that the belief is in fact religious, and not based merely on philosophical, scientific, mo...

For the health and safety of our community, SLCC is requiring all students get vaccinated for COVID-19 before they can register for Spring semester. However,   Utah law requires the college to offer exemptions for medical, religious or personal reasons . While we want to see as many students as possible get vaccinated, we know that not everyone is able to do so. If you fall into this category, here is some information you need to know about claiming an exemption:     For Spring semester, nearly all students will have an automatic hold placed on their registration. To remove the hold, you must upload either proof of vaccination or declare an exemption.  Both the upload and exemption options are available through the registration module. If you choose to claim an exemption, scroll down to that section and follow the instructions. You will be asked to indicate if your exemption request is for medical, religious or personal reasons.  Once an exemption has been decla...

Have questions on COVID vaccines? There are lots of conflicting messages out there, and it can be hard to find accurate answers. Get the information you’re looking for by taking part in Salt Lake Community College's online vaccination forum. The forum provides the opportunity for you to ask questions of our expert panelists and will cover the importance, efficacy and safety of COVID vaccinations. Panelists will include members of the SLCC biology department, as well as clinicians from our Center for Health and Counseling. You can ask your questions in advance or during the forum using the Q&A feature. If you’d like to submit your questions in advance, please do so by Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 5 p.m. The forum will take place Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. Please use the link below to join the webinar: https://slcc-edu.zoom.us/j/81222645252?pwd=dTlyZnRvODZJZkxZbzlTYkxjY0RqZz09 Passcode: COVID2021! Webinar ID: 812 2264  

Salt Lake Community College wants to take the worry out of registering for classes as we implement a COVID-19 vaccination requirement to the process. As previously announced, all students, with the exception of high school students participating in our early enrollment and concurrent enrollment programs, must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or declare an exemption in order to register for Spring Semester 2022. To help students understand the process of uploading proof of vaccination or claiming an exemption, we’ve created a registration tutorial at slcc.edu . Why the need to declare vaccination status during registration? In an ongoing effort to address overall public health and safety during this pandemic and to create a safe learning environment for everyone, SLCC, along with other Utah System of Higher Education institutions, is asking everyone registering for Spring Semester to either show proof that they were vaccinated or declare a vaccination exemption. This st...

Q. Why is SLCC implementing a vaccine requirement? A. State leaders recently granted Utah System of Higher Education institutions more flexibility in decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Spring semester 2022. The surge in cases due to the Delta variant has put a huge strain on Utah’s health care system, and the college can play an important role in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 by requiring students to get vaccinated. Q. Why are SLCC employees not subject to the vaccination requirement? A. The college is currently waiting for a legal review and authority to consider a vaccination requirement for SLCC employees. Updates will be provided as the college receives information on this matter. Q. Why is SLCC implementing a vaccine requirement rather than a mask mandate? A. Utah law only allows state and local health departments, with approval from the relevant county legislative bodies, to issue mask mandates. With that said, SLCC encourages every...

Hello Bruins!  We hope this message finds you well and that your semester is off to a great start.  As you are aware, state leaders recently granted Utah System of Higher Education institutions more flexibility in decisions regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements for spring semester.  Throughout the pandemic, we have been mindful of the health of our college and our local community and as such, we’ve implemented many precautions related to COVID-19.  Given the increasing number of cases due to the Delta variant, we have made a decision to adopt a vaccination requirement for all SLCC students beginning Spring Semester 2022. We are requiring that students be vaccinated before registering for spring classes.  To support students in meeting this requirement, we are offering several vaccination clinics on campus. These clinics are free and open to everyone.  Details on the vaccination clinics can be found on our blog . We encourage you to get vaccinated...

  Salt Lake Community College, in cooperation with the  Salt Lake County Health Department , is hosting free vaccine clinics at three campuses for students, staff and faculty. Anyone wanting a vaccination is eligible. The clinics will be outdoor and offer the Pfizer, Janssen and Moderna vaccines. The schedule is as follows (maps to each lot are printed below): SLCC Taylorsville Parking Lot V Oct. 28: First, second and booster dose clinic from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.   SLCC South City Parking Lots 1 and 2 Oct. 20: First dose clinic from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.   SLCC Jordan Northeast J-2 (same as the Covid testing area) Oct. 21, First, second and booster dose clinic from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. West Valley Center Oct. 26: First, second and booster dose clinic from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Vaccines are the most effective tool for ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and the college strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated. SLCC is offering the clinic as part of the...

  Salt Lake Community College, in cooperation with the Salt Lake County Health Department , is hosting a free vaccine clinic for students, staff and faculty. This will be the Johnson and Johnson vaccine - single dose, no follow-up required. See details below: Salt Lake Community College hosting vaccination clinic Tuesday, June 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lobby of Lifetime Activities Center (LAC), just outside of Bruin Arena Free and open to all SLCC staff, faculty and students Required: one form of identification Encouraged: bring insurance information, though it is not required, and you won’t be billed Vaccine only available to those 18 and older 100 doses of Johnson and Johnson – single dose, no follow-up dose required First-come, first served - no sign-up required Plan to stay after your vaccination for 15 minutes of observation Vaccines are the most effective tool for ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and the college strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated. SLCC is offering the c...

  We’re so excited students will be returning to in-person classes and labs this summer at all Salt Lake Community College campuses. We want to ensure that the college continues to provide the safest learning environment possible as the COVID-19 pandemic extends into its second year. We have been fortunate that SLCC’s positivity rate has been low since returning to our classrooms. Part of the reason for that low rate has been our vigilance in testing students, staff and faculty and catching cases and isolating them before they turn into an outbreak on campus. On a related note, SLCC will continue, until further notice, to enforce staying masked while indoors with others or when in close proximity to people outdoors on all of its campuses. We have been asked to continue our testing efforts at least into the summer term. That means any student attending at least one in-person class per week on any SLCC campus must be tested early in the semester. The college will be doing focused tes...

The Utah Department of Health has extended its free offerings of COVID-19 testing for anyone age three or older, with or without symptoms of illness, at SLCC’s Taylorsville and Jordan campuses for a limited time. Testing is scheduled for Mar. 15 and 22 on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus (parking lot V) and on Mar. 19 and 26 on the Jordan Campus (parking lot on the north side of campus). All testing locations will be available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you or a family member is interested in participating,  please pre-register at the Utah Department of Health's webpage .    This testing is being offered in addition to the college’s on-campus testing program. As a reminder, if you choose to participate in our COVID-19 testing,  you must be asymptomatic  and you must be an SLCC student or employee. For on-campus testing, find the latest times and locations by logging on to our  COVID-19 testing portal . 

  The Utah Department of Health is offering free COVID-19 testing for anyone age five or older, with or without symptoms of illness, at SLCC’s Taylorsville and Jordan campuses for a limited time. Testing is scheduled for Mar. 8 on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus (parking lot V) and on Mar. 5 and 12 on the Jordan Campus (parking lot on the north side of campus). All testing locations will be available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you or a family member is interested in participating,  please pre-register at the Utah Department of Health's webpage .    This testing is being offered in addition to the college’s on-campus testing program. As a reminder, if you choose to participate in our COVID-19 testing,  you must be asymptomatic and you must be an SLCC student or employee. For on-campus testing, find the latest times and locations by logging on to our  COVID-19 testing portal . 

With positive news that COVID-19 vaccinations are on the horizon for all, we are still in the fight together to control the spread of this terrible illness that has taken so many friends and loved ones and complicated the lives of far more who have suffered through its most serious effects. To help monitor the disease and prevent outbreaks, colleges and universities throughout the country and within the Utah System of Higher Education have taken on the role of providing randomized testing to students on their campuses. Random testing at SLCC will begin immediately and is expected to last through the end of spring semester. Randomized testing is one more tool SLCC can use to maintain its relatively low infection rate across its campuses, which means keeping classrooms open and access to quality in-person instruction ongoing. Here is how random testing of students will work at SLCC: Only currently enrolled students 18 and older who attend a class in person on campus will b...

During the past several weeks, COVID-19 cases have been high, and Utah has implemented several mitigation efforts to try to slow the spread. SLCC is supportive of these measures, which have included on-campus testing, face covering usage and social distancing. While the actual case count has decreased somewhat over the past two weeks, the occupancy rate for intensive care is at around 100 percent. This is a problem because it severely limits the quality of care hospitals can provide to those not only severely ill with COVID-19, but also to any patient who may need medical attention due to an accident or other emergency.   We all are experiencing COVID-19 fatigue, but we must continue to do our part in slowing the spread of the virus. As such, SLCC is reminding everyone to continue adhering to the following:   If you are sick for any reason, even if you don’t think your illness is severe, stay home. Even if you are well, please check your symptoms each day before reporting to...