FAQs and Campus Toolkit

Overview

Washington's education proclamation and vaccination proclamation both ended on Oct. 31, 2022. These proclamations were based on Governor Inslee’s emergency declaration, which is also ending that day. As a result, there will not be state-mandated vaccination requirements for most higher education employees, for volunteers who come to campus, or for contractors who work inside a campus building.

Covid-19 vaccination requirements will continue for our classified staff represented by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) as it is a requirement in the 2023-2025 Tentative Agreement reached between the union and the State Labor Relations Section of the Office of Financial Management.

Please see FAQs below for details (Based on information sent by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges).

Covid-19 Flowchart for TCC Students & Staff

Isolation, Quarantine and Close Contact Protocols

Covid-19 Flowchart (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions - Updated Oct. 28, 2022

Vaccination requirements for health care and education workers will end Oct. 31, 2022, but employers in health care settings will still be able to require them if they choose. Health care students who have clinical rotations must follow the vaccination requirements for the sites where they will be working.
Yes and no. The higher education proclamation and vaccination proclamation will both end on Oct. 31, 2022, because they are based on Governor Inslee’s emergency declaration, which is also ending that day. As a result, there will not be state-mandated vaccination requirements for higher education employees, for volunteers who come to campus, or for contractors who work inside a campus building.

At 14 community colleges, including TCC, the vaccination requirement will go back into effect on July 1, 2023 for classified staff represented by the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) due to a contract agreement reached between the union and the State Labor Relations Section (LRO) of the Office of Financial Management.

The 2023-2025 WPEA contract will apply to the following community colleges: Bellevue, Big Bend, Cascadia, Clark, Columbia Basin, Edmonds, Grays Harbor, Olympic, Pierce Fort Steilacoom, Pierce Puyallup, Skagit Valley, Tacoma, Walla Walla and Wenatchee. At these colleges, classified staff represented by WPEA will either need to be fully vaccinated or have an exemption based on medical or religious reasons.

(Note: At the time this issue brief was published, there was no memorandum of understanding to continue the vaccination requirement between the Oct. 31, 2022 end of the emergency order and the July 1, 2023 start of the new collective bargaining agreement. We will let you know if the situation changes.)
No, higher education employees will not be required to get boosters, including classified staff represented by WPEA. However, WPEA-represented classified staff will receive a $1,000 incentive if they meet booster criteria between Jan. 1, 2023 and Dec. 31, 2023. Payments will start no earlier than July 25, 2023 and will be available until Dec. 31, 2023 (for payment in January 2024).
State mask mandates were lifted for most locations on March 12, 2022. Masks are still required in health care settings, such as hospitals, dental offices, and long-term care facilities. Mask mandates are also still in effect at correctional facilities, including the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) and Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW), where TCC provides educational services. Staff and faculty who work at these facilities will still be required to wear masks.
We plan to continue contact tracing for now. It’s recommended, but not required. We still want to take all possible steps to prevent COVID-19 from being spread on campus, and we want to continue helping our local health departments collect data that can help them make decisions to make the community safer.