Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) is offering a $500 incentive grant for on-campus students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before fall classes begin on the school’s Joliet and Albuquerque campuses.
“As we look forward as a campus community to a much closer-to-normal academic year, COVID-19 vaccination is our best and readily available tool to safeguard ourselves and those around us. As an added incentive, and in gratitude for keeping yourself and others safe, all fully vaccinated on-campus USF students will receive a $500 COVID Vaccination Grant for the Fall 2021 semester,” said vice president for admissions Eric Wignall.
The university’s guidelines strongly recommend that all students be fully vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus.
USF’s COVID Vaccination Grant is designed as an incentive to be awarded this fall to all on-campus students providing valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The grant is a $500 tuition incentive to all new or returning students at the Joliet, Illinois and Albuquerque, New Mexico campuses for the university. This includes all full-time and part-time students living on campus or commuting.
“And this is for every USF student: part-time, full-time, living on campus, or commuting to campus. Students qualify for the COVID Vaccination Grant with a valid proof of full vaccination before the start of fall semester on August 23rd,” Wignall added.
The university weathered last year’s COVID-19 closures and stay-at-home orders with a low number of cases. “The incentive grant is just another strategy to keep our campuses safe. We want everyone to be safe and protect themselves from this new virus,” Wignall said.
“Our USF Crisis Management Team continues to strongly encourage all students and employees to get vaccinated,” Wignall said. “If our campus can reach a point where the majority of our students are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, we will have a much safer, more flexible campus for classes, athletic events, and activities on campus in the fall.”
“This grant also applies to our Graduate Physician Assistant Studies students on our campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” he added.
“All three major U.S. vaccinations from Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson qualify. The latest a student can start the vaccination process and still receive the grant depends on the type of vaccine: Moderna’s first dose by July 25th, Pfizer’s first dose by August 1st, and the single J&J shot by August 8th,” he said.
“It’s an incentive to help everyone stay safe. Get the shot, protect yourself, and protect others at the same time,” Wignall said.
Students should contact healthservices@stfrancis.edu for questions and information on how to submit proof of vaccination. For more information on scheduling a vaccination, students can visit stfrancis.edu/saints-united or vaccines.gov.
Frequently asked questions about the grant:
- Does this grant carry over to the next year?
No, it is a one-time incentive to be vaccinated before fall semester, 2021.
2. I’m a graduate student, will I receive the grant?
Graduate students who are taking classes in person, on campus, and have proof of being fully vaccinated by August 23rd will receive the grant. Those who are eligible for the grant will receive it as a discount to tuition.
3. I have submitted my vaccine record when will I receive the grant
The grant will be applied to all eligible students shortly after classes begin (August 23rd).
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves some 3,600 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 52,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
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