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Part 12. Students
Section D.  Student Health
Policy Number 12.D.1
Date Issued: January 1, 2010
Approved By: Vice President for Student Affairs

Requirement for Vaccination against Bacterial Meningitis for Students Residing in On-Campus Housing

A.   Policy Statement

The University of Texas at  Austin (University) complies with Texas Education Code §51.9192, “the Jamie Schanbaum Act,” that requires first time students of a Texas institution of higher education, including transfer students, residing in on-campus housing to show evidence of immunization for bacterial meningitis.

B.  Scope of Policy

This policy applies to all University students who apply for or reside in University housing.

C.  Statutory & Regulatory References

Texas Education Code, Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Section 51.9192, Bacterial Meningitis Vaccination Required for Certain Students; Exceptions.

19 Texas Administrative Code, Part 1, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Chapter 21, Student Services. Subchapter T, The Vaccination against Bacterial Meningitis for Students approved to Reside in On-Campus Dormitories or Other On-Campus Housing Facilities at Institutions of Higher Education.

D.  Definitions

  1. Covered Student: Any student enrolled at the University who has not previously enrolled at a public or private or independent institution of higher education in Texas who resides or plans to reside in University On-Campus Housing. The term also includes dual enrollment students or transfer students from other institutions of higher education, including a public or private or independent institution of higher education in Texas, who resides or plans to reside in University On-Campus Housing.
  1. University On-Campus Housing: On-Campus Student Housing at the University of Texas at Austin consists of all student residence halls and apartments on any campus of the University, all of which are administered by the Division of Housing and Food Services.  That Division is responsible for implementation of this policy.

  2. Required Vaccination: A vaccination recognized by the US Center for Disease Control as effective for the immunization of an individual against bacterial meningitis.

  3. Reside: Move into and/or occupy as a tenant, renter, or resident.

  4. Responsible Party: The Housing Reservations Program Coordinator for the Division of Housing and Food Service in the Division of Student Affairs is designated by the President to receive documentation required under this policy of Required Vaccination by each Covered Student or that person’s designee.

E.   General Requirements

  1. No Covered Students will be permitted to Reside in University On-Campus Housing unless the Covered Student has provided written documentation that the Covered Student has received a Required Vaccination which has been approved by the Responsible Party as set forth in this policy at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the first date upon which the Covered Student is permitted to Reside in University On-Campus Housing.

  2. A Covered Student who submits documentation of a Required Vaccination that was administered later than ten (10) calendar days prior to its receipt by the Responsible Party must wait until ten (10) calendar days have passed before the student may be permitted to Reside in On-Campus housing.

  3. Failure to submit documentation of a Required Vaccination does not alleviate the Covered Student’s responsibility under any contractual relationship with the University relating to On-Campus Housing.

  4. Documentation of the Required Vaccine must be approved by the Responsible Party or the Responsible Party’s designee before a Covered Student is permitted to Reside in On-Campus Housing.

F.   Documentation and Form of Documentation

  1. Acceptable documentation is: 
    1. a statement provided by a physician or other health care provider authorized by law to administer the Required Vaccine;
    2. an official immunization record issued by a state or local health authority; or
    3. an official record received directly from a Texas school official or a school official in another state.
  2. The form of required documentation is:
    1. be in English;
    2. state the name and other information sufficient to identify the individual who received the Required Vaccination;
    3. clearly identify that the Required Vaccine was administered to the individual;
    4. state the month, date, and year the Required Vaccine was administered; and,
    5. if the documentation is not an official immunization record or a school record received as described Subsection F.1.b or c above, it must also include:
      1. the name, address, signature or stamp, state of licensure and license number of the physician or other health care provider who administered the Required Vaccination; or
      2. the name, address, signature or stamp of the public health official who administered the required Vaccination.

G.  Exceptions.

A Covered Student is exempted from the requirements of this policy if the Covered Student submits one of the following to the Responsible Party:

  1. an affidavit or certificate signed by a physician licensed to practice medicine that states that physician is of the opinion that the Required Vaccination would be injurious to the health and well being of the Covered Student; or
  2. an affidavit on the form provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Department) signed by the Covered Student stating that the Covered Student declines to have the Required Vaccination based on reasons of conscience, which may include the Covered Student’s religious beliefs.
    1. However, this exception will not be available, at the discretion of the University, during a disaster or public health emergency, hostile or paramilitary action, or extraordinary law enforcement emergency declared by an appropriate official or authority from the Texas Department of State Health Services affecting the University.
    2. The affidavit can be requested on-line from the Department at  https://webds.dshs.state.tx.us/immco/affidavit.shtm or by mailing, hand delivering, or faxing a request for an affidavit to the Department. Important:  There may be a delay between the date of the request for the affidavit form and receipt of the form from the Department.  Students who plan to request an exemption should make the request early enough to allow them to complete and notarize the affidavit prior to submission to the Responsible Party at the University. For more information, including a printable order form, see http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/docs/faq_exemption.pdf.

Source: New UT Austin Policy per C., above

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