University Committee Discusses Concerns on the Recent COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate at UW-Milwaukee

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On Nov. 30, 2021, the University Committee for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee gave their approval for the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, but are strongly urging that further disciplinary steps are specified, and that the dean or dean’s designee have these conversations with those concerned faculty members. 

“All UWM employees must receive their COVID-19 vaccine shots and provide proof of vaccination by Jan. 4, 2022 to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 18, 2022, subject only to medical or religious exemption,” says Chancellor Mark Mone in an email to the UWM community. “This includes student hourly employees.” 

University committee member, Nigel Rothfels, raised concern about the lack of steps explaining the disciplinary action for staff members that do not meet the mandate. There is a warning of disciplinary action, but what will happen to those who do not see these warnings?  

“The obvious problematic piece is that there’s disciplinary action in this, come Jan. 5. People will face disciplinary action leading up to termination,” said Rothfels. “There’s nothing explaining the process and saying we can’t just fire a faculty member.” 

These raised concerns that are not clarified in the email, but Erica Bornstein, University Committee member, highlighted those employees who did not complete the online COVID-19 training received no pay increase. Bornstein urges that supervisors have a conversation with these employees to make sure they are informed.  

“Any employee who is not fully vaccinated or approved for an exemption by Jan. 18, 2022, will face disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, consistent with the terms of the federal mandate and applicable UWM disciplinary procedures,” according to Mone’s email.  

The email sent out by Mone does not clarify the steps taken for this disciplinary action, but UWM secretary, John Reisel states that faculty members cannot be disciplined without a due process and questioned whether that will play a role in this situation. Bornstein recommends these concerns be raised with the Office of Legal Affairs.  

The faculty at UWM is at a vaccination rate of about 85 percent, but the committee does not know how many faculty members this mandate would affect.