A few moments ago, the Senate Higher Education Committee adopted an amendment to the Higher Education omnibus policy bill that requires the MN Dept. of Health to prioritize higher education faculty and staff who are teaching or working face-to-face with students. The language of the amendment reads, "In setting statewide COVID vaccination prioritization requirements, the commissioner of health must give immediate priority to postsecondary institution instructors and staff who are providing in-person instruction because the courses they teach are not amenable to online instruction."

The amendment was offered by Chair David Tomassoni (I-Chisholm) in response to the overwhelming outreach by faculty from Minnesota State faculty and staff. It was passed unanimously. The IFO covered this topic with Sen. Tomassoni during our Higher Education Legislative Leadership Panel in February. You can watch the full discussion held during this panel here.

The inclusion of this amendment sends a clear message to Gov. Walz and the MN Dept. of Health that our allies in the legislature believe higher ed faculty and staff need to be included as a priority group for the COVID vaccine. We'll continue to find ways to advocate for our members to be prioritized.

If you wish to send Sen. Tomassoni a thank you note, you may reach him at sen.david.tomassoni@senate.mn. Please mention you are a faculty member at a state university.