The Fitness Center is open. Vermont Law School has worked hard to ensure that your safety is a priority, therefore, the following Fitness Center policies and procedures will be strictly enforced:

• Only staff, faculty, and students are eligible to use the Fitness Center at this time. Please, no spouses, family, or other community guests.
• Masks are now optional for staff, faculty and students who use the Fitness Center.
• Members are asked to clean all equipment before and after use.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to seeing in the Fitness Center!

Barrister's Bookstore, on the corner of the campus nearest the Town Green, is a student-run non-profit specializing in new and used books, office supplies, clothing, diploma frames, and all the VLS swag you need to show your school spirit. You may also preorder on Barrister’s site Barrister's Book Shop. When dropping off used books please do so during the designated hours on the website, place the books in a bag with your name and address and bring them in. Check out their website for hours of operation, available services, contact info, and more.

Contact barristers@vermontlaw.edu with questions.

Please send questions to covid19@vermontlaw.edu.

There are no restrictions on campus events and meeting locations and size. Masks are optional for VLGS faculty, staff, and students. Masks are encouraged for any visitors.

Yes, for any event at which food and drinks are permitted, the student group (or event organizer) must submit a request to Nina Russo, the VLGS Event Coordinator, at least 28 days before the event.

The above policies apply to both on- and off-campus events.

Commencement 2022 is expected to be held in-person.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) free tax preparation service at VLS is expected to be offered in 2022.

Masking OPTIONAL (STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF):

Masking is required for all visitors on campus.

Masking while indoors is optional for all students, faculty, and staff.

While masking is optional indoors, professors may set a different mask policy for their class to require masks. You may also choose to continue wearing a mask and please be respectful of others, especially when meeting in smaller groups, if you are asked to wear a mask when meeting. The expectation is that you should have a mask available to use if needed.

These policies are subject to change at any time, and you are responsible for staying on top of these changes.

Yes. Vermont Law School requires all campus-based faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus unless they qualify for/are approved for a medical or religious exemption.

Fully vaccinated means you have received your primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and any recommended booster dose(s) when eligible. Additional guidelines are as follows:

• People living in the United States should receive a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) prior to their arrival to campus.
• People living abroad without access to the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines should prioritize a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, followed by any other government vaccines provided in their location prior to coming to campus. Students who are unable to receive a FDA- or WHO-approved vaccine prior to arriving in Vermont should email covid19@vermontlaw.edu to discuss their options.

 

People living abroad without access to the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) should prioritize a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, followed by any other government vaccines provided in their location prior to coming to campus. Students who are unable to receive a FDA- or WHO-approved vaccine prior to arriving in Vermont should email covid19@vermontlaw.edu to discuss their options.

Monitoring yourself daily for possible symptoms of COVID-19 is crucial for our community’s safety. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, please contact covid19@vermontlaw.edu for further instruction before coming to campus.

• Fever (100.4 °F or higher)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, stay home, contact your close contacts (those within 6ft for more than 15 minutes), and contact your medical professional ASAP to discuss next steps. Please also contact covid19@vermontlaw.edu, Dean Brennan and the Office of the Registrar to notify them that you will be staying home as soon as you can. VLS requires that you follow the below protocols prior to returning to campus:

• Isolation
  • If you had symptoms, you may leave isolation and return to campus once all of the below criteria are met (unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider):
    • You have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers, and
    • Other symptoms have improved, and
    • At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
  • If you did not have symptoms, you may leave isolation and return to campus once the below criteria are met:
    • 5 days have passed since the date you had your positive test (unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider)
  • You are NOT required to submit a negative covid test prior to returning to campus should the above criteria be met.
  • If you become symptomatic during this 90-day period, you must stay home and contact your healthcare provider and covid19@vermontlaw.edu. Students – please also contact Dean Brennan and the Office of the Registrar to notify them that you will be staying home as soon as you can. You will need either a negative test result OR a note from your doctor indicating that you are safe to return to campus without infecting others to return to campus.

A violation of the Health Safety Protocols is a violation of the VLS Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary action including being barred from access to the campus. All Code of Conduct violations are also reported to the Board of Bar Examiners.

Yes. Please report any violations immediately to the OVAT Team, Deans Jefferson or Brennan, or on the COVID Incident Reporting Form.

OVAT Team: covid19@vermontlaw.edu

Associate Dean Jefferson: sjefferson@vermontlaw.edu

Dean Joe Brennan: jbrennan@vermontlaw.edu

Please click the Testing link at the bottom of these pages for more information.

In accordance with updated guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, we will no longer handle contact tracing. Alerting close contacts will be the responsibility of the infected person.

Yes. There are no restrictions on indoor meeting location or length at this time.

We have a few local volunteers willing to help with transportation to and from the grocery store or pharmacy – if you need a ride, please email Ashley Ziai, Theresa Johnson, or Associate Dean Jefferson and they will connect you with a volunteer, if possible.

Personal Domestic and International Travel: All students must follow Vermont Department of Health domestic and international travel policies, found here. Regardless of vaccination status, any VLS student may decline to participate in VLS-sponsored travel until further notice.

These policies are subject to change, and you are responsible for staying on top of any changes.

Please review the VT Department of Health and CDC guidance for international travel.

If anyone in our community requires assistance, whether technical, illness, or are not able to access groceries or other necessities, contact Vice Dean for Students Joe Brennan, Associate Dean Jefferson, or email the covid19@vermontlaw.edu address.

The VLS Food Pantry is open, and has moved to the former bike shed on the quad. please reach out to Ashley Ziai with any questions.

For more information or to schedule a virtual event, email Theresa Johnson.

Any member of VLS's COVID Response Team – Dean Brennan, Dean Lewis, Associate Director Anne Linehan, VP Lorraine Atwood, Ashley Ziai, Nina Russo, Kim Harris, or you can email COVID19@vermontlaw.edu

Masking OPTIONAL (STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF):

Masking is required for all visitors on campus.

Masking while indoors is optional for all students, faculty, and staff.

While masking is optional indoors, professors may set a different mask policy for their class to require masks. You may also choose to continue wearing a mask and please be respectful of others, especially when meeting in smaller groups, if you are asked to wear a mask when meeting. The expectation is that you should have a mask available to use if needed.

Yes. Vermont Law School requires all campus-based faculty, staff, and students to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus unless they qualify for/are approved for a medical or religious exemption.

Fully vaccinated means you have received your primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and any recommended booster dose(s) when eligible. Additional guidelines are as follows:

• People living in the United States should receive a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) prior to their arrival to campus.
• People living abroad without access to the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) should prioritize a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, followed by any other government vaccines provided in their location prior to coming to campus. Students who are unable to receive a FDA- or WHO-approved vaccine prior to arriving in Vermont must receive a FDA-approved vaccine as soon as possible upon arriving in Vermont.

 

People living abroad without access to the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson) should prioritize a WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccine, followed by any other government vaccines provided in their location prior to coming to campus. Students who are unable to receive a FDA- or WHO-approved vaccine prior to arriving in Vermont should email covid19@vermontlaw.edu to discuss their options.

Yes. Please report any violations immediately to the OVAT Team, Deans Jefferson or Brenna or on the COVID Incident Reporting Form.

OVAT Team: covid19@vermontlaw.edu

Associate Dean Jefferson: sjefferson@vermontlaw.edu

Dean Joe Brennanjbrennan@vermontlaw.edu

Monitoring yourself daily for possible symptoms of COVID-19 is crucial for our community’s safety. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, please contact covid19@vermontlaw.edu for further instruction before coming to campus.

• Fever (100.4 °F or higher)
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19, stay home, contact your close contacts (those within 6ft for more than 15 minutes), and contact your medical professional ASAP to discuss next steps. Please also contact covid19@vermontlaw.edu and your supervisor to notify them that you will be staying home as soon as you can. VLS requires that you follow the below protocols prior to returning to campus:

• Isolation
  • If you had symptoms, you may leave isolation and return to campus once all of the below criteria are met (unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider):
    • You have had no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine that reduces fevers, and
    • Other symptoms have improved, and
    • At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared
  • If you did not have symptoms, you may leave isolation and return to campus once the below criteria are met:
    • 5 days have passed since the date you had your positive test (unless otherwise instructed by your health care provider)
  • You are NOT required to submit a negative covid test prior to returning to campus should the above criteria be met.
  • If you become symptomatic during this 90-day period, please contact covid19@vermontlaw.edu for more details.

Please click the Testing link at the bottom of these pages for more information.

In accordance with updated guidance from the Vermont Department of Health, we will no longer handle contact tracing. Alerting close contacts will be the responsibility of the infected person.

Yes. There are no restrictions on indoor meeting location or length at this time.

Personal Domestic and International Travel: All faculty and staff must follow Vermont Department of Health domestic and international travel policies, found here. Regardless of vaccination status, any VLS faculty or staff may decline to participate in VLS-sponsored travel until further notice.

These policies are subject to change, and you are responsible for staying on top of any changes.

Please review the VT Department of Health and CDC guidance for international travel.

If anyone in our community requires assistance, whether technical, illness, or are not able to access groceries or other necessities, contact Vice Dean for Students Joe Brennan, Associate Dean Jefferson, or email the covid19@vermontlaw.edu address.

If you have any questions regarding employee benefits, please contact Kim Harris, Director of Human Resources or Lori Campbell, Benefits and Payroll Coordinator.

You can make a gift in support of the COVID-19 Hardship Fund online, by mailing a check, or via phone. Please see below for further information on each option.

• Gifts can be made online by clicking here and selecting the COVID-19 Hardship Fund designation. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted via our secure giving site.
• Checks made payable to Vermont Law School can be mailed to the below address. Please specify the COVID-19 Hardship Fund on the memo line of your check.
  Vermont Law School
  Offices for Alumni Relations and Development
  PO Box 26
  South Royalton, VT 05068
• To make a credit card payment by phone, call 802-831-1312. Since our staff is currently working remotely, please leave a message with your name and phone number, and your call will be returned as soon as possible. The Offices for Alumni Relations and Development continue to monitor messages during normal business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.).

To learn more about the hardship fund, please click here.

Faculty and staff who are in need of funds should submit an online application and supporting documentation by clicking here. A committee—made up of staff members from both the Office of Human Resources and Senior Deans—reviews the submitted applications.

For more information on the COVID-19 Hardship Fund and the application process, please click here.

Any member of VLGS's COVID Response Team – Dean Brennan, Dean Lewis, Associate Director Anne Linehan, VP Lorraine Atwood, Ashley Ziai, Nina Russo, Kim Harris, or you can email COVID19@vermontlaw.edu

To stay informed, please visit the CDC and World Health Organization websites, where you will find the most accurate and up-to-date information.

• World Health Organization
• Questions and Answers (World Health Organization)
• U.S. Cases (CDC)
• Vermont Department of Health
• Information for Travelers (CDC)

We realize that the spread of COVID-19 might bring forth a rush of emotion and mental health concerns – anxiety, depression, isolation/withdrawal, etc. – rest assured that mental health services will still be available.

If you find yourself in need of immediate assistance, please call the 24 hour emergency line at 1-800-639-6360.

Ashley Ziai, Director of Student Affairs, is available to assist the VLS community with resources, guidance, or to just listen.

The fitness center is open, with restrictions. For details and requirements for access, see the Campus Operations section above.

IT has created a Teams help and support site. The site is focused on Teams questions IT has received, Teams basics, and is also a portal to more advanced support topics posted to the Teams Microsoft support site.
https://vermontlaw.sharepoint.com/sites/TeamsSupport/SitePages/Home.aspx.

Below are instructions to forward your phone to an outside line and to check your voicemail remotely. We also have the ability to send your voicemail messages as audio attachments to your VLS email. If you would like to sign up for this service, please email helpdesk@vermontlaw.edu.

Forward Phone

1. Pick up the receiver of your desk phone to get a dial tone.
2. Dial **2 to start the forward and then the outside number, including 9 and 1, where you would like to receive calls. For example, if a cell phone number is (555) 555-1234, then you would dial **2-9-1-(555) 555-1234. You will hear a succession of 9 beeps to let you know the forward is on.
3. To REMOVE the forward, pick up the receiver of your desk phone to get a dial tone and dial #2.

 

Accessing your voicemail from Off-Campus or someone else's telephone From Off-Campus

1. Dial 802-831-1099
2. Enter your extension while the attendant says "Welcome to the Message Center"
3. When your mailbox greeting starts, press * (star, once)
4. Enter your passcode to access your voicemail messages

 

Email Audio Files of Voicemails

1. Audio files of your voicemail can be sent to your VLS email and played through a media/music player.
2. Send a request to helpdesk@vermontlaw.edu titled “Voicemail Emails.”

 

If you require IT assistance, please submit an IT Helpdesk request by sending an email to: helpdesk@vermontlaw.edu

Sending an email to this address automatically creates a ticket in our system.

We are currently experiencing a high volume of phone requests as well as ticket requests, but tickets are much more manageable for the IT Team to process. If you are experiencing an IT emergency, please call the IT Helpdesk at 802-831-1355, but if it's a non-emergency, please submit a ticket request and we will address the issue as quickly as we can.

 

As we move forward, communication is crucial. Vermont Law School uses an emergency notification system called Regroup or VLS Alerts.

Sign up for VLS Alerts:

You can sign up for VLS Alerts here: https://vermontlaw.regroup.com/login. To log in, enter your VLS username and password.

Put it on your phone:

Regroup has a free app called Alertme available for download to Android and iPhone devices. Regroup already communicates over cellular networks and through email, but having the app on your cellular device provides an additional means of communication as notifications will be delivered over wifi.

The Alertme app can be found in the Google Play store or Apple iTunes. Just search for Alertme. Sign on with your full VLS email address and vls password. If you have difficulty signing in, click the Forgot Password link for a password reset.

Here are some direct links to the app stores:
Apple iTunes for iPhones/iPads
Google Play Store for Android

Please consider installing Alertme. It provides you an additional means of emergency communication.