Covid-19 Masking Social Distancing and Vaccination Policy

Updated as of March 11, 2022, find updates here.

September 1, 2021

The Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St. Paul (“AFMSP”) is concerned about the health and safety of its members, students, instructors and staff, as well as the health and safety of its tenants at the Joly Family Center for International Understanding (the “Joly Center), tenant personnel and their clients, customers and other visitors.  In light of ongoing developments relating to Covid 19 in the State of Minnesota and recent guidance from the Centers from Disease Control (“CDC”), the AFMSP Board of Directors has approved the adoption of the following policy relating to masking, social distancing and vaccination.

Masking and Social Distancing.  Effective immediately:

  • Everyone teaching or attending AFMSP indoor classes or events in person at the Joly Center must wear a mask at all times and must observe social distancing to the extent feasible. The same requirement applies to AFMSP personnel or instructors otherwise working in person at the Joly Center or anyone present inside the Joly Center to use any AFMSP facilities or resources, such as the library, La Boutique or any exposition.

  • This requirement applies whether you are vaccinated or not vaccinated. It does not apply to children under age 2.

  • It also applies to both common areas in the Joly Center (reception, library, La Boutique, hallways, restrooms, etc.) and to Joly Center classrooms, offices and event spaces.

  • Tenants, their personnel and their clients, customers and other visitors must wear masks and observe social distancing when using or passing through common areas. A tenant’s own policy on masking and social distancing shall govern masking and social distancing within a tenant’s leased space in the Joly Center.

Proof of Vaccination.  Effective September 8, 2021:

  • Proof of vaccination satisfactory to the AFMSP (presentation of a Covid-19 vaccination card or a photo or copy thereof, including in electronic form) will be mandatory for staff and instructors to do any in-person work or teaching at the Joly Center.

  • Proof of vaccination satisfactory to the AFMSP will also be mandatory for any student to attend classes in person at the Joly Center, except to the extent the class in question is held entirely outdoors.

  • Proof of vaccination satisfactory to the AFMSP will also be mandatory for anyone to attend an event in person at the Joly Center, except to the extent the event in question is held entirely outdoors.

  • Notwithstanding the preceding three bullet points, if a member of the AFMSP staff, an instructor, or any student or event attendee is not vaccinated, that person may enter the Joly Center to work, attend classes or attend event upon presentation of written proof of a negative Covid-19 test that was conducted within 72 hours of such person’s entering the Joly Center. Exceptions will be made only at the discretion of the AFMSP’s executive director.

  • This proof-of-vaccination requirement does not apply to any attendee ineligible legally to receive available vaccines due to age (i.e., children under age 12).

  • A tenant’s own policy on vaccination status shall govern their respective personnel, clients, customers and other visitors to their leased space at the Joly Center so long as all observe the masking and social distancing policy stated above when using or passing through common areas at the Joly Center.

  • The AFMSP is sensitive to the needs of its community and recognizes that there may be certain exemptions to its proof-of-vaccination policy that the AFMSP will attempt to honor, specifically religious and medical exemptions. If any individual wants to claim an exemption because of medical reason, please provide the Alliance with a letter from a doctor, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner verifying the reason for the exemption. The AFMSP is not a large organization with unlimited resources. The AFMSP will, however, make reasonable efforts to allow instructors or staff to teach or work from home online, where feasible, if they meet one of the two stated exemptions. Likewise, the AFMSP will make reasonable efforts to accommodate members and students who claim a religious or medical exemption by providing access to online classes and online participation possibilities with respect to certain AFMSP events, where feasible. Please be aware, however, that the AFMSP cannot guarantee that opportunities for online participation in classes and events will be equal to those opportunities available to those able to provide proof of vaccination and thereby participate in classes or events either online or in person.

Dissemination and Changes to Policy

The AFMSP will prominently post this policy on its website, distribute it via its weekly email newsletter, distribute it to all instructors and staff and display it in the reception area at the Joly Center.

The AFMSP Board of Directors and staff will continue to actively monitor Covid 19 developments and related health requirements and recommendations from all relevant authorities, including government regulations and the CDC.  The AFMSP may modify or rescind any or all of the foregoing policy when it determines that such modification or rescission is consistent with the health and safety of all its constituencies. 

Questions

Please address questions regarding this policy to the AFMSP’s Executive Director, Christina Selander Bouzouina.

Jenna Thorsett