UHCL's Vaccine Incentive Program offers students and employees a $50 gift card for uploading their vaccination card. Graphic by The Signal Editor-in-Chief Miles Shellshear.

UHCL announces on campus vaccination clinics and Hawk Vaccination Incentive Program

By Miles Shellshear, Editor-in-Chief On Oct 8, 2021 402 0

UHCL announced the Hawk Vaccination Incentive Program Oct. 4. The university is offering a $50 gift card to UHCL students and employees who upload their CDC vaccination card to tap.uhcl.edu.

This can be any electronic copy, including a PDF or a photo, of one’s CDC vaccination card. UHCL will also host a series of vaccine clinics throughout October to provide opportunities for students, staff and faculty to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Students who upload a copy of their vaccination card will receive a validation email confirming their vaccination card has been uploaded. Students should wait 24 hours after receiving their validation email before picking up their $50 gift card from Student Business Services in the Student Services and Classroom Building (SSCB), Monday through Friday during the hours of 10 to 11 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Students must bring their UHCL ID to collect their incentive.

Students who upload their vaccination card will also be entered into weekly raffles. Every week, 20 students will win an annual parking permit or a refund for one if they have already purchased it. Additionally, one student each week will win a laptop with a value of up to $1,500 purchased through the campus bookstore. Finally, after five weeks of giveaways, the incentive program culminates in a drawing for one student to win free tuition for a semester, minus the value of any scholarships or grants. Drawings for the raffles will take place Friday of each week through Nov. 5.

“The intent of the incentive program is to encourage students and staff to get vaccinated,” said Mark Denney, vice president of administration and finance. “Drawing it out over a longer time would have reduced that impact…five weeks gave sufficient time for students or staff who had not begun their vaccination routine, to start it, and have it finished before the program ended, and the quicker you can demonstrate your vaccinated status, the more weekly drawings you will be eligible for.”

Employees who upload a copy of their vaccination card will receive a $50 gift card, which they can pick up from Human Resources (HR) in the Bayou Building Tuesdays from 1 to 4:30 p.m. or Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Employees must also complete an Exhibit B form and bring their UHCL ID to HR on the aforementioned days and times to collect their incentive.

“Both the Student Business Services and Human Resources offices have heavy existing service demand, and while the smooth functioning of the incentive program is important, so is the process of supporting students to clear up student account balances, payment deadlines, etc., and within Human Resources, especially due to the impact of the pandemic, addressing health accommodation issues, working conditions, payroll, etc.” Denney said. “We were seeking the best path to ensure both simultaneous operations function efficiently and effectively. The set times to claim your gift card was established to facilitate both operations moving forward simultaneously, to best serve both our students and our campus.”

Employees will be entered into weekly raffles as well. Every week, five employees will win an annual parking permit or a refund if they have already purchased one. Additionally, two employees each week will win a $100 gift card from the campus bookstore.

Employees will assume a tax liability for these incentives, which is why they must complete the Exhibit B form prior to collecting their incentive. Students do not have any tax liability associated with these incentives.

Students and employees who would like to participate but are not vaccinated for religious or medical reasons may request a religious exemption or medical exemption, which they can then upload to the tap.uhcl.edu. Once the exemption is approved, they may collect their incentives following the aforementioned instructions.

Those who are unable to login to the webpage may need to reset their password or contact the Office of Information Technology Support Center for assistance.

Vaccine clinics will take place on the following days at the following times and locations:

Harris County Public Health is offering the Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson vaccines to the public:

Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Neumann Library.

Thursday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Neumann Library.

HEB Pharmacy will offer flu shots, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters:

Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Atrium II.

Wednesday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Atrium II.

Thursday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Bayou Building, Atrium II.

Students and employees who register for a vaccination through HEB Pharmacy are required to wear a mask and social distance. Flu shots will cost $25 for students and $40 for staff. UHCL student and employee insurance will cover 100% of the cost for flu shots. The COVID-19 vaccine is free for everyone.

Students and employees can register for the vaccination clinics from HEB Pharmacy on the COVID-19 Vaccination Information page.

The raffles will only last from Oct. 4 to Nov. 5, but students and employees may submit their vaccination card after Nov. 5 and still collect their $50 gift card incentive. Students and employees who win a raffle prize will not be eligible for additional prizes.