SEMO announces COVID-19 vaccine incentive program

CAPE GIRARDEAU (WSIL) -- Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is encouraging all students, staff and faculty to get vaccinated with a new incentive program.

The university's goal is to achieve a 70% vaccination rate for students, faculty and staff by November 1, 2021.

To help encourage our students to continue to get vaccinated, a $25 Redbucks account credit or a $25 Southeast Bookstore gift card will be given to the first 2,000 students receiving either a first or second dose between now and October 1 at a vaccination clinic on the Southeast campus.

All students who have submitted proof of full vaccination will also automatically be entered to win one of 200 cash prizes.

These drawings will begin soon and continue through November 1 to reward those who have already been vaccinated and to encourage participation in vaccination clinics this fall.

If the university meets the 70% vaccination rate goal, students, faculty and staff will enjoy a weeklong Thanksgiving holiday break. Classes scheduled for November 22 and 23 will be cancelled and offices will be closed November 22-26.

For more information on the program

To help measure vaccination rates at Southeast, students, faculty and staff are invited to log their vaccine record. Please only provide evidence of full vaccination. You can log your information several ways:

. The uploaded image must be clear and must include the name of the vaccinated person.
Present your Southeast ID and vaccination card, which must be easy to read and include the name of the vaccinated person, at one of these locations during regular business hours during regular business hours beginning Monday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.:
- Student Recreation Center
- University Center, room 413
- River Campus Chart Clinic in Dobbins Center
- Kennett Campus
- Sikeston Campus
- Cape College Center
- Poplar Bluff, TRC Westover Administration Bldg. #200A
Participants in a vaccination clinic on the Southeast campus after August 23, can log their information at the time the vaccine is received.

for a list of on campus vaccine clinics.

Vaccine information will solely be used for the purpose of assessing the percentage of fully vaccinated individuals in our campus community and to select students to win prizes. Vaccine information will not be maintained for use by contact tracers or as a part of person’s medical record, as the University does not maintain medical records for students or employees. The uploaded image of a vaccine record card will be deleted once it has been reviewed.

Eligibility

Students can receive one $25 gift for attending a vaccine clinic, for either their first or second dose.
Students must provide full proof of vaccination by the close of business the day prior to the drawing to win prizes.
Students must be enrolled at the time of the drawing to win a prize.
Students may receive only one of the cash prizes from the bi-weekly drawings.
Students who are also benefit-eligible employees are not eligible to win prizes or receive gift cards.
Students enrolled as Early College/Dual Credit are not eligible for prize drawings or gift cards.

Additional Information

The $500 and $250 cash prizes will be paid directly to students in the form of a direct deposit to their bank account. Students who do not have direct deposit established by the drawing date will have checks mailed to their permanent address on file.
Payments will be processed as follows: September 20 drawings will be paid October 1, October 4 drawings will be paid October 15, October 18 drawings will be paid October 29, and November 1 drawings will be paid November 12. Payments will be processed as follows: September 20 drawings will be paid October 1, October 4 drawings will be paid October 15, October 18 drawings will be paid October 29, and November 1 drawings will be paid November 12. Checks can be picked up during normal business hours in Accounts Payable, Academic Hall Room 200.
International students who receive any prize will receive an IRS1042 form and will be responsible for the taxes on the gift.
Southeast Bookstore gift cards and cash prizes will be taxable for prize recipients who are also student employees.
Cash prize recipients agree to allow their name and/or likeness to be used to publicly announce their prize status.
Unvaccinated faculty, staff and students will also benefit from the extended Thanksgiving break if the vaccination rate goal is achieved.
An extended Thanksgiving break would be considered extra designated holidays for faculty and staff, therefore not requiring electronic timesheet recording.