Dear Coogs,

As we head into fall semester, I would like to thank everyone who has already registered for our new Cougar Vaccination Incentive Program. We are excited to offer this voluntary program to students as part of our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our Cougar community.

If you have not registered to be a Cougar VIP yet, or if you have questions about the program, I would encourage you to read over the eligibility details and FAQs we have developed to answer any questions you may have about the program.

Remember, the deadline to register is September 30, and we would not want you to miss out on some of the amazing incentives we are offering.

Every student is eligible for this voluntary program, regardless of whether you take classes in-person or online. And every student who chooses to participate will receive $50 in ShastaBUCKS, which can be used via your Cougar Card at on-campus dining locations, the Campus Store, vending machines and select off-campus merchants.

Also, randomly selected participants will be eligible for additional incentives that include:

• One student: Two semesters of tuition and fees
• Two students: One semester of tuition and fees
• Five students: Student zoned parking permits for 2021-2022

If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccination, please log in to AccessUH and click on the Cougar Vaccination Incentive Program icon to upload your documentation. This documentation will be deleted once it has been verified.

The data suggests that vaccination remains the best intervention for reliable protection. If you have not been vaccinated, I sincerely ask that you familiarize yourself with the pertinent information, consult with your doctor, and seriously consider being vaccinated. Should you choose to get vaccinated, you can then follow the steps above to become a Cougar Vaccination Incentive Program participant. Need to find a vaccination? You can use the Texas Health and Human Services website to help you find a vaccination location.

The $50 in ShastaBUCKS incentive will be distributed beginning the week of August 23 — after verification of documentation is confirmed by the Cougar Card Office — and will continue through September 30. The additional incentives of tuition and fees and parking permits will be awarded the week of October 4.

Our new website about the Cougar Vaccination Incentive Program has detailed answers to many of the questions you may have, and I encourage you to read over the information provided there. However, if you have a question that is not answered there, please email coogvip@uh.edu.

We are looking forward to an amazing fall semester.

Go Coogs!