GSU offers students, staff incentives for vaccinations

GRAMBLING — Grambling State University (GSU) students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated could win prizes including gift cards, gift bags, electronic devices and more. For one term, students could also win paid tuition and fees, room, meal plan and more.

GSU announced the initiative this month as students prepared to return to class on campus. To be eligible for the giveaways, students registered for fall 2021 classes and faculty and staff must complete an entry form and provide proof of being fully vaccinated. Among the incentives are photoshoots, laptops, smart phones, televisions, and Fitbits.

Thanks to GSU’s partnership with the Louisiana National Guard, a vaccination clinic is being held on campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for the next six weeks. Valid identification is required however no appointment is necessary. The vaccine will be administered free of charge from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at T.H. Harris Auditorium.

While vaccination is not required at GSU, it is strongly encouraged. The goal of the “Vaccinate for you and for Others, Protect the “G” incentive program is to support health and safety, said Assistant Vice President/Chief Compliance Officer Merlene Aitken-Smith.

“The Protect the “G” vaccination incentive program was formulated to encourage our campus community to protect themselves and others,” she said. “It is important to support the health and safety of the campus community. Therefore, in addition to masking, enhancement of cleaning in common areas, sanitizing dispensers campus-wide, and social distance, we are encouraging students and faculty and staff members to get vaccinated.”

Aitken-Smith said the COVID-19 vaccine serves as an additional protective layer to sustain a safe and healthy campus and community.

“Vaccination is one of the best pathways out of this dangerous surge and pandemic,” she said.

GSU President Rick Gallot said GSU continues to monitor COVID-19 and any incentive that the university can offer to encourage vaccination to stop the spread is well worth the effort.

“Increasing the vaccination rate in our campus community remains our most important responsibility as we begin the academic year,” he said.

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit covidvaccine.la.gov or read the FAQs on the Louisiana Department of Health website at ldh.la.gov/ covidvaccine.