SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Required for Students for Fall
University of Scranton will require all students attending in-person classes or accessing campus for other reasons to be fully vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 by August 27, 2021. Nearly 1,000 students, faculty and staff were vaccinated at vaccination clinic held recently on campus.The University of Scranton announced today that it will require all students who would access the campus to be fully vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 prior to August 27. As with other vaccinations required by the University, students may request a waiver in accordance with Pennsylvania law.
“In an effort to best protect our campus and surrounding community, the President’s Cabinet and I have decided that all students attending in-person classes or accessing campus for other reasons must be fully vaccinated by August 27, 2021,” Acting President Jeffrey P. Gingerich, Ph.D., wrote in a message to the University community. Students arriving early would have to be fully vaccinated before their arrival on campus.
“During a recent campus-based vaccination clinic, nearly 1,000 students, faculty and staff were vaccinated. We know from student surveys that hundreds of others are already fully vaccinated, reflecting that vaccines are now widely available. These levels of vaccination are encouraging but not enough,” wrote Dr. Gingerich of the University’s decision. He cited current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and advice from medical experts with whom the University consulted, noting “vaccines are the best defense against the virus and its variants, and they are most effective when everyone is vaccinated.”
Scranton joins more than 300 colleges and universities across the United States that will require students to be vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 for the fall 2021 semester.
The University is encouraging faculty and staff to get vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 as well.
“Based on a recent survey of faculty and staff, most have already chosen to get fully vaccinated,” wrote Dr. Gingerich. “While we are not mandating vaccination at this time for employees, we continue to discuss this possibility, and reserve the right to do so in the future.”
The University announced in March that it plans to return to fully in-person classes for the fall semester for which classes begin on August 30.
