Report by Paula Antolini, June 25, 2021, 9:02AM EDT
The Board of Regents voted to require all students who participate in on-campus activities at CSCU institutions during the fall 2021 semester be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
In a message released 6-24-21:
The Board of Regents for Higher Education (BOR) today voted to require that all students who participate in on-campus activities at Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) institutions during the fall 2021 semester be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The vaccines that are currently authorized in the United States are safe, effective, and critical to resuming normal operations at our campuses this fall,” said Dr. Jane Gates, interim president of CSCU. “Now is the time for students planning on attending college this fall to get vaccinated. With more infectious, more severe variants becoming more and more prevalent, getting your shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and our communities.”
While the BOR’s adopted policy does not specifically require all employees to be fully vaccinated, it does give the CSCU president the authority to impose such a requirement if they see fit. For represented employees the BOR does acknowledge that there will be required discussion with the unions on this issue. Evaluations are ongoing to determine whether this course of action will be necessary.
In May, Dr. Gates formed a working group, led by the vice chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee and consisting of faculty, staff and students, to determine the feasibility of a vaccine mandate. That group’s recommendations formed the basis of the BOR’s adopted policy.
The policy contains processes by which students can request vaccine exemptions for medical and nonmedical reasons.
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