University Of Colorado To Require Vaccines Before Fall Semester

The University of Colorado's four campuses will require all students and staff to have coronavirus vaccinations before the fall semester begins, university officials announced Wednesday.

The university's president and campus chancellors made the decision after consulting with state and local public health officials, the university said in a statement.

"The science around COVID-19 and vaccines is clear and compelling," the statement read. "Vaccines are good for public health, not only lowering rates of infection on our campuses, but also in the communities they call home.

"Vaccines will also allow on-campus students and faculty to resume their in-person experience that is critical to academic success and personal growth."

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Campuses will allow some exemptions, but the process for obtaining medical and non-medical exemptions has not yet been developed, officials said.

"Our institutions will communicate more detail to our respective campus communities in the days ahead," the statement read. "Other public institutions in Colorado are considering the issue and will communicate as necessary."

Many colleges and universities across the U.S. have announced the vaccine requirement for their fall semesters, but others have been hesitant to issue the controversial mandate. Governors in Montana, Utah, Texas and Florida have signed orders that ban institutions from requiring vaccines.

Colorado's Department of Higher Education and the Governor's Office encouraged the University of Colorado to require vaccines, university officials said.