Both Colleges In Northfield Will Require COVID-19 Vaccine

NORTHFIELD, MN — The two colleges located in Northfield — St. Olaf and Carlton — will require students and staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the fall semester begins.

St. Olaf and Carlton are among a growing list of other colleges and universities around the nation that will require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in order to return to campus.

Both colleges in Northfield will allow students and staff to be exempted from the requirement under certain circumstances.

"If an employee of St. Olaf is unwilling to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine, and has not been granted a religious or disability accommodation, the College reserves the right to respond in the manner it deems appropriate under the circumstances to uphold this policy of requiring vaccination as a condition of continued employment," reads the St. Olaf policy.

"Such options could include, for example, a leave of absence without pay or termination of employment."

Other Minnesota colleges that will require the vaccine include Macalester College, the Minnesota College of Art and Design, and Gustavus Adolphus College.

Most other schools in the state — including the University of Minnesota system — will not enforce a requirement.

"Our public health and medical experts confirm that vaccine requirements will not result in 100 percent vaccination rates," reads a statement from the University of Minnesota. "Experience suggests that an incentivized approach can be very effective in succeeding with our fall semester plans."

The state of Minnesota law already requires college students to be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, measles, mumps, and rubella.