Several RI Universities To Require Coronavirus Vaccines

PROVIDENCE, RI — As students look forward to a more "normal" fall semester, several colleges and universities in Rhode Island announced they will require students to get their coronavirus vaccine before returning to campus, while others are considering similar policies.

In a message to students, Brown University said that vaccines will be required for all undergraduate, graduate and medical students who "will be on campus or engage in any level of in-person instruction" for the fall 2021 semester. Certain religious or health exemptions will be provided. Students without an exemption will be not be allowed to live on campus and will be required to arrange for remote study or take a leave of absence.

Roger Williams University, meanwhile, implemented a similar policy, asking students and staff to upload proof of vaccination through the school's Health Services Patient Portal.

At this time, the coronavirus vaccine will not be required in the fall at the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College or the Rhode Island School of Design, though that could change in the coming months.

"As the vaccines become more widely available to the general population and are formally approved by the CDC and FDA, RISD will work with the State of Rhode Island to determine our role in requiring vaccination as a condition of enrollment or employment," reads a message on the school's COVID-19 response page.