Christopher Newport University: COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Required For Students This Fall

Press release from Christopher Newport University:

Jim Hanchett

May 27, 2021

Students attending classes this fall term will be required to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors voted unanimously to adopt the requirement. It is subject to medical or religious exemptions. Free COVID-19 tests will be administered on at least a weekly basis for students who are not vaccinated and they will be expected to wear face coverings.

“This is the best way to protect our community while at the same time returning to a robust campus life reminiscent of what we all enjoyed before,” said Rector Robert Hatten. “We would like to provide a living and learning environment for students this fall that is as close to the fall of 2019, pre-COVID, as possible.”

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine series, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Because the vaccine options can take as long as six weeks between the two shots and the waiting period for full efficacy, students should make sure they’ve had their first shot no later than June 15. Detailed instructions will be sent to students when the mechanism for documenting vaccination status is operational.

The reasons for adopting the mandate were described in the resolution adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Visitors and they include:

“On a residential campus like ours, we want students to be able to live and learn together and give back to this community,” said Vice President of Student Affairs Kevin Hughes. “We want to see them, without masks if they wish, bring the campus alive like they have before.”

The requirement for students is authorized in Virginia under an official opinion issued by Attorney General Mark Herring that said colleges “may condition in-person attendance on receipt of an approved COVID-19 vaccine during this time of pandemic.”

Many returning students are already vaccinated, as are more than 90% of the faculty and staff, thanks in large part to the location of vaccine clinics on campus. Those clinics were made possible by the Virginia Department of Health, the city of Newport News, York County and other community partners.

The Executive Committee determined that at such time as the commonwealth requires state employees to be vaccinated, Christopher Newport is to do so as well with its faculty and staff.

This press release was produced by Christopher Newport University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.