Marist Requires Vaccinations for 2021-2022 Academic Year
The Marist administration is requiring students and faculty to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for the 2021-2022 academic year.
“All students, faculty, and staff must complete an acceptable vaccine series (a single shot of Johnson & Johnson or second shot of Moderna, Pfizer or other vaccines on the World Health Organization- Emergency Use List) and upload official documentation no later than August 1, 2021,” Vice President for Student Affairs Deb DiCaprio said.
During the spring of 2021, Marist faced COVID-19 outbreaks and finished the semester in May with 665 total positive COVID-19 cases. After conducting 23,208 COVID-19 tests for students and faculty last semester, Marist is now hoping that the high vaccination rates of the college community will allow the campus to operate with fewer restrictions.
“We’re excited for the return of everything that makes Marist a unique and vibrant place to live, learn, and work,” DiCaprio said. “From in-person dining to classroom instruction, Division I athletics, club sports and intramurals, to student activities and events, we need your help to bring the Marist community back stronger than ever.
Although the majority of the student body and faculty will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, medical and religious exemptions for the vaccine can be requested and will be reviewed by the college.
“After such a challenging year, we are all eager to get back to our unique Marist College on-ground experience, and vaccinations have proven to be a critical component of the public health of many communities,” DiCaprio said.
The Marist community has to upload proof of their complete vaccination status at marist.medicatconnect.com and are being asked not to send their vaccination status to Health Services. The college created a specific frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on their website regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and the 2021-2022 academic year.
“Vaccinated students will not be required to wear masks, although they may choose to do so,” the Marist (FAQ) page said. “This policy may change based on the status of COVID-19 cases among the campus community, as well as updated guidance from New York State or the CDC.”
As of now, the college will not be requiring fully vaccinated individuals to wear masks on campus in outdoor or indoor settings. However, for students and faculty that are not vaccinated, they must follow the New York State guidelines which state that unvaccinated individuals are responsible for wearing a mask in accordance with federal CDC guidance.
“We know these are still uncertain times, but we believe the College’s approach to rely on the public health expertise that helped us navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic will also allow us to work our way through to a more normal academic year starting in the Fall,” DiCaprio said.
Marist Requires Vaccinations for 2021-2022 Academic Year. Source: Greta Stuckey