(WWJ) The University of Michigan (UM) has announced it will require COVID-19 vaccines for all students living on campus in Ann Arbor this fall.
University President Dr. Mark Schlissel said shots won’t be mandated for faculty, staff or commuting students “at this time,” although he is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.
School officials say they hope the vaccination requirements will allow the residence halls to function as they did pre-pandemic at near full capacity.
Schlissel cited concerns of Michigan Medicine experts that vaccination levels are falling below a level to reach “community immunity.”
“Everyone can support helping our community feel (safer) and (more) confident this fall,” the school tweeted.
The University stressed the vaccines carry no outer pocket costs, regardless of whether a student or staff member has personal insurance.
School officials will consider “limited documented exemptions” to the vaccination requirements for students living on campus, and all requests will be “subject to approval.” Those request forms will be available mid-May.
Unvaccinated students will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
Students who wish to live on campus this fall will be required to show proof of vaccination by July 15.
The University recently asked all students to voluntarily report their vaccination status through a tool on Wolverine Access, including uploading a picture of their vaccination card.
The information will be used to make public health decisions about residence hall capacity and group activities.
“Congregate living settings, like residence halls, are at high risk for spread of illness, especially with B.1.1.7 and other variants that spread more easily. Vaccination is a key prevention tool to be used in this space, and beyond, to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” F. Dubois Bowman, dean of UM School of Public Health, said in a press release.
See the full press release here
Students, faculty, staff or guests visiting the Dearborn campus this fall will be required to show proof of either vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within the past week.
As of Thursday, nearly 3,000 UM students voluntarily reported to the University they had been vaccinated.
School officials are hoping to have residence halls at at least 80% capacity with “ expanded use of shared spaces for other activities" come fall.
The University will continue to reserve more than 400 rooms in the North Campus to isolate and quarantine students who test positive for the virus in the next school year.