Mount Saint Mary College is requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the start of the Fall 2021 semester, college officials announced on Thursday, August 5.
"As we prepare for a successful return to in-person classes and events for the Fall 2021 semester, changing guidance and health conditions have led us to revise our vaccination policy and make adjustments to the schedule for the start of the semester," noted Dr. Jason N. Adsit, president of the college, in a letter to students.
The requirement was put in place due to rising COVID-19 infection rates in Orange County and the emergence of highly contagious variants such as Delta.
To allow time for students to get vaccinated, the Fall 2021 semester will now begin remotely on Monday, August 30 for two weeks, with in-person classes beginning Monday, September 13.
Requests for medical or religious exemptions will be reviewed and are subject to an approval process.
"The decision to require vaccines was not made lightly and will ultimately allow the Mount to provide the college experience that our students deserve," wrote Dr. Adsit. "Vaccination will provide a safer return to in-person classes and activities; minimize risk of outbreak; protect the health of our community; and reduce the possibility of disruption to academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities. For student-athletes, this reduces the frequency of testing required and helps us return to competition as safely as possible."
He added that getting vaccinated "speaks to our Dominican values of community and service, as we take this measure to protect the health of those around us."
At present, more than 600 colleges and universities in the U.S. are requiring the vaccine for the fall semester, and vaccinations are recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College Health Association.