Michigan’s two largest universities said they would require students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning for fall term.
Michigan’s two largest universities announced Friday they would require students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19, marking a consequential step in their strategies to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when students return for their fall terms. Both University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel and MSU President Samuel Stanley Jr. said the highly contagious delta variant, which is behind a resurgence in cases in the United States, motivated their decisions to mandate. « We acknowledge the magnitude of this decision and we do not make it lightly, » Schlissel wrote in a letter to campus Friday afternoon. « Following our principles of putting the safety of our faculty, staff, students and patients first, we are confident this is the right approach. » They aren’t the first to require vaccinations. Albion College was the first in Michigan to announce a campus-wide vaccine mandate, and hundreds of colleges and universities across the country have issued some kind of vaccine requirement, according to a list maintained by the Chronicle of Higher Education. « I think we’re going to be seeing more of this going forward, » Stanley said. The announcement came on the same day the state health department reported that Michigan COVID case totals have been rising for four weeks. This week the state added 4,012 cases from the virus, up from 2,323 cases the week before and 1,531 cases the week prior. Stanley was an infectious disease doctor before going into university administration. He said he and other MSU officials hoped they wouldn’t have to issue a vaccine mandate, but the « very disturbing » delta variant encouraged them to take stronger action. « I think we’ll find that many of our students and staff are already vaccinated, but for those who are not I hope this is the nudge it takes, » he said. Many Michigan colleges and universities haven’t taken that step. Some, including Wayne State University and Oakland University, issued limited vaccine requirements that apply only to students living on campus. Western Michigan University and Central Michigan University are relying on incentive programs to boost their vaccination rates.
