Live Updates: Latest News on Coronavirus and Higher Education – 6 min ago – Inside Higher Ed

U System of Georgia Adjusts Mask Policy

May 17, 6:20 a.m. The University System of Georgia has adjusted its mask policy, WSBTV News reported.

In the fall, fully vaccinated employees and students will not be required to wear a mask while in class or at other activities.

Those who have not been vaccinated are "strongly encouraged" to continue wearing their masks inside.

-- Scott Jaschik

U of Rochester Develops App to Show Vaccine Status

May 14, 6:18 a.m. The University of Rochester has developed an app for students to demonstrate their confirmed vaccination status.

Students must supply the information to the university and then receive a green check mark to show.

The app is ready for use at commencement events.

-- Scott Jaschik

Penn State's Faculty Senate Calls for Mandatory Vaccines

May 13, 6:10 a.m. The Faculty Senate of Pennsylvania State University has voted -- 113 to 31 -- to require students and employees to be vaccinated by the fall, WTAJ News reported.

The vote is not binding on the administration. Provost Nicholas Jones said officials are currently working on incentives to get vaccinated.

So for students, were looking at opportunities to provide discounts at Penn State Eats and the bookstore. Were looking for drawings for resident hall students for free housing, upgraded meal plans, pizza parties, concert tickets, gift cards. For commuter students, drawings for meal plans, pizza parties, bakery gift boxes, snack boxes, concert tickets, gift cards, he said.

-- Scott Jaschik

U of Richmond Eases Restrictions

May 12, 6:16 a.m. The University of Richmond is moving from orange to yellow in its restrictions on campus Saturday, WRIC News reported.

Among the rules changes:

-- Scott Jaschik

UMass Faces Threat Over Suspension of Maskless Students

May 11, 6:13 a.m. The parents of three University of Massachusetts at Amherst students who were suspended for attending a party without face masks in March are threatening the university with lawyers, The Boston Herald reported.

The students lost $16,000 in tuition and can't return for two semesters. The students were caught when someone shared a picture of them with administrators.

Its ugly to start this culture of ratting. The picture is all they have and their heels are dug in deep, one of the fathers said. The UMass administration is so uninterested in compassion or reaching a reasonable solution, he added. This has been a nightmare.

A university spokesman said, "During the weekend of March6-7, more than 10 UMass Amherst students were suspended for participation at large and small parties. This was during a time when the campus was operating at elevated risk during the pandemic and had just emerged from severe high risk restrictions due to a surge in positive COVID-19 cases."

-- Scott Jaschik

Michigan Faculty Petition for Mandatory Vaccines

May 11, 5:59 a.m. Hundreds of University of Michigan faculty members have signed a petition calling the university's vaccine plan nonsensical, MLive reported.

The university is requiring only students living on campus -- about one-third of students -- to be vaccinated. For the remainder, the university is only recommending vaccination.

Michigan should require vaccines of all students and faculty members, the petition says. Vaccines will also allow on-campus students and faculty to resume more fully the in-person interactions that are critical to academic success. We call for this mandate to go in effect now to give students, their families and our employees ample time to make plans to be vaccinated prior to the start of the fall term, says the petition.

Rick Fitzgerald, a spokesman for the university, said the petition has not yet been presented to the university. Encouragement may be more effective than a mandate to achieve the goal of maximizing vaccinations against COVID-19 in the months ahead, he said.

-- Scott Jaschik

Florida State Changes Face Mask Guidance

May 10, 6:12 a.m. Florida State University has changed its guidance on face masks. It now "recommends," but no longer requires, them to be worn indoors.

"This represents a shift from the previous face-covering requirement and reflects our substantial efforts to vaccinate the university community, along with a low number of COVID-19 cases on campus," the university announced.

-- Scott Jaschik

Rowan Offers Incentives to Get Vaccinated

May 7, 6:15 a.m. Rowan University has announced a vaccine requirement for students who live or study on campus, and some incentives for getting the vaccine, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Our message today is simple. We believe the path to normalcy is through widespread vaccination and we want our entire community to commit to reaching the goal of widespread vaccination, Rowan president Ali A. Houshmand said in a letter. If we work together, we can reach this goal and offer the Rowan University experience that our students and employees deserve.

Full-time students who provide proof of vaccination will receive a $500 credit on course registration. Students who live on campus will receive a $500 housing credit.

-- Scott Jaschik

Nova Southeastern Drops Vaccine Requirement

May 6, 9:06 a.m. Nova Southeastern University announced on April1 that it would require vaccines for all students and employees this fall.

But shortly after that announcement, Florida passed a law prohibiting such requirements. The university said it would study the law. Now the university is reversing its position.

"Therefore, we are NOT requiring vaccinations for NSU students, faculty, and staff, as was announced back on April1, before the legislation was passed. Nonetheless, with additional safeguards in place, NSU has its best opportunity to return to normalcy this fall," said a letter Wednesday from George L. HanburyII, president of the university.

-- Scott Jaschik

Harvard Will Require Student Vaccinations

May 6, 6:13 a.m. Harvard University announced Wednesday that it will require all students who will be on campus this fall to be vaccinated.

"To reach the high levels of vaccination needed to protect our community, Harvard will require COVID vaccination for all students who will be on campus this fall. As with existing student requirements for other vaccines, exceptions will be provided only for medical or religious reasons. Students should plan to be fully vaccinated before returning to campus for the fall semester, meaning that at least two weeks have passed since the final dose of an FDA-authorized or approved vaccine," said a letter from university leaders.

-- Scott Jaschik

Oregon Disappointed by Parties

May 5, 6:15 a.m. University of Oregon students held large backyard parties where hundreds of students -- without masks -- gathered this weekend, The Register-Guard reported.

The university responded on Twitter: "We are disappointed to see the photo of large gathering of young people at what appears to be an off-campus party involving UO students from over the weekend. The university has worked very hard to educate students about the serious COVID-19 health risks of gathering in groups without masks. This behavior is not representative of the majority of UO students, who we have seen work diligently to follow health guidelines."

Lane County, where the university is located, experienced more COVID-19 cases and elevated its risk level to "extreme."

-- Scott Jaschik

Methodist University Requires COVID-19 Test to Attend Graduation

May 4, 6:10 a.m. Methodist University, in North Carolina, is requiring seniors to be tested for COVID-19 to attend graduation.

President Stanley T. Wearden posted a message on Twitter that said the university had a "legal and a moral obligation" to require the testing. If students test negative for COVID-19 this week, they will receive tickets to attend.

After a successful effort to minimize COVID-19, the university is seeing a "recent spike in cases" following two weekends of off-campus parties "that failed to follow health and safety protocols."

-- Scott Jaschik

Saint Vincent College Shelters in Place

May 3, 6:15 a.m. Citing "a significant increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases on campus," including asymptomatic cases, Saint Vincent College, in Pennsylvania, ordered all classes on Thursday afternoon and Friday to be held remotely.

Students were ordered to stay in their dormitory rooms.

"During the next two days, symptomatic and surveillance testing will take place throughout campus. The results of this testing will dictate the length that this mandate remains in place. Again, it is imperative that we act now to avoid any further spread and keep our campus community safe," said an email to the campus from the Reverend Paul R. Taylor, president of the college.

-- Scott Jaschik

Illinois Will Let Vaccinated Students Skip Testing

April 30, 6:16 a.m. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will let students who are completely vaccinated by August 23 skip the testing against COVID-19 currently required.

Chancellor Robert J. Jones wrote to students that this is "a science-based recommendation." He defined complete vaccination as two weeks after a student has received the final dose.

He added: "Please note that we anticipate that all other COVID-19 guidelines will be in place, including wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing. We will continue to monitor COVID-19 on our campus and be prepared to pivot our approach if necessary. In the future, if we believe the science indicates that vaccinated individuals should continue testing, we will shift and mandate testing even for vaccinated individuals."

-- Scott Jaschik

More Vaccine Requirements

April 29, 6:17 a.m. More colleges are requiring students (and on some campuses, employees, too) to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Among the colleges: Carleton College, Mary Baldwin University, Washington State University and Washington University in St. Louis.

-- Scott Jaschik

More Colleges Will Require Vaccinations

April 28, 6:16 a.m. More colleges are requiring students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall.

Among them are Hamilton College, Pacific Lutheran University, the University of Portland, Willamette University and Virginia Wesleyan University.

In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, expressed support for the idea.

"Vaccines are the gateway to ending this pandemic," Polis said during a news conference. "That is why I expect that most higher education institutions will provide parents and students the peace of mind they want by making vaccines a requirement for next fall, and students want to get vaccinated so they can enjoy the full college experience."

-- Scott Jaschik

Colleges in Northeastern Iowa Won't Require Vaccines

April 27, 6:19 a.m. Colleges in northeastern Iowa do not plan to require their students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, The Telegraph Herald reported

Loras College president Jim Collins said the college is encouraging students to get the vaccines. If you do mandate, then you also risk the potential for lawsuits, he said.

That is a personal health decision, said Kathy Nacos-Burds, vice president of learning and student success at Northeast Iowa Community College. Our role in our college is to educate people and get them to the best resources.

-- Scott Jaschik

Maryland Requires Vaccines for All, Michigan for Students Who Live on Campus

April 26, 6:11 a.m. The University System of Maryland will require all students, faculty members and other employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall.

"Im convinced that the risk of doing too little to contain COVID on campus this fall is far greater than the risk of doing too much," said Jay A. Perman, chancellor of the 12-campus system.

The University of Michigan will require vaccines for students who plan to live on campus in the fall.

-- Scott Jaschik

U of California and Cal State Systems to Require Vaccines for All

April 23, 6:20 a.m. The University of California and California State University systems are planning to require all students, faculty members and other employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fall.

Receiving a vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19 is a key step people can take to protect themselves, their friends and family, and our campus communities while helping bring the pandemic to an end, said Michael V. Drake, president of the University of California.

Together, the CSU and UC enroll and employ more than one million students and employees across 33 major university campuses, so this is the most comprehensive and consequential university plan for COVID-19 vaccines in the country, said Cal State chancellor Joseph I. Castro.

-- Scott Jaschik

Wayne State to Pay Students $10 to Be Vaccinated

April 22, 6:25 a.m. Wayne State University will pay students $10 if they provide proof of vaccination by May10, The Detroit Free Press reported.

President M. Roy Wilson said he hoped the money would provide an "extra incentive" to get vaccinated.

Colleges are debating the ethics of payments to students for getting vaccinated.

-- Scott Jaschik

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Live Updates: Latest News on Coronavirus and Higher Education - 6 min ago - Inside Higher Ed