Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to require vaccinations, testing for specific groups

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is set to require vaccinations and testing for certain groups this fall. However, the rule doesn’t apply to all students on a grander scale.

According to a memo sent out by Chancellor Devinder Malhotra to the Minnesota State leadership council, proof of vaccination will be required for:

• Students living in college or university-owned residence facilities.
• Students participating in intercollegiate athletics.
• Students required to vaccinate by their clinical or internship sites.

The memo also states that each college and university can decide whether to require vaccinations or testing for other extracurricular groups, based on contact levels and social distancing available for the activity.

All colleges and universities in the state system are required to begin the new protocols no later than Oct. 4.

Malhotra also issued the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS on Wednesday:

Since the onset of the pandemic, our two priorities have been protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, and supporting our students as they continue progress towards their educational goals. With the beginning of the academic year approaching, we are taking additional steps with these priorities in mind.

Our approach recognizes that Minnesota State is a complex system of colleges and universities with diverse and unique student populations and educational goals. Many of our colleges and universities do not have the health infrastructure to deliver on a vaccine mandate in a timely and effective manner. A broad vaccine mandate will impose unintended barriers to student success.

We will continue to be nimble and flexible as the pandemic evolves, stress the importance of vaccinations to ensuring an uninterrupted academic experience, increase awareness of the benefits and reduce barriers associated with the vaccine, and have in place appropriate safety protocols with minimal burdens on our students.

While the rules don’t address every student, the memo urges all students within the system to get vaccinated.