Date: April 13, 2021
From: Rick Culliton and Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Student Vaccination Requirement for Fall 2021
To the Wesleyan community,
With the recent expansion of eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine in Connecticut and around the country, and given our relatively low positivity rate throughout the 2020–21 academic year, we are looking toward the future with cautious optimism. We expect that our fall semester will see us return to residential life and the close-knit, stimulating campus environment so meaningful to all of us.
To that end, Wesleyan will require all students to receive the vaccine prior to returning to campus for the fall semester. Every student (with the exception of those who have approved medical or religious exemptions) will need to verify with the University that they are fully vaccinated prior to their arrival. Students can upload their vaccination record to the Davison Health Center.
Due to FDA review of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Wesleyan is working with our partner, the Community Health Center, on alternatives. Details regarding the clinic will be provided later.
For students who are currently studying remotely, on leave this semester, or unable to participate in the clinic for any reason, as well as for incoming new students, please consult your local guidelines for the most up-to-date information about when and how you may obtain your vaccination.
The University highly encourages faculty and staff to be vaccinated as soon as they are able. We would be grateful if faculty and staff would report their vaccination information via WesPortal in order to inform our planning for the fall semester.
We remain encouraged by and appreciative of the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff over the past year in following the protocols outlined on Keep Wes Safe and in the COVID Code of Conduct. By social distancing, wearing face coverings, and frequently testing, among other actions, our campus community has consistently logged COVID positivity rates that are significantly lower than state and national rates. As more of us are vaccinated, we believe these relatively low rates will continue, but we must not let our guard down.
With all students fully vaccinated before Arrival Day in the fall, our campus community will be closer to achieving much-desired herd immunity. This will also improve our chances of enjoying a more “normal” semester—perhaps even one filled again with “supportive intimacy rather than social distancing,” as President Roth recently wrote on his blog. We eagerly anticipate this possibility.
Thank you, as always, for your care and attention in keeping our community safe.
Sincerely,
Rick Culliton
Dean of Students
Chair, Pandemic Planning Committee
Tom McLarney
Medical Director
Davison Health Center