Fisher Announces Vaccine Mandate for Fall 2021 Semester

Earlier this afternoon, President Gerard J. Rooney shared with the campus community that St. John Fisher College will implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all student and employees.

Per the new policy, all members of the community will be expected to be fully vaccinated by August 1, 2021.

“We continue to plan and progress toward a more normal campus learning, living, and working environment this fall. As part of our planning, the College has made the determination to implement a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all students and employees, as well as temporary workers and independent contractors. We feel strongly that this is the most effective public health approach the College can take to help the continued mitigation of community transmission, and is in the best interest of the entire campus and broader communities. This is also the best way to ensure that we will be able to safely deliver the in-person Fisher experience that we know our students and employees value,” he wrote in a message to students and employees.

Religious and medical exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Throughout the summer, the College will continue to assess policies and guidelines around COVID-19, which will be informed by state, county, and federal guidance. Fisher’s Campus Policy Advisory Team will also continue to work with a public health consultant and campus departments to develop and recommend policies.

President Rooney’s message went on to say:

“While this Mandatory Vaccination Policy is a key part of our overall strategy and commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy campus community in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is intended to supplement, and not replace, the other COVID-19 prevention measures that may be in effect moving forward. The College needs everyone’s full cooperation and compliance with this and other health and safety policies to make them effective and to keep our students on campus without disruption to their educational experience. It is our plan that with a fully vaccinated campus community, we will be able to proceed with less restrictions across campus.

With each passing day of this pandemic, we know that vaccinated individuals are much less likely to contract COVID-19, and they are also less likely to become seriously ill or spread the virus. The health and safety of our campus community has been our top priority throughout this period, and taking this next step toward immunity will make certain that we meet that goal.”

The latest information about the vaccine mandate can be found on the College’s COVID-19 Resources website.