WI universities stop short of COVID vaccine mandate for students
Wisconsin universities stop short of COVID vaccine mandate for students
As universities announce their fall reopening plans, some around the country are requiring students to have COVID-19 vaccines before returning to campus. But schools in Wisconsin are stopping short of a mandate -- instead, encouraging a shot before coming back to class.
MILWAUKEE - As universities announce their fall reopening plans, some around the country are requiring students to have COVID-19 vaccines before returning to campus. But schools in Wisconsin are stopping short of a mandate -- instead, encouraging a shot before coming back to class.
"In many ways we’re just going to be fuller in-person than we were this past year," said Kimberlie Goldsberry, Carthage College Dean of Student. "At this point in time, that is not being required. We’ve been encouraging, we’ve also been creating opportunities for our students."
Kimberlie Goldsberry
On the east coast, Yale and Columbia universities recently told students they will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine if they wish to remain on campus in the fall.
"Yes, I think college students should absolutely be required to have vaccine before they enter college in the fall," said Gregory Demuri of UW Health.
Gregory Demuri
UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee will not mandate coronavirus vaccines. The chancellors recently touched on the topic.
"We hope by this fall the majority of our students, faculty, and staff are vaccinated. We'll continue to have testing," said Mark Mone, UWM Chancellor.
Mark Mone
"We're going to be strongly encouraging this. We're probably going to be asking anyone who doesn't vaccinate to test regularly," said UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank.
Rebecca Blank
At Marquette University, there is a vaccination push with signs around the campus.
"It just kind of alleviates that pressure and anxiety related to COVID," said Isabel Silvar, a Marquette student.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
A Marquette spokeswoman told FOX6 News the university has not yet made a decision about the fall.
"I know the benefits of vaccines. I wanted to take the step and keep the people around me safe and do that for myself," said Marissa Nevarez, a Marquette student.
UW-Milwaukee's chancellor said 75% of system employees and around 20% of students are already vaccinated.
Featured
COVID treatment has improved, but many wish for an easy pill
While vaccines are helping to curb the pandemic, easier and better treatments are needed, especially as virus variants spread.
Featured
DHS: 367 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin, no new deaths
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Wisconsin rose by 367 Monday, April 26, for a total of 595,049, officials with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported.
Featured
Uihlein Hall at the Marcus Center gets renovation
While the Marcus Center lay vacant due to the pandemic, the downtown performing arts center invested in a renovation of Uihlein Hall.