Virginia State University issued the following announcement on Jan. 31
Dear Virginia State University Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Virginia’s newly elected Attorney General Jason Miyares has issued a legal opinion that Virginia’s state institutions of higher education cannot require the COVID-19 vaccine as a general condition of students’ enrollment or in-person attendance.
At Virginia State University, we care about the health and safety of our Trojan family; and we firmly believe in the research of medical and health professionals who advise that vaccination is the best and most effective COVID-19 related life saving measure.
Our Trojan family has already taken giant steps in keeping with our campus culture of responsibility. We are grateful to report that last semester nearly 90% of our campus population was compliant with our vaccination mandate. And our entry testing for spring 2022 has netted a low 4% positivity rate.
We will continue to offer on-campus vaccinations free of charge for you, your family, and friends. Our mask mandate remains in effect. Masks must be worn at all times on campus except when eating or alone in an office/dorm room. In addition, we will require surveillance testing for students.
While Virginia State University will no longer mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees or students as a general condition of employment, enrollment or in-person attendance, we continue to strongly encourage and appeal to our entire Trojan Family to do your individual part of getting vaccinated in our joint efforts to ensure that our campus remains open, healthy, and safe.
We further indulge your patience as we remain flexible to continue to adjust as necessary. Thank you for all that you do to ensure that GREATER HAPPENS HERE.
With Trojan Pride,
Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.
President
Original source can be found here.
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