Oakland University mandates vaccinations

August 26, 2021

  • On campus students, staff and faculty required to have at least one vaccinated shot before start of fall semester
  • Mandate based on increasing threat from Delta variant, spread of virus
  • Fully vaccination status must be uploaded
  • Increase in online course offerings

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – Oakland University will extend their residence hall vaccine mandate to all students, faculty and staff on campus by September 7. Along with the vaccination requirement, everyone on campus must continue to wear face masks inside all buildings.

“As a consequence of the increased number of Covid-19 cases and the more infectious nature of the prevalent Delta strain of the virus, we must do everything possible to continue to ensure the health and safety of our entire Oakland University community,” said OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz.

Since students must be vaccinated to attend in-person classes, Oakland has expanded the number of hybrid and online course offerings. If a student chooses not to be vaccinated, then he or she may take only online courses.

OU students, faculty and staff must upload their fully vaccinated status through the Graham Health Center portal. An individual’s vaccination status is considered highly confidential medical information and will not be shared publicly. The $100 incentive to upload the information remains in effect. Medical and religious exceptions to the vaccine are allowed.

Approximately 700 higher education institutions nationwide have vaccine mandates, including University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, Central Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University.

In order to maintain the healthiest possible campus, a vaccination rate as close to 100 percent is now recommended by the American College Health Association (ACHA), and other national public health organizations.

In broadening the residence hall mandate, OU’s aggressive education campaign now includes the on-campus vaccination mandate, which is a strategic response to a spike of Delta variant cases, rising number of cases in young adults and recommendations from a range of experts – including the COVID Collaborative and CDC – urging colleges and universities to require vaccines.

Covid-19 cases are rising all over the U.S. The 7-day average of cases reported has increased 14% to 133,056.

More than 80 percent of OU students come from Oakland and Macomb counties, where there have been 124,000 and 172,000 reported coronavirus cases, respectively. From July 28 to August 18, the positivity test rate in Michigan has soared from 4.6 percent to 16 percent.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected as early as September to grant full approval and replace its “emergency use authorization” status for the Covid-19 vaccines.

For more information, please visit: Return to Campus

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