Presidents of the nine universities unanimously agree to require students to

The Massachusetts State University system is joining a growing number of colleges and universities across the country and the Commonwealth requiring students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before they attend in-person classes this fall.

The presidents of the nine universities in the system unanimously decided to require undergraduate and graduate students who are attending in-person classes, conducting research on campus, living in residence halls, or participating in campus life activities to become fully inoculated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the 2021-22 academic year. The presidents expect that all employees also will be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the fall semester.

“Prior to the beginning of the fall semester and following state, federal and legal guidance, the Massachusetts State Universities will require all students to be fully immunized before returning to campus for the start of the fall semester,” said Dr. James F. Birge, president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and chair of the Massachusetts State University Council of Presidents. “Student safety and the safety of our communities remains at the forefront of our planning as we prepare to return to in-person learning and campus life in the fall.”

The Massachusetts State Universities have been leaders in the Stop the Spread Campaign and throughout the year have made COVID-19 testing and contact tracing a priority on campuses. Since returning to campus last year, the nine state universities have operationalized a robust on-campus COVID testing and contact tracing system for students, staff and faculty, which successfully resulted in helping to identify and contain the COVID virus on campus communities. The State Universities are committed to ending this pandemic with vigilance toward vaccinating campus communities.

“We are sharing this information now to give students, their families and our employees ample time to make plans to be vaccinated prior to the start of the fall term,” continued President Birge.

“We’re proud to be among the nine universities requiring vaccines for the fall semester,” said Rear Admiral Francis X. McDonald, USMS, President of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. “Our goal is to ensure the safest learning and living environment for our cadets and staff, and vaccines are a key step in making that possible.”

The nine campuses in the system are Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Framingham, Salem, Westfield and Worcester State Universities, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.