[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”em”]This page explores the current status of college and university mandates regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for students returning to campus. Because requirements differ among states and institutions, you should confirm the policies at your school or program.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-separator /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Schools May Require COVID-19 Vaccines for Returning Students[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to [hen-ui-link href=”https://universitybusiness.com/state-by-state-look-at-colleges-requiring-vaccines/” target=”_blank”]University Business[/hen-ui-link], colleges and universities in 36 states plan to require students to return to campus this fall fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Some schools will require faculty to be vaccinated too, while others will only impose the vaccination requirement on students who live on campus.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]These states have the highest number of colleges and universities mandating vaccinations:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/california/”]California[/hen-ui-link], including its University of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/california/”]California[/hen-ui-link] and [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/california/”]California[/hen-ui-link] State University systems.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Massachusetts, with vaccine requirements at about 50 schools.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/new-york/”]New York[/hen-ui-link], including its City University of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/new-york/”]New York[/hen-ui-link] and State University of [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/new-york/”]New York[/hen-ui-link] campuses.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]At the other end of the spectrum, no Arizona schools plan to require vaccination, although Arizona State University has encouraged that returning students be vaccinated.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Is It Legal for Schools to Require Vaccinations?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]According to a [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/key-questions-about-covid-19-vaccine-mandates/” target=”_blank”]Kaiser Family Foundation post[/hen-ui-link], the evolving legal landscape regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements contains numerous uncertainties. The federal government has limited authority to require vaccines, but states have long mandated immunization to protect public health.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Today, all states require vaccines for K-12 school attendance, with exemptions for medical issues and religious objections. Select states impose adult vaccinations on healthcare staff and patients in healthcare facilities but not the general public.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Private employers can require vaccination, but some states are restricting vaccine mandates as a condition of employment, allowing employees to opt out.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]What does this mean for colleges and universities that plan to impose vaccination requirements? Public institutions that institute COVID-19 vaccine mandates may be subject to state lawsuits or legislative action.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]State and Federal Mandates Play a Role Too[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]There is no settled legal precedent on requiring vaccines that have been FDA approved for emergency use only. As more courts review the issue, institutions of higher learning should receive clearer guidance.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]However, nursing programs may fall within a gray area between academia and healthcare settings during their clinical rotations.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nicholas McGowan, a critical care registered nurse and nurse educator, predicts that as long as the COVID-19 vaccine remains under emergency use authorization, mandating vaccines at public nursing schools will likely be unenforceable legally. But McGowan thinks that private colleges and university requirements might be upheld.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular RN-to-BSN Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Nursing Students May Face Stricter Vaccine Requirements[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Clinical requirements in nursing schools have changed in response to COVID-19. Some states, including California and Wisconsin, established emergency waivers that reduced the required clinical hours for graduation. Individual nursing schools initiated solutions limiting students’ face-to-face contact with patients, such as participation in virtual simulations, COVID-19 call centers, and telehealth.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]More widespread immunization rates could enable nursing students to see patients in person, but healthcare professionals anticipate that vaccine mandates will be strictly enforced.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”There is the concern from clinical partners about staff and students who are working with patients and the potential for the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens,” explains Audrey Auer, Ph.D., a nursing education director.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D, a nurse educator and freelance author, agrees that “nursing programs would want to mitigate the risks of nursing students exposing patients and other healthcare workers to COVID-19.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Vaccine Requirements Have Always Been Stricter for Nursing Students[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing students have been held to stricter vaccination standards, particularly since they work directly with patients at clinical training sites.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4”]McGowan adds, “Clinical sites are historically very difficult to secure and with strict visitor restrictions already in place at most healthcare facilities, I expect many nursing schools will continue to be strained with providing clinical experiences this fall … especially for unvaccinated nursing students.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html” target=”_blank”]recommend several vaccines[/hen-ui-link] for healthcare workers and students, including hepatitis B, influenza, chickenpox, and meningitis, among others.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]”Nurses are educated under the scientific model, and the eradication of disease through vaccination is a classic application of this model,” Auer says. “As nurses, we facilitate childhood vaccination programs, seasonal influenza campaigns, and shingles and Pneumovax vaccines for the elderly.”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Who Might Be Exempt From Vaccine Requirements?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.legalexaminer.com/health/can-schools-require-covid-19-vaccines/” target=”_blank”]Religious exemptions[/hen-ui-link] from vaccinations apply in 44 states and Washington D.C. Fifteen states allow exemptions for personal, moral, and other beliefs. And all states permit medical exemptions for those who cannot tolerate vaccinations due to health reasons.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Most colleges and universities that plan to require COVID-19 vaccines will allow exemptions based on their state laws.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While exemptions may reduce the number of vaccinated college students returning to campus, pre-COVID exemptions in 2018-2019 among kindergartners [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6841e1.htm” target=”_blank”]totaled just 2.5%[/hen-ui-link] for at least one vaccine. If higher education trends follow, the majority of on-campus learners will not receive exemptions.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements Remain in Flux[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The current situation remains uncertain and subject to change as the current COVID-19 vaccination process continues.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]While most state laws do not yet fully address whether public schools or programs can legally enforce vaccinations, in states where mandatory vaccination has not been prohibited, lawsuits may still arise on a case-by-case basis.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]This uncertainty underscores the importance of checking with your school or program about updated vaccination requirements.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Meet Our Contributors[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Audrey Auer, Ph.D., MSN, RN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1623787998/experts/Audrey_Auer_PhD_MSN_RN.jpg” img-alt=”Audrey Auer, Ph.D., MSN, RN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”][hen-ui-link href=”http://www.nightingale.edu” target=”_blank”]Audrey Auer[/hen-ui-link], Ph.D., MSN, RN, is the director of nursing education services at Nightingale College. She has an extensive background teaching in nursing education, having launched and led prelicensure and master’s-level nursing programs.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Auer possesses a clinical background in infusion therapy, critical care, and rural hospice and home healthcare. Auer currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D., MSN, RN” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1617126787/experts/Jenna_Liphart_Rhoads.jpg” img-alt=”Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D., MSN, RN” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Jenna Liphart Rhoads, Ph.D., MSN, RN, is a nurse educator, freelance author, and editor. She earned a BSN from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, an MSN from Northern Illinois University, and a doctorate from Capella University.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Her clinical background includes surgical/trauma adult critical care and interventional radiology procedures. She currently resides in Wisconsin with her husband and two children.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Nicholas McGowan” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1593484742/experts/Nicholas_McGowan.jpg” img-alt=”Nicholas McGowan” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight” class=”text-base”]Nicholas McGowan, BSN, RN, CCRN, has 10 years of experience in cardiovascular care, surgical intensive care, and neurological trauma nursing. McGowan also applies a background in education, leadership, and public speaking to help other nurses. In addition, McGowan hosts an online course at [hen-ui-link href=”http://www.ccrnacademy.com” target=”_blank”]Critical Care Academy[/hen-ui-link] to help nurses achieve CCRN certification.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]