GVSU Will Mandate COVID Vaccines for Students/Staff This Fall

West Michigan's Grand Valley State University's Academic Senate and the President of the University have announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be required for students, staff and faculty this fall.

Anyone attending classes, teaching or working on campus will need to be fully vaccinated no later than September 30, 2021.

In a live stream video Friday morning, Greg Sanial, GVSU’s vice president for finance and administration and director of the university’s Virus Action Team, said that they are "doing what we can to make our campus the safest place we can make it for the fall semester."

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There will be exceptions to the mandate for those who have medical or religious reasons for not receiving it. Those who are not vaccinated for approved reasons will required to be tested on a weekly basis. The weekly testing for unvaccinated students, staff and faculty will begin August 9, 2021.

The university is also making it easier for folks to get vaccinated by setting up free COVID vaccine clinics.

In addition to the vaccine mandate, GVSU will also be requiring masks in all of their buildings regardless of vaccination status beginning August 9.

When referencing potential pushback from students and staff who refuse to be vaccinated for reasons other than medical and religious reasons, Sanial said, "If they are absolutely refusing to get vaccinated we would expect them to seek their education elsewhere or employment elsewhere."

You can find out more about GVSU mask, vaccine and testing requirements on the website.