Key Updates:
- Ithaca College will no longer require students to submit proof of having received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series in order to attend IC beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.
- This decision was made in consultation with the college's public health and emergency management professionals, senior leadership, and Tompkins County Whole Health.
- Ithaca College continues to strongly encourage that all members of our community – both students and employees – to maintain a high immunity to COVID-19 by making the choice to receive a primary COVID-19 vaccine series and available booster doses as their eligibility allows.
- Please continue to remain committed to making proactive good public health behaviors and practices part of your daily routine.
*****************************************************************************************
Dear Campus Community,
We are providing an important update pertaining to our COVID-19 management policies. Beginning with the 2023-24 academic year, we no longer will require that all students submit proof of having received a primary COVID-19 vaccine series to attend Ithaca College.
The decision to remove the vaccine requirement for students was made following an extensive evaluation and review process by the college’s public health and emergency management professionals and senior leadership. The decision is consistent with the many strategic policy changes the college has made throughout the 2022-23 academic year, as we have removed layers of our COVID-19 support structure in alignment with the trajectory of the pandemic. Please note that this decision was also shared with our partners at Tompkins County Whole Health who did not convey any objections to the college’s intention to move forward with the vaccine policy change.
The rationale for the decision to remove the vaccine requirement for students is largely attributable to the drastic changes to the characteristics of COVID-19 compared to when the college first implemented the requirement beginning with the Fall 2021 semester. This reasoning includes, but is not limited to:
- A large majority of our campus community currently possesses a level of immunity to COVID-19, whether it be through a vaccination or through contracting the virus previously.
- The current most prevalent strains of COVID-19 have been documented to cause less severe symptoms compared to previous strains of the virus, posing a reduced collective health risk to our campus community.
- The recent announcement from the Biden administration of its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023.
Ithaca College continues to strongly encourage that all members of our community – both students and employees – maintain a high immunity to COVID-19 by making the choice to receive a COVID-19 vaccine series and available booster doses as their eligibility allows. Staying up-to-date with vaccines continues to be an important way to minimize the risk for contracting severe symptoms resulting from this illness. I also urge members of our IC community to continue your commitment to making proactive good public health behaviors and practices part of your daily routine.
Please note that the decision to remove the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students is another important milestone for our campus as we continue to strategically transition our college operations to pre-pandemic standards. Questions related to this policy change can be directed to sswarts@ithaca.edu. As a reminder, information regarding all current public health policies in effect at Ithaca College can be found on the college’s Public Health website.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to maintaining a healthy Ithaca College community.
Sincerely,
Samm Swarts
Assistant Director, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management