Dear Commons Community,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday announced that SUNY and CUNY will require proof of vaccination for all students attending in-person classes this fall, and encouraged all private universities and colleges to adopt the same guidelines. 

The public systems join other major city schools, including NYU and Columbia, that have already issued the same mandate.

Cuomo had previously resisted requiring vaccinations for CUNY and SUNY, contending that the measure would likely induce legal pushback.

“No excuses,” he said at a Manhattan press conference. “SUNY and CUNY boards will require vaccinations for all in-person students beginning this fall.”

Cuomo also urged all private campuses to require the shot for in-person learning next year.

“Let’s make a global statement,” he said. “You cannot go back to school in person in September unless you have a vaccine. That will be a major motivation for people to get the vaccine.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo insisted that requiring students to be vaccinated will send a strong message to increase total vaccinations.

The mandate does not apply to SUNY and CUNY teachers and staffers.

In announcing the requirement last month, NYU officials said widespread vaccinations will allow for a fuller reopening of campus next school year.

“Requiring vaccinations is consistent with our intent to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within our own community and more generally in New York City and to enable more in-person on-campus activities,” the school said.

To date, 9,661,944 have received at least one dose of the vaccine in New York out of a population of 19.5 million, 14.2 million of whom are adults.

Tony

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