By Chelsea Zhao
Dominican University aims for herd immunity from vaccination requirement for a smooth transition to fall semester, with support from students and staff.
DU community members will upload their vaccine cards to the Wellness Center’s Online portal by Aug. 15. Incoming students can upload their records by September 3.
Students in full remote programs, as well as those with religious and medical concerns, are exempt from the requirement. Exempt students who will be on campus are still required to enroll in weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing while attending in-person classes.
According to Barrington Price, vice president of student success and engagements, DU aims to achieve herd immunity by having 70 – 80% of its members vaccinated.
Students, faculty, staff and their families and friends can register for on-campus vaccines on June 11, 18 and 25 and July 9, 16, 23 and 30.
Leslie Mabrid, a DU student who received her second dose on campus, expressed enthusiasm for the mandate.
“I think it’s good, everyone should get their vaccine,” Mabrid said. “Of course, there’s some people with religions that can’t, but as a student, I think it’s the most important thing to do: to get the vaccine and it’s quicker to get classes going in person.”
Tracy Caldwell, professor of psychology, said that DU students are “cooperative and kind, and we have a good community” to implement the requirement. She sees the mandate as an extended health measure for a safe campus.
“We have to show proof of vaccination for mumps, measles and rubella and I just see this as an extension of that to keep us all healthy and safe,” Caldwell said.
Mickey Sweeney, professor of English, mentioned concerns for the enforcement of vaccines.
“DU is making vaccines available on campus over the summer and I am sure in the fall but trusting that each of us is doing his/her/their part is hard after the last two years, especially if we have children under 12 living in our households” Sweeney said. “It may take some time to really feel comfortable together again in the classroom.”
Sweeney said she is most looking forward to the “spontaneous conversations, the insights – the ‘light going off’ moments” as students become vaccinated this fall.
Dominican University plans to assess the number of vaccinated individuals through the Wellness Center portal, surveys and email or text correspondence.
According to Elizabeth Ritzman, director of Wellness Center, #CampusClear monitoring in place might change depending on the number of unvaccinated population by fall and recommendation of the epidemiologist.
University Ministry and Student Success and Engagement partner for a Community Based Vaccination Promotion program this summer. The program will address communities most impacted by COVID-19 and those with the highest population of DU students.
University Ministry is also partnering with an interfaith youth group to train DU Vaccine ambassadors, who will reach out to enrolled students at orientation to answer questions, help with vaccine registration and educate families to make informed decisions.
The plan for vaccine requirement was in place when vaccines became available in Illinois. Dominican University worked with Incident Management Assessment Team on the factors of vaccination and monitored the COVID prevalence rates in the neighborhoods where students live.
With the availability of vaccine access, Price said Dominican University strives to create a safe environment for returning and incoming students this fall.
On June 14, students and faculty will receive a Return to Campus plan via email. The plan will detail residence hall expansion and campus engagement for fall.
qzhao@my.dom.edu
article copy-edited by Shonda Dudlicek
