As more schools go back to in-person classes, the pressure on students to get the COVID-19 vaccine grows each day, and a Memphis college adopted a rule that even gives out a fee for not complying with the requirement.
Rhodes College in Memphis intends to charge all students who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine by the time the fall semester starts a fee of $1,500 per semester. The payment is reportedly part of a “Health and safety fee.”
What are the details?
The college has announced its new policy in a letter issued last week, in which it points out that the charge is actually meant to “cover the costs of mandatory testing,” according to Campus Reform.
On their return to campus vaccinated students won’t have to go through initial or regular asymptomatic testing. They will also not be required to wear face masks or to socially distance themselves from others.
Unvaccinated students will need to wear masks, they will be required to quarantine as soon as they get to the campus, they must keep social distancing rules and go through a weekly test for coronavirus.
“Depending on campus positivity rates, non-vaccinated students may not be permitted to participate in certain campus events and activities including Athletics, clubs and intramurals, and student organizations,” the letter states.
Student are allowed to apply for medical or religious exemptions. All such requests will need to be submitted for review by August. International students who did not have access to the vaccine will be directed to a clinic after they arrive on campus.
Rhodes College Vice President for Student Life Meghan Weyant shared in an interview for WREG-TV that even though testing was free for all students during the spring semester, the college expects them to get vaccinated as access opens up more and more.
“As we prepare to welcome our returning students home and the largest incoming class in Rhodes history, we believe a campus-wide commitment to vaccination will really allow us to do our part in getting our students back on campus for the academic experience that we know they so much want,” she explained for the news outlet.
Weyant also pointed out that there has not been a pushback from students regarding the school’s stance on COVID-19 vaccines.
“The response has been positive. Students want to be back on campus doing the things that they are so excited to do as part of the college experience and so they very much recognize that this is the best and safest way to do that,” she added about the immunization requirements set in place at the Memphis college.