Story at a glance
- In an email, Quinnipiac University officials said unvaccinated students on campus will be subject to fines and limited internet access.
- The deadline to show proof of vaccination is Sept. 14.
- Other universities and colleges are electing to implement vaccine mandates ahead of fall terms.
A university in Connecticut implemented a new policy requiring students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or lose access to the school Wi-Fi network and face other penalties.
Quinnipiac University issued the new regulations to students via email explaining it will apply a weekly fee of up to $2,275 per semester for unvaccinated students, mandatory weekly COVID-19 tests and loss of access to campus network and WiFi.
The email detailing these penalties was sent to roughly 600 students who had not submitted any proof of vaccination. Less than 10,000 students attend Quinnipiac, per a university spokesperson.
“Our goal is to protect the health of our entire university community,” the email read. “In order to accomplish this we must know if you have been vaccinated.”
Students with proof of at least one vaccination dosage will be exempt from the school’s penalties. The exemption only applies to those who have received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination. The deadline imposed by the school to get fully vaccinated is on Sept. 14.
The e-mail expressed dismay at having to impose these measures but said that the current spread of COVID-19 infections fueled by the delta variant require mass vaccinations to cultivate stronger immunity among the student body.
Guidelines from the Connecticut Department of Public Health advise that masks be worn in all public settings, with some counties requiring masks.
Many colleges and universities are implementing vaccination requirements, taking cues from agencies and private sector firms as the fall term is set to begin.
changing america copyright.
