The OU chapter of the American Association of University Professors urged the university to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for students and employees before returning to in-person activities in the fall semester in a Monday press release.
OU recently lifted its university-wide masking requirements and social distancing policies May 19 following the CDC’s recent change in guidelines stating fully vaccinated individuals may resume pre-pandemic activities without wearing a mask or social distancing. The CDC further encouraged immunocompromised individuals to continue wearing masks and social distancing even if they are fully vaccinated.
The association wrote in a press release OU did not justify why proof of COVID-19 vaccinations will not be required from all students, faculty and staff except for those in “health-related activities and education abroad programs.” It wrote that this is “most likely to bring confusion” when students and faculty return to campus in August.
“During this once in a century pandemic, the University of Oklahoma should be setting an example,” the association wrote in the release. “Instead, the recent changes in guidelines from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (and Prevention) combined with various state and local standards have university administrators yielding to the lowest common denominator.”
According to the release, the Chronicle of Higher Education reported that around 404 U.S. universities, including large public universities, have set COVID-19 vaccination requirements for students and employees for the fall semester after the CDC’s recent guidelines.
The association encouraged the university to follow the state’s model for legal immunization requirements for vaccines like Hepatitis B and measles, mumps and rubella, and tuberculosis by requiring COVID-19 vaccinations and evidence of negative tests for students and employees to attend classes in the fall semester.
“We strongly urge President Harroz, the Board of Regents and the OU Administration to consider adhering to these precedents from other universities and the guidelines on immunization before allowing students and university personnel to return to classes and university activities in the Fall,” the association wrote in the release.
OU Director of Media Relations Kesha Keith responded to the association in a Tuesday statement:
As we have since the start of the pandemic, the University of Oklahoma is continuing to follow guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control. At this time, OU is not requiring COVID-19 vaccines for faculty, staff, or students, with an exception for those in patient-facing settings or study abroad programs. The university strongly encourages the entire OU community to get vaccinated and is offering vaccines free of charge to all community members through OU Health Services. In accordance with the latest CDC guidance, OU has lifted its masking requirement for fully vaccinated individuals 12 years of age and older, with limited exceptions. Unvaccinated individuals are to continue wearing masks inside OU facilities. Any vaccinated person who wishes to mask indoors or outdoors may freely do so. The university continues to work closely with the Faculty and Staff Senate Executive Committees – the elected representative groups for the OU employee community – communicating and consulting with these bodies regarding improvements and modifications made to existing safety measures.
This article was updated at 9:56 a.m. to include the university statement.
