Earlier today, Chancellor Malhotra announced that certain students will be required to be vaccinated or submit to regular testing for COVID-19. This is a step in the right direction but does not go as far as the IFO had advocated for. We are encouraged by the Chancellor’s movement on this issue. We are hopeful we can work with the System and Campus administrations to continue implementing enhanced safety measures for students, faculty, and staff.

Students that will be required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing include:

Students who live in college- or university-owned or managed residence facilities.
Students participating in intercollegiate athletics consistent with NCAA and MN College Athletic Conference announced vaccine and testing protocols.
Students who are required to as directed by clinical or internships sites.
In addition, Colleges and universities may identify additional student extra-curricular group activities that will be required to be vaccinated or submit to weekly testing.

Throughout the pandemic, the IFO has advocated for safety and flexibility for our members, their families, and our communities. The IFO positions are based on three basic priorities:

The IFO continues to advocate for an all-campus vaccine/test requirement.
The IFO supports individual faculty's ability to require masks in the classroom. This is rooted in faculty’s academic freedom and responsibility to keep students safe in our classrooms.
The IFO continues to advocate for workplace safety and flexibility for all campus members. This includes requests for reasonable accommodations, such as switching course modalities (in-person, hybrid, hyflex, online, etc.) when faculty and/or their family members are at heightened risk of contracting COVID-19. We are also working to get timely responses from Human Resources for these requests.

As you take steps to protect your health and that of others, keep in mind that we are fighting a virus, not members of our communities. Discrimination, stereotypes, xenophobia, and racism remain as harmful to our campus and local communities as before the emergence of COVID-19.

Given the increased transmission of COVID-19 variants, such as the delta variant, and the risk it poses to the entire community, (see CDC "Delta Variant: What We Know About the Science") we will encourage everyone to get vaccinated or practice the safety measures as recommended by the CDC.

If you are not feeling well or are concerned that you may have COVID-19, please get tested as soon as possible. Testing resources are available on campuses or through the State of Minnesota’s partner, Vault: No-Cost COVID Testing For All Minnesotans.

Additional documents and information may be found on our COVID-19 webpage at www.ifo.org/covid19-info. To read the full student vaccine requirements letter sent to the IFO from Chancellor Malhotra, please click here.