ASU civil engineer then-sophomores Jillian Franke and Catherine Baxter sit inside the Memorial Union during a tutoring session on Friday, August 28, 2020, at the Tempe Campus./State Press
By Morgan Fischer and Anna Campbell
ASU announced in an email Tuesday that all students will no longer be expected to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campus in the fall, although the University still “strongly encourages” vaccination.
Unvaccinated students are also recommended to continue submitting daily health checks, participate in weekly COVID-19 testing, stay home if they are feeling sick and wear face covers in all indoor spaces, though it is not required.
ASU is encouraging all students, regardless of if they are vaccinated, to wear face covers in crowded areas. Remaining consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, all students may still be required to wear masks in certain situations such as ASU shuttles and inside health centers.
“ASU continues to expect people to follow CDC guidelines, and we will continue to use these guidelines to inform the university’s activities,” the email from vice president of student services Joanne Vogel said.
On July 2, the University updated the COVID-19 employee health protocols, calling on unvaccinated staff and faculty to follow the same recommendations as students.
The announcement comes three weeks after Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order prohibiting universities from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine, testing or wearing face masks.
Under the order, COVID-19 testing can only be required in case of a “significant” outbreak in student housing.
“The vaccine works, and we encourage Arizonans to take it. But it is a choice and we need to keep it that way,” Ducey said in a news release.
In response to the executive order, the University issued a statement on June 15 declaring ASU’s compliance but did not issue official guidance until Tuesday. While ASU never announced a vaccine requirement, it did have to walk back some of its policies that differed for unvaccinated and vaccinated students.
The newest protocols override the University’s press release from June 14 that “expected” students to be vaccinated before the start of the Fall 2021 semester and required unvaccinated students to wear masks on campus, participate in COVID-19 testing twice a week and submit a daily health check.
The University will continue to have COVID-19 vaccines available at ASU Health Services, and students can make appointments through the Health Portal.
ASU has not yet released guidance on social distancing in classrooms or at larger University events such as athletic events.
