Fall Semester, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccine be required for students during the 2021-22 academic year?
The College announced in April, 2021, that all resident and commuter students must be vaccinated prior to arriving on campus for the start of the fall, 2021 semester. Exceptions will be granted for students who cannot be vaccinated due to approved medical or religious exemptions.
To coincide with the College’s housing process, the deadline for students to submit a copy of their official vaccination card, indicating completion of the COVID-19 vaccination series, is July 8, 2021. To submit proof of vaccination, students should log into the Health & Wellness Patient Portal, enter their vaccination date(s) by clicking on the “immunizations” tab, and upload a photo of their official vaccination card by clicking on the “upload” tab.
Which vaccines satisfy the College’s vaccine requirement for students?
Vaccines approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) will satisfy Sarah Lawrence’s student vaccine requirement. Should additional vaccines be approved by the FDA and/or WHO over the summer, those will also satisfy the College's vaccine requirement.
What if a student cannot meet the College's July 8, 2021 vaccination deadline but plans to be vaccinated prior to arriving on campus?
Students in this situation, both domestic and international, should reach out to the Health & Wellness Center (click the link to email, or contact them by phone at 914.395.2350) to discuss their personal situation. The College understands that vaccine availability varies by region and country. In general, the Health & Wellness Center will grant an extension to a student who cannot be fully vaccinated by July 8 so that a student may move forward with the housing process and may also assist students who would like to secure an appointment for a vaccine upon their arrival in the United States prior to the start of the fall semester. Such an extension for this deadline is only possible provided a student communicates with the Health & Wellness Center.
Can an unvaccinated student enroll at Sarah Lawrence during the fall semester?
The short answer to this question is yes. Unvaccinated students who do not receive a medical or religious exemption may enroll in Sarah Lawrence's online course offerings this year.
A limited number of online courses will be available during the 2021-22 academic year. While all students may register for these courses, students who cannot be on campus due to individual circumstances, including vaccination status, will receive priority so they may continue their coursework away from campus.
As a reminder, all residential and commuter students are required to be vaccinated prior to the start of the fall semester. This means that students who physically go to campus (and/or live on campus) during the fall semester must be vaccinated, or receive a medical or religious exemption from the College's Health and Wellness Center.
What is Sarah Lawrence's Mask Policy?
Effective June 1st, 2021, and consistent with CDC and New York State policies, the College will adopt the CDC's guidance regarding mask wearing for vaccinated individuals. Vaccinated individuals may be on campus and inside campus buildings without a mask and do not need to practice social distancing. The College anticipates this policy will remain in effect throughout the summer and it will be revisited prior to the start of the fall semester to offer additional guidance around classroom protocols and campus life.
The policy for unvaccinated individualls (regardless of a possible medical or religious exemption) remains unchanged and they must continue to wear a face mask while on campus and practice social distancing.
Are faculty and staff required to be vaccinated for COVID-19?
At this time, faculty and staff are not required to be vaccinated. The College is monitoring federal and state regulations and will communicate any updates on this policy as they become available. The Sarah Lawrence community has approached COVID-19 vaccination with overwhelming positivity and the College strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible - as of mid-May, more than 60% of faculty and staff are fully vaccinated, which far exceeds New York State's vaccination rate for the same time period.
Faculty and staff who are vaccinated are asked to anonymously report their completed vaccination on MySLC.