Some SUNY schools mandating vaccine for housing/sports

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Those of you who attend a State University of New York school don’t have to be vaccinated to be on-campus this fall, but you may need to be in order to stay on campus or play sports.

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras visited Brockport on Friday to talk about an increase in funding to expand mental health services, but News10NBC also asked him about rules and regulations for all SUNY students and staff heading into the fall semester.

For those who are vaccinated, it’ll look and feel closer to pre-pandemic but if you’re not, “if you’re not vaccinated, you’re still going to have to get tested every week, you have to wear your mask and stay socially distance,” Malatras said.

That includes both students and staff.

In fact, Chancellor Malatras tells News10NBC that while about 72% of SUNY students have reported having received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the percentage of vaccinated faculty and staff members is much lower, well under 40% on some campuses.

“We’re working very closely with our partners in labor right now, UUP which is our professional faculty association, we’re working for hand in glove… let’s get the facts out and the information out and then get the opportunities out so if you decide you want to be vaccinated, let’s make it easy for you,” Malatras said.

When the FDA gives formal, full approval of the COVID vaccine it will likely become mandatory for all SUNY students. Until then, individual campuses have discretion.

• SUNY Brockport will require students who live on campus and/or play intercollegiate or club sports to be vaccinated.
• Monroe Community College will require students who live on campus to be vaccinated but will not mandate it for athletes.
• SUNY Geneseo strongly encourages students to be vaccinated but will not mandate it for on-campus housing or sports at this time.

Malatras says at this point it’s a school-by-school decision and if students/parents have concerns, they should contact their individual campus.

“Some schools have been taking a really tough line, the only thing that we require is that they allow the exemptions under current law which is a medical exemption and the religious exemption,” Malatras said.