Rutgers University says it will
require all
students be vaccinated for COVID-19 before arriving for classes in the fall,
becoming one of the largest
universities in the country to make that decision.
The university said in a statement Thursday that assurances
from the federal government of vaccine supply for all Americans prompted them
to make the decision.
Rutgers
University President Jon Holloway saying of the mandate, “This will help
provide for a safer and more robust college experience for our students."
The university says students may request an
exemption from vaccination for medical or religious reasons. Students
participating in online-only classes will not be required to be vaccinated.
A university official says faculty and staff
are strongly urged to receive the vaccination and students enrolling at Rutgers
who are under 18 will be advised to receive the Pfizer vaccine because it's
approved for people age 16 and up.
AP wire services helped contribute to this report.