Albion College, one of the top 50 innovative liberal arts colleges in the country, announced it will require all students, faculty and staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to return to campus for the Fall 2021 semester. Albion College President Dr. Mathew Johnson made the announcement.

The news follows a successful year of in-person teaching and learning during the pandemic. Throughout the spring semester, Albion College worked closely with the Calhoun County Public Health Department to facilitate the phased rollout of the vaccine to students, faculty and staff, including sponsoring a total of seven on-campus and nearby vaccination clinics beginning in March 2021.

“Our focus has been, and remains, managing the risk associated with COVID-19, and prioritizing the health and safety of our entire campus community to ensure we are able to offer the in-person experience our students know and love,” said Dr. Johnson. “This vaccination requirement is a continuation of that commitment. We are extremely proud of the way our students and entire campus community have responded to our safety protocols, and we’re eager to return to full in-person instruction for the fall semester.”

Albion College’s proactive approach to risk mitigation was noted by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in her recent Commencement address to the Classes of 2021 and 2020 as a leading example in Michigan. Prior to this announcement, there was an overwhelmingly positive response to vaccine opportunities on campus. In a student survey conducted this spring, almost 80% of respondents indicated that they would like to sign up for a vaccine appointment, with close to 10% of additional respondents indicating that they had either already secured a vaccine appointment or been vaccinated. The majority of faculty and staff have also received vaccinations.

Prior to arriving on campus in the fall, students, faculty and staff will need to present proof of vaccination by August 1, 2021. Further details regarding specifics for submitting documentation through a secure system will be communicated later this summer. All three vaccines (Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson) will be accepted. Medical and religious exemptions will be honored.

Announced earlier this year, Albion College will welcome students back for full in-person classes for Fall 2021 with appropriate COVID-19 policies in place, as well as the return to the standard academic calendar from the module approach taken last year. More details on Albion’s approach to the Fall 2021 semester, including important updates regarding both academics and student activities, can be found on the College’s Together Safely website as the semester nears.

Albion College is a private liberal arts college of approximately 1,500 students and is nationally recognized for its academic excellence in the liberal arts tradition, a learning-centered commitment and a future-oriented perspective. The College is a leader in preparing students to anticipate, solve and prevent problems in order to improve the human and global condition. Albion immerses students in the creation and processing of knowledge and graduates skilled architects of societal change, active citizens and future leaders. The College is dedicated to the highest quality in undergraduate education and is committed to diversity as a core institutional value.

Albion, Michigan is a culturally diverse community in the south-central part of the state. The College recognizes the value of community, both on- and off-campus and has invested resources in supporting the revitalization of the greater Albion community. This work offers an increasingly vibrant city around the campus that provides students with a fuller experience as they prepare to become engaged citizens in their own communities. For more information, visit albion.edu.