Northeastern First MA School To Require Vaccinations

BOSTON — Northeastern University will require all students returning to campus this fall to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus before their first day of class.

The university said Tuesday it will require students to provide proof of vaccination. Students who are unable to be vaccinated before the first day will get help from the school, but President Joe Biden announced earlier in the day all adults will be eligible for vaccinations by April 19.

Students who have a religious or medical exemption will not need to be vaccinated, the university said.

Northeastern is planning for a full return to in-person learning this fall.

"What we’ve learned over the pandemic period is the power of human interaction and the power of teaching and learning in the classroom, is something we want to enhance and build upon moving forward," said Ken Henderson, Northeastern's chancellor and senior vice president for learning. "We expect to be back fully in-person at regular occupancy, including fully in-person teaching, and normal occupancy in residence halls and dining facilities."

In January, Northeastern became the first university in the state to vaccinate its school community under the state's phased priority rollout, but the state soon after started rerouting vaccines to mass vaccination sites.

Last year, the university made national news by sending 11 students home after they were caught at a gathering that violated the school's coronavirus restrictions. Northeastern initially kept the $36,500 in tuition, room and board from each student, but later applied the $27,760 in fall credit to the spring.