Wayne State University Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

DETROIT, MI — Wayne State University announced it is requiring students, faculty and staff who plan to be on campus during the fall semester to be vaccinated against COVID-19. They must show proof of vaccination by Aug. 30 to be allowed on campus.

President M. Roy Wilson said the vaccine mandate is currently necessary to protect the health and safety of the campus community.

"The most recent positivity rate in our community has increased measurably – from 2.5 to 3.3 percent. This variant spreads more easily and may be transmitted by vaccinated individuals with rare breakthrough cases," Wilson said in a message to students and faculty. "Thankfully, the data also show that vaccines continue to be highly effective, particularly in protecting against serious illness, hospitalization and death."

Some students, faculty and staff could be exempt from the vaccine mandate for legitimate health or religious reasons, according to the university. However, any exemption requests must first be reviewed by the campus health committee. Anyone with an approved waiver will be required to be COVID-19 tested once per week.

Wilson said that WSU students, faculty and staff who knowingly violate the mandate and come to campus unvaccinated after Aug. 30 will face consequences. He did, however, go into details as to what those consequences might be.

Anyone learning and working in a remote setting is not subject to the vaccine mandate at this time, the president said.

"Full vaccination of our campus community will eventually eliminate the need for masks and allow a renewed sense of normalcy in our interactions," Wilson said.

In the meantime, masks will be required indoors for everyone—regardless of vaccination status— at least through Sept. 15.

"At that point, we will revisit the mask requirement, and hopefully eliminate it," Wilson said. "Of course, masks will not be required if you are working alone in your office. We recognize that this is inconvenient, but it is temporary, and more important, safe."

Wayne State University classes begin on Sept. 1. The university joins the list of eight other Michigan colleges to mandate vaccines.