The executive committee of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) Board of Regents voted unanimously Wednesday to suspend the COVID-19 immunization requirements for students and staff at its 17 institutions in the state.
The committee’s decision was approved 5-0. The measure took effect on Aug. 10.
The 17 CSCU institutions include four state universities, 12 community colleges and Charter Oak State College.
During the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters, the state of Connecticut and, by extension, its institutions of higher learning, operated under a public health state of emergency declaration. This spring, the General Assembly lifted the remaining executive orders, including end-of-mask requirements, social distancing protocols and mandatory vaccinations for state employees.
Wednesday’s vote means that the June 24, 2021 CSCU policy requiring students to be vaccinated will now be suspended.
In an email sent Wednesday afternoon to the CSCU community, President Terrence Cheng said that CSCU had shifted, as of Wednesday, to a mask-optional protocol. In addition, the email said, physical distancing restrictions have been removed, in-person events are now welcome and all vaccine requirements will be suspended for students and employees.
