Catawba College students, faculty, and staff who will be on the Catawba campus and have yet to be vaccinated will have 10 weeks to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Students who do not fulfill the vaccination requirement are not allowed on the Catawba campus without prior approval and employees of the College who do not fulfill the requirement will be placed on unpaid leave while their employment status is determined. Students enrolled in the Catawba Online program are exempt from the vaccination requirement.
"Full FDA approval of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was great news and further strengthens the case for vaccination," said Dr. Jared R. Tice, senior vice president for the college experience and dean of students. "While our vaccination numbers continue to climb throughout the fall semester, we believe the vaccination requirement is needed to return the educational experience in and outside of the classroom to full strength this spring."
While the Pfizer vaccine was the only one approved for licensing on August 23, 2021, Catawba accepts any of the vaccines authorized by the FDA and WHO including the readily available Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
Students and employees may request exemption from this vaccination requirement due to a medical reason or a sincerely held religious belief. Anyone requesting an exemption must do so by November 15. Those granted an exemption will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test at least once weekly and comply with all additional policies in place in order to maintain the health and safety of the Catawba community.
"This decision was made in consultation with leaders across campus and with public health guidance from the CDC, the State of North Carolina, and our local colleagues in Rowan County and Salisbury," said Catawba
President David P. Nelson in his letter to the campus community. "A fully vaccinated campus reduces the risk of spread of COVID-19 on our campus, which will make our community safer and healthier, reduce disruptions to
quality of education due to isolations and quarantines, reduce the personal and institutional stresses associated with managing the spread of the virus, and free us to have more of the traditional events that our community enjoys."
About Catawba College
Founded in 1851, Catawba College is a four-year, private, liberal arts college conveniently located in Salisbury, N.C. Ranked as one of the best regional colleges in the South, The College offers more than 70 academic programs and three graduate programs offering students the ability to combine and cross majors. Close faculty mentorships and numerous experiential learning options create opportunities for Catawba College graduates. Additional information is available at catawba.edu.
