Yes. Drew University required all students enrolled full time or part time in a Drew school or program to receive, and provide proof of having received, a COVID-19 vaccination authorized by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, several other immunizations are required for all undergraduate and graduate students by the State of New Jersey and the University. This includes our joint and collaborative programs with other institutions, as well as for all of our visiting, exchange, non-matriculated, and special-program students. For more information, please refer to the Health Service webpage on required immunizations.
Yes, on December 20, 2021, the University announced it would require all students, faculty, staff, and contract workers to receive a COVID-19 booster no later than March 31, 2022 – six months from when most faculty and staff were required to be fully vaccinated, making most non-exempt individuals eligible for their boosters within the window. Read the full announcement and information here.
No. Students who will not come to campus and whose entire course of study is web-based, who are enrolled in a fully online degree program, and/or who are fully remote will be exempt from this policy.
Students are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine authorized by the FDA or WHO. Refer to the FDA website and WHO website for more information. Those who have received a different vaccine should reach out to health@drew.edu with any questions and to review possible next steps.
Students should upload their completed COVID-19 vaccination record to their Drew University Student Health Portal.
Your information will remain in your health portal. As is the policy with other required vaccinations, should a requirement not be met, the University Health Service will share with appropriate parties (typically the Registrar’s Office and Student Affairs) that there is a “health hold.” This hold serves to inform campus offices outside of the Health Service that your campus access is restricted.
Students enrolling or otherwise planning to be present on campus during the 2021–22 academic year had to provide proof of having received their final dose of an FDA or WHO authorized vaccine (second dose for two-dose vaccine or one dose for single-dose vaccine) at least two weeks prior to coming on campus for any reason, including but not limited to moving into a residence hall, attending campus classes, and/or entering any campus building.
Yes. New students and continuing students were expected to receive all required immunizations before arriving on campus. Students uploaded all completed records, including the COVID-19 vaccination, to their Drew University Student Health Portal prior to arriving on campus. Students residing in housing over the summer were expected to receive their immunization prior to the start of the fall semester. The University offered to work with international students on a case-by-case basis.
Students who were unable to receive an FDA- or WHO-authorized vaccine (for example, international students traveling from certain countries) prior to their arrival or return to campus had the opportunity to consult with staff about whether vaccination here in New Jersey is appropriate. For those who may be directed to be vaccinated in New Jersey, a grace period for vaccination will allow for this. If students had already received vaccines that are not authorized by the FDA or WHO, Drew made individualized determinations about the need for additional vaccines based on which vaccines such students had received and relevant public health guidance. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
If students already received vaccines that are not authorized by the FDA or WHO, the Health Service made individualized determinations about the need for additional vaccines based on which vaccines such students have received and relevant public health guidance in effect for the fall 2021 semester. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
Drew University required all undergraduate and graduate students enrolled or otherwise present on campus during the 2021–22 academic year to receive, and provide proof of having received, an FDA- or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine.
No. Students who are fully vaccinated will not have to be a part of the surveillance testing protocols.
Medical and religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement will be granted in accordance with the University’s policies and will be considered on an individual basis. Find request forms at the Health Service website. Questions about this can be directed to health@drew.edu.
No. Currently, there is no exemption to the policy for those who have been exposed and have antibodies. Read more from the CDC.
No, although we encourage all students to be vaccinated, regardless of their enrollment status. Students on leave from the University for the entire fall 2021 semester were not required to be vaccinated, but they must receive, and provide proof of having received, an FDA- or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine if they plan to return for the spring 2022 semester. Students on leave who are not vaccinated will be barred from entering campus or attending any programs whether on or off campus.
Yes. On August 25, 2021, the University announced it would require all faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, temporary employees, and independent contractors working on Drew’s campus to be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021.
Employees not yet vaccinated or seeking a medical or religious exemption must:
- Receive their first vaccine dose of Pfizer or Moderna, the single dose of J&J/Janssen, or have requested an exemption by Friday, September 10. Exemption forms are available here and on the HR website.
- Fully complete their vaccination series or have an approved exemption by Friday, October 15.
- Follow campus health and safety guidelines, including wearing a face covering indoors and physically distance from others (where possible), as well as participate in weekly off-campus COVID testing, at your personal expense, until such time that you are fully vaccinated. Beginning August 30, negative test results must be uploaded every Monday morning prior to reporting to campus using this Google Form.
For more information on this policy, click here.
