Nova Southeastern University on Friday detailed its decision to require students, faculty and administrators to be vaccinated for COVID-19 when they return to campus in the fall.
“We believe that this is the best and safest path forward,” Dr. Harry Moon, the private university’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said at a news conference at the main campus in Davie.
Moon, a surgeon, said the school will resume full, in-person classroom learning for the fall semester. Vaccinations are mandatory by Aug. 1.
Moon called the decision a “bold step,” but one made after reviewing data on the disease and in line with guidelines recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Virtual classes will go on but they will not be the primary platform as they have been over the past year during the pandemic. Moon said the school would also look at exemptions “that may exist.”
“The intent is to get back in the classroom,” he said.
Nova Southeastern said it will be the first school in the country to require students and staff to be vaccinated. Others, including Rutgers University in New Jersey, have announced only that students must be vaccinated for fall classes.
Moon compared requiring the COVID-19 vaccines – approved only for emergency use - to child inoculations required for entrance into grade schools.
However, he expects legal challenges.
“In society, legal challenges are common, so I would not find it unusual that we will be challenged on this,” he said.
In addition to its main location in Davie, the school has campuses in Clearwater, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens and Puerto Rico. The university has 6,314 undergraduate students and 14,574 advanced degree students.
Moon said the university would continue to follow federal recommendations to prevent spread of the coronavirus, including mask wearing and social distancing.
“We are following CDC guidance,” he said. “This is about personal health and safety.”
