Hudson Valley Community College, after initially announcing that it would no longer require students on campus to be vaccinated against COVID-19, changed course Monday and said in a statement that it would "comply with SUNY's vaccination policy for the fall semester."
The statement from HVCC President Roger Ramsammy said that "Although our goal was to increase access and remove a barrier to higher education after an extraordinarily difficult time for many students, the college has decided" to remain with SUNY's mandate. Ramsammy also said in the statement thatn "more than 85 percent of fall semester students" have given the school proof of vaccination.
"We are pleased HVCC has decided to comply with the current vaccine requirements that were established for all SUNY campuses with input from state and federal public health experts to keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe and healthy," a statement from SUNY read.
The initial decision to disregard the SUNY policy sparked pushback from the college’s faculty association, with many faculty members forward to oppose the decision and encouraging the school to bring back the mandate.
HVCC's first day of fall classes is next Monday, Aug. 29.