HVCC complies with SUNY mandate, will require COVID-19 vaccination
TROY — Students at Hudson Valley Community College will now have to get vaccinated against COVID-19, after the State University of New York gave the college until Monday to comply with its system-wide mandate.
This summer, the college changed its policy and became the only SUNY school that recommended, but did not require, students be vaccinated against coronavirus. SUNY officials said they began “conversations” with the college on July 21 about its stance. The state university system issued a deadline of Monday for HVCC to mandate vaccination following a Times Union story last week that quoted a lengthy statement from HVCC that alleged the vaccine ” does not prevent infection” and was “an undue burden on (students’) ability to advance their education and pursue careers.”
The HVCC website on Monday noted the school’s latest decision with this statement: “Hudson Valley Community College must comply with all SUNY COVID-19 policies. This includes all vaccination and immunizations policies for all students coming to campus.”
At this point, 668 students enrolled for classes have not submitted proof of vaccination, officials said. Classes start next Monday, Aug. 29.
Those students will be given another month to start the vaccination process, which takes six weeks with two shots at least four weeks apart. By Sept. 29, they must submit proof of getting at least one vaccine shot.
“Many are likely already vaccinated,” said college spokesman Dennis Kennedy, who noted the vast majority of the 7,100 students have submitted proof of vaccination.
The college started with an approximate 800 unvaccinated students Monday morning, but cross-checked the state’s immunization registry, which brought the figure down.
All of the affected students have been notified by email, he said, and the college is expanding hours at its vaccine clinic.
In a statement, college officials defended their decision to drop the vaccine requirement this summer but said it was clear that was “not feasible at this time.”
They said they would enforce the SUNY vaccine policy for the fall semester, making no commitments for future semesters.
“Our reasons for this decision included: persistent concerns expressed by students and parents; the fact that college faculty, staff, visitors and high school students on campus are not required to be vaccinated; the reality that the college does not have dormitories or residence halls; the lack of any mandate for area high school students to be vaccinated; and the fact that most government agencies, businesses, community and not-for-profit organizations no longer require vaccination to participate in in-person activities,” the statement said.
“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 continue to comply with SUNY’s vaccination policy for the fall semester.”
Faculty response
The HVCC faculty union issued a statement Monday saying professors were “relieved” by the reversal.
“While we are relieved that President Roger Ramsammy has finally agreed to comply with SUNY policy, his refusal to do so until now has been disappointing,” Faculty Association President Robert Whitaker said in a statement.
He also questioned the college’s view that the vaccine could become a barrier to education for students, noting that it was required last year and that the vaccine is available on campus.
“The college has long required students to show proof of vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella – a vaccine that is far more difficult for students to obtain than the COVID-19 vaccine,” he said in the statement.
Also on Friday, the faculty association said the members of its Executive Board “agreed unanimously to begin consideration of a Resolution of No Confidence in the President of the College.”
