August 13, 2021
With the continuing spread of the Delta variant and updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, many universities and colleges around Michigan have updated their policies regarding vaccinations and mask mandates for students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Here is a list of the current policies at 21 colleges and universities in Michigan.
Vaccination Requirement: Albion College was the first Michigan college to mandate vaccinations for all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus this fall. Proof of vaccination was required by Aug. 1.
Mask Mandate: There has not been a recent mask mandate update for Albion College.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 2, students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at least through the end of September.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: All students, employees, and visitors are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status, except for a few exceptions.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 10, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccination Requirement: All students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30, regardless of if they will be on-campus or not.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 9, all individuals are required to wear a mask.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are encouraged to wear a face mask. Fully vaccinated individuals have the option to wear a mask.
Vaccination Requirement: All students who plan to return to campus are required to be full vaccinated before the start of fall semester.
Mask Mandate: All employees, students, and visitors are required to wear a mask while indoor in shared spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Lake Superior State lists masks and face coverings as one of the pillars of university safety, so all individuals are encouraged to wear face masks; however, as of June 22, masks have not been required. There have not been any recent updates regarding this since guidelines changed.
Vaccination Requirement: Effective Aug. 5, only residential students and athletes are required to provide proof of vaccination. All other individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated.
Mask Mandate: All students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a mask.
Vaccination Requirement: All students, faculty, and staff who plan to be on campus during the fall semester will need to be vaccinated by Aug. 31. MSU defines “vaccinated” as either being full vaccinated or having at least one dose of a two-dose series and working towards full vaccination.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 1, all individuals must wear a mask indoors, including in all campus buildings and other MSU facilities. This mandate will last until at least Sept. 15.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 15, Michigan Tech requires all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. This mandate will last for at least five weeks.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: All individuals who are participating in residence hall move-in-related activities are required to wear a mask while in any residence hall common area from Aug. 19 through Aug. 23, regardless of vaccination status.
Effective Aug. 23, all members of the NMU campus community are required to wear a mask in classrooms and labs, regardless of vaccination status.
All individuals, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors, who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a mask when inside any NMU facility. Those who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask indoors outside of the circumstances outlined above.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 11, all individuals inside any one of the college’s buildings are required to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccination Requirement: Only students living in campus housing are required to be vaccinated, and proof must be submitted by fall move-in on Aug. 27. All other campus members are encouraged to be fully vaccinated.
Mask Mandate: All campus community members and guests are required to wear a face mask indoors regardless of vaccination status.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 6, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear masks in classroom settings, including labs, seminar rooms, group study rooms, and tutoring centers, through Sept. 15., regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear a mask on campus outside of those circumstances.
Vaccination Requirement: Vaccinations are encouraged but not required.
Mask Mandate: Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear a mask on campus, but for vaccinated individuals, it is optional.
Vaccination Requirement: All students, faculty, and staff who plan to be on campus during the fall semester are required to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 16.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 5, all individuals on the University of Detroit – Mercy’s campus must wear a mask.
Vaccination Requirement: All students, faculty, and staff are required to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 30, including those working or learning remotely. This includes those on all three campus (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint) and Michigan Medicine.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 11, all individuals visiting campus buildings or on campus transit at all three campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint) must wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. The only exception is for fully vaccinated students, who do not have to wear a face mask in their own residence hall, including common areas.
Vaccination Requirement: All students, faculty, and staff who plan to be on campus during the fall semester are required to be vaccinated. Proof of vaccination status must be submitted by Aug. 30.
Mask Mandate: All individuals on campus are required to wear masks until at least Sept. 15.
Vaccination Requirement: Western does not require students, faculty, or staff to be vaccinated, but they offer an incentive program for students to encourage vaccinations.
Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 4, Western Michigan University reinstated its mask policy, regardless of vaccination status. All individuals are required to wear a mask inside WMU campus buildings and other facilities.
Written by Krishaun Burns, Let’s Detroit
