A message from University President Antoine M. Garibaldi
Detroit Mercy thanks the University community and our metro Detroit neighbors for their resilience over the last 15 months. The University remains committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and prioritizing the health and well-being of our community.
After careful review and consideration of guidance from medical and public health experts, all University of Detroit Mercy students, faculty and staff will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and be fully vaccinated on or before August 16, 2021.
This decision has been made for several reasons. As a Jesuit and Mercy institution, we recognize our shared moral responsibility to keep each other safe, including members of our community who need additional protection from the novel coronavirus. We also want to return to the everyday freedoms of living, learning and working together safely. Even more simply, obtaining one of the authorized vaccinations is the key to vibrant, on-campus experiences and in-person learning for the next academic year.
Therefore, all members of the University community should be fully vaccinated by August 16, which means that two weeks have passed since the final dose of your vaccine. Limited exemptions will be made for medical, religious or philosophical reasons. Students who are fully remote and are not required to be on campus may also apply for an exemption but are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated to protect themselves and others in our community.
Details about how to upload proof of vaccination or apply for an exemption will be distributed by email soon. You will be pleased to know that a recent campus-wide survey of students and employees indicated a large majority are already fully vaccinated or plan to be by fall. You can read more about the requirement and find answers to frequently asked questions at udmercy.edu/vaccine.
Since the beginning of this pandemic, the University has worked diligently to keep our campus communities healthy and prioritize safety in decision-making. This fall, Detroit Mercy will continue enhanced sanitization practices and ask members of the University community to monitor their symptoms before coming to campus. We will no longer require masks outdoors except in large groups where physical distancing is not possible. We look forward to being able to eliminate indoor mask requirements for fully vaccinated individuals and hope to do so after a period of closely monitoring infection rates.
As a Jesuit, Mercy and Catholic university, Detroit Mercy is called upon to care for our entire community of students, faculty and staff, as well as our local and global neighbors. As we plan for the fall semester, the entire University looks forward to gathering again with a renewed sense of commitment and purpose.