May 2, 2021
On April 8, DePaul University announced during a virtual town hall meeting that it would not be requiring students to receive the Covid-19 vaccine prior to returning to campus in the fall. Less than two weeks later, on April 21, the university reversed the decision and announced that it will be requiring the Covid-19 vaccine in order to return to in-person classes.Â
âIn the spirit of caring for each other and for our surrounding community, DePaul has decided to require students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 when the 2021-22 academic year begins,â the campuswide email and statement from DePaul president A. Gabriel Esteban read.
As DePaul University plans to increase in-person class options this coming summer and fall quarters, DePaul is introducing a surveillance Covid-19 testing process, but students remain disappointed in the schools Covid-19 response.
DePaul will launch a surveillance Covid-19 testing program this February with a limited number of students as a trial for a full-scale testing program. Students selected for the testing program will be enrolled in on-campus courses and at a higher risk of Covid-19 exposure.
Information about where and when the testing will take place will be communicated with the students selected for the surveillance program this February. Testing will take place through an outside vendor and DePaul will not be paying for the Covid-19 tests students will be billed for testing through their own insurance plans.
DePaul falls short as local universities announce vaccine roll-out plans
As universities around Chicago announce their plans to help vaccinate their students and faculty members against Covid-19, DePaul revealed it has no such plan at this time.
“DePaul encourages all faculty, staff and students to get vaccinated when it is their turn. By getting vaccinated, you will put our Vincentian mission into practice by living in service of the common good,” spokesperson Kristin Mathews told The DePaulia. The statement was later expanded on in a Newsline post.
Other universities around the city have announced comprehensive plans for vaccine distribution. Columbia College Chicago announced free vaccinations would be offered to eligible members of the community. The University of Illinois at Chicago announced they will be charging insurance plans for delivery. And the University of Chicago announced in an internal email that its goal is to “facilitate vaccine access for all eligib