MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Not all COVID-related numbers are created equal. In this case, these rising numbers are encouraging.
Wednesday, Rhodes College announced that 94% of students and 91% of full-time faculty and staff are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. In a post on Facebook, the private liberal arts school just north of Overton Park in Memphis said, “We have made encouraging progress ahead of our September 30 deadline for community members to complete their vaccination series. Thank you to our community for doing your part to protect yourselves, each other, and our city.”
Earlier the school said that students must submit proof of vaccination before returning to campus and students, faculty, and staff have until September 30 to complete their vaccine series. In June, the school gave the choice for students to get the COVID vaccine. Then, the school said if they opted-out of getting the vaccine, students would have to pay $1,500 per semester. Now, the vaccine is required and cannot opt-out.
In making that announcement in June, Rhodes said, “The $1,500 health and safety fee was designed to cover the costs of asymptomatic testing for unvaccinated students without an exemption. In accordance with Rhodes' updated vaccine requirement, the college will not be charging a health and safety fee as unvaccinated students without exemptions will not be permitted on campus.”
