When and Where to Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine and Upcoming Re-Opening Forums

June 17, 2021

Dear Students,

I hope your summer is off to a great start. I’m writing to provide important vaccine reminders and share student forum dates where you can get your questions answered.

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
As you know, all domestic students who do not have an approved medical or religious exemption must be fully vaccinated before coming to campus this Fall, so please make sure to make a plan to be fully vaccinated by August 2. Columbia is currently operating seven vaccination sites in New York state. Not in the area? Find a vaccine site in New York or elsewhere in the US.

International students will have the opportunity to get the vaccine upon arrival on campus, if you have not been able to complete this requirement prior to returning. You do not need to come early to campus in order to get the vaccine. More information will follow in July regarding the process.

If you are vaccinated at any site other than Columbia Health on the Morningside campus, you must upload documentation in the Medical Clearances section of the Patient Portal. The deadline for uploading vaccination documentation or requesting a medical or religious exemption is August 2, but please submit as soon as possible.

University Re-Opening Forums
Save the dates for upcoming forums with University experts:  

  • July 12, 8:30 AM ET: international students
  • July 15, 1:00 PM ET: general student session
  • August 12, 4:00 PM ET: general student session
  • August 16, 8:30 AM ET: international students

Columbia is taking the Vaccine Campus Challenge Pledge
Columbia joins the U.S. Department of Education and hundreds of colleges and universities to play our part in vaccinating as many Americans as possible.

As a Vaccine Champion University, we commit to:

  1. Educating our community about the public health benefits of vaccines.
  2. Providing vaccines for our students, faculty and staff members.
  3. Achieving and maintaining full vaccination of our campus community.

Want to help? If you have friends or family members who still haven’t gotten the vaccine, share with them your reasons for doing so, and offer to book them an appointment if they’re unable to.

Please don’t hesitate to write to me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns. I wish you a wonderful weekend.

Take care,

Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
Office of University Life
Gender Pronouns: He/Him/His

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