Cuomo announces that SUNY, CUNY schools will require COVID vaccinations this fall

NEW YORK, N.Y. — The State University of New York (SUNY) and City University of New York (CUNY) boards will require proof of vaccination for all in-person students coming back to campus in the fall.

“You’re a young person. You go to a SUNY school, CUNY school you must have a vaccine to come back in September. If you must have a vaccine, get it now, if you have to get it anyway,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at his COVID-19 briefing in New York City on Monday.

Cuomo also encouraged all private universities and colleges to adopt the same guidelines.

“Let’s make a global statement. You cannot go back to school in person in September unless you have a vaccine. That will be a major motivation for people to get the vaccine,” the governor said. “And if you have to get it by September, you may as well get it now. Why wouldn’t you get it now? OK?”

Many private colleges and universities across the state already have mandated vaccinations for students wanting to return to campus in the fall, including Cornell University, Ithaca College, Le Moyne College, and Syracuse University. Cazenovia College became the latest, announcing Monday that it is requiring both students and employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 if they plan to be on campus in the fall.

SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras reacted to the governor’s announcement in a statement. “Over the past several weeks we have been working with our SUNY community to develop the best plan to make sure we can return to full reopening in the fall and turn the page on COVID … The State’s new vaccination requirement — contingent on full FDA approval — will be another step in restoring normal campus activity this fall,” he said.