Dear Members of the Clark Community,

Today, we are writing with an important update to Clark’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

With the COVID-19 national public health emergency expected to end on May 11, 2023, the COVID Advisory Group has been assessing the University’s COVID policies and procedures. As we have done throughout the pandemic, our decisions are driven by science, available data, and guidance from health experts and governmental health agencies. Reflecting current trends and consistent with plans at many other higher education institutions, Clark will no longer require a COVID vaccination for students or employees as of June 1, 2023.

Clark will continue to urge all community members to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including booster doses. This is important for your own personal health as well as the health of our community.

For the past three years, since the onset of this challenging pandemic, we have shaped our COVID strategies and policies around the virus’ movement and impact across the country, our region, and state, and on our campus. In our pandemic response, we have been extremely fortunate to draw on the expertise of the Health Advisory Board and Chief Health Officer Dennis Keefe, and to benefit from the tireless efforts of the COVID Advisory Group and, in an earlier iteration, the Clark Reopening Committee. Our deepest thanks to all for your commitment and tremendous work to protect our collective health and safety.

Our priority has been, and will continue to be, the health of our community — so while COVID levels are declining, our vigilance will not. We will continue to carefully monitor the COVID-19 situation and make adjustments as needed. That responsibility is now being shifted from the COVID Advisory Group to the Clark Safety Committee. Changes to policies and practices will continue to be communicated on our Healthy Clark website.

Through Commencement on May 20, COVID tests will continue to be available at the Information Desk in the Higgins University Center. Moving forward, students seeking COVID testing should consult with Clark Health Services, and faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider about testing options.

We are proud and grateful for the extraordinary diligence, understanding, and compassion that the members of our community have demonstrated toward one another throughout the pandemic. Stay healthy, and have a wonderful conclusion to the semester.

Sincerely,

David B. Fithian ’87
President

Sebastián Royo
Provost