Delaware Tech to require COVID-19 vaccinations

According to a Jan. 21 directive announced by Delaware Technical Community College President Mark Brainard, all students, whether online or in person, and visitors must be up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations by the summer semester.

People 18 and older are considered up to date if they have received all recommended shots and boosters, and people ages 5 to 17 are considered up to date if they have completed the primary series of vaccines, Brainard said. 

The directive does not apply to current spring semester students, Delaware Tech spokesperson Christine Gillan said.

“Proof of vaccination is required for students registering for summer or fall courses,” she said.

By March 30, all students enrolling in summer 2022 classes must provide COVID-19 vaccination proof prior to registration, and by April 20, all students enrolling in fall 2022 classes must provide COVID-19 vaccination proof prior to registration.

Effective May 1, all visitors, including attendees at public or private events held indoors on campus, will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

The policy also applies to children 5 years old and older who attend child development centers and summer camps, and high school students participating in programs on college campuses.

Cape district students are among local children who participate in Academic Challenge courses through Delaware Tech. Cape spokesperson Steph DeMalto said Cape students are currently attending Academic Challenge courses remotely, so the directive does not apply to them at this time.

High school students who attend Academic Challenge in person at Delaware Tech will need to provide proof of vaccination, Gillan said.

“If Academic Challenge students are remote learning in the fall and not coming to our campuses, they follow guidelines from their home school district,” Gillian said.

Students can also see if they can qualify for a medical or religious exemption.

“Students who are granted an exemption will be required to test weekly through our Qualtrics system, and some may be limited to online classes,” Gillan said. “Those decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.”

Election voting sites held on campus are handled by the Department of Elections, Gillan said. 

“We allowed them to determine their own COVID-19 rules for polling sites in 2020, and we'll do the same this year,” she said.

Other Delaware colleges

In-person Delaware State University students were required to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 15, 2021. Students attending completely online are exempt from the requirement, and those with legitimate medical or religious reasons may request an exemption.

Testing is mandatory twice a week for staff, residential students and commuter students receiving on-campus academic instruction. Fully vaccinated individuals are required to test only once a week. 

Wilmington University does not require vaccinations; all classes and services are fully remote through Feb. 28.

University of Delaware students are required to receive a vaccination booster by Jan. 24; those who are unable to be vaccinated by that date because of the timing of their initial vaccination series are directed to receive the booster as soon as they are eligible.

UD’s booster requirement is for all enrolled students, whether they are taking classes online or on campus. Students with documented medical or religious exemptions to the vaccine are required to be tested weekly.

All visitors over age 5 who attend events at University of Delaware are required to provide proof of full vaccination, a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event, or documentation that they have been released from isolation after a positive COVID-19 test within the past 90 days.