To our university community,

We would like to share an important update with you regarding the University of Michigan’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

As of today, the following revisions to the vaccination policy are in effect:

  • The existing COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been revised to apply only to UM-Ann Arbor students living in Michigan Housing.
  • The policy no longer applies to students living off campus or employees outside of clinical settings. Some units will have their own policies in place, such as vaccinations required for healthcare or field placements.
  • Michigan Medicine will maintain its current policy, and nothing is changing for its faculty, staff, and learners.
  • Students living in UM-Ann Arbor Michigan Housing in fall 2023 will need to submit proof of receiving the bivalent omicron booster or have an approved medical or religious exemption by May 15.
  • Also by May 15 these same students will need to submit proof of five routine childhood vaccinations or complete an attestation stating that they are not vaccinated and understand they may be subject to additional public health protocols should there be a public health need.

By focusing on students in Michigan Housing, where many will be new to the Ann Arbor campus this fall, we can mitigate the risk of disruption caused by infectious disease and still maintain our high level of existing immunity within our community.

These policy revisions put us in line with the anticipated end to the federal government’s emergency declarations. They reflect the reality of a new phase of the pandemic with more consistent and manageable COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in our region.

More information will be provided to those applying for fall on-campus housing and on our Health Response website. 

While the universitywide policy is narrowing, other efforts to combat COVID-19 will continue:

  • Get the most up-to-date COVID-19 booster recommended by the CDC.
  • Report your COVID-19 vaccination. In the fall semester, we plan to hold multiple clinics offering vaccines for both COVID-19 and influenza.
  • While the Community Sampling and Tracking Program will be phased out by the end of May, the university will continue to have masks and rapid antigen tests available in sites across the Ann Arbor campus while supplies last.
  • The Health Response public dashboard continues to display COVID-19 data for our campus and surrounding community.
  • The University Health Service has maintained vital infrastructure to provide prompt evaluation and testing of symptomatic students.
  • Our public health response team’s work is ongoing in addressing not only COVID-19 but other illnesses, as well. We now have the tools and systems in place to identify, monitor and respond to multiple infectious diseases, including through wastewater surveillance, testing and other data sources.

As the world has faced tremendous challenges over the last three years, at U-M we have maintained our steadfast focus on the safe delivery of the very best education, service, research and patient care. Thank you for your diligence and partnership in this essential work.

Santa J. Ono, Ph.D.
President

Robert D. Ernst, M.D.
Chief Health Officer
Associate Vice President of Student Life
Executive Director of University Health Service