El Paso universities, colleges won't require students to be vaccinated to return to campus

El Paso colleges will not require students to be vaccinated to attend school in person in the fall.

Several colleges and universities across the nation have said they will require that students get a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to campuses in the fall, but this has not yet spread to most Texas colleges.

On April 5, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a ban on state agencies and other taxpayer-funded entities from requiring "vaccine passports" or requiring individuals to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status to receive services in Texas. The governor's ban was made through Executive Order No. GA-35.

Though it appears major Texas colleges and universities, particularly publicly funded schools, have largely steered away from requiring students to be vaccinated, some universities will require COVID-19 vaccinations. 

In late March, St. Edward's University in Austin announced it would require students and employees to be vaccinated by Sept. 1 with exemptions for religious views, as well as medical or personal concerns.

St. Edward's is a private nonprofit institution that receives some state funding, which goes directly to students in the form of scholarships.

St. Edward's issued its vaccination policy before the governor's order. However, to conform with Abbott's order, the private university updated the language in its vaccine guidance April 6 and now students can elect to not provide their vaccination status as long as the order is still in effect Aug. 1, and a notarized exemption document is required.

Texas opened up eligibility for vaccines to everyone over the age of 16 in March.

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UTEP vaccination effort

Although the University of Texas at El Paso will not require students to get a COVID-19 vaccination to attend classes in person in the fall, the university recently announced a push to vaccinate more students ahead of summer classes.

“The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory, but it is encouraged," UTEP officials said.

The university announced in early April that it would provide COVID-19 vaccines at the university's vaccination clinic on campus. UTEP receives a vaccine allocation from the Department of State Health Services every week, according to UTEP news release. Vaccinations at UTEP are open to students, faculty, staff and their household members.

The final date for students to receive a first dose of the vaccine at UTEP is Monday, April 19.

UTEP's vaccination clinic is located in the Interdisciplinary Research Building and the schedule for walk-up and drive-thru testing sites is available on the university's website under "Resuming Campus Operations."

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EPCC encouraging COVID-19 vaccinations

El Paso Community College will not require students to be vaccinated to attend classes in person in the fall.

"While EPCC encourages individuals eligible and who want a COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated, the college is not requiring vaccines for students or employees," said Jim Heiney, interim director of marketing and community relations at EPCC.

The community college will follow Abbott's order.

"EPCC is following the Texas Governor’s order that states that no government agency can mandate an individual receive a COVID-19 vaccination or enforce any policy that requires a person to provide proof of vaccination in order to receive services. It also states that any institution, public or private, that receives state funds cannot deny someone for failing to provide proof of vaccination," Heiney said.

EPCC will continue monitoring data on the number of people vaccinated that is provided by the city, county and state, though students and employees are not required to report their vaccination status, Heiney said.

"Health and safety are a priority, so EPCC is working with local health authorities and implementing CDC guidelines related to wellness and social distancing," Heiney said.

There are currently no EPCC-affiliated COVID-19 testing or vaccination sites.

"They are to use the public locations," Heiney said of students and staff.

Texas Tech has vaccination program

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso will not require students or university employees to be vaccinated before the fall semester.

The university operates its own vaccination program at the Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso Kenworthy Clinic and currently is administering Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

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Cristina Carreon may be reached at ccarreon@elpasotimes.com and @Cris_carreon90 on Twitter.