COVID safety email from Miami leadership misleads

Today’s COVID safety email from Miami’s Provost states that “all Ohio universities are following [Ohio’s vaccine requirement] prohibition.” 

This is misleading. At least one university is both following the law AND requiring vaccines.

Cleveland State University’s website clearly states that CSU is requiring vaccination (with reasonable exceptions) for students in dorms: “Vaccination or documentation of a valid exemption because of medical or religious reasons will be required for students living in our residence halls.”

CSU is protecting its students and its community by taking advantage of the fact that the prohibition law, as the Provost notes, does not take effect until October. As a school with a larger percentage of residential students than CSU, Miami would do well to follow CSU’s example.

Also: We have heard this summer from faculty with well-documented medical issues who have had ADA accommodations denied for fall. We fear the Provost’s note directing faculty to contact University Disability Services may raise unwarranted confidence in the university’s willingness to accommodate workers who have legitimate reasons for teaching remotely. We hope faculty we have not heard from are having better luck. We encourage you to let Miami AAUP know about your experience with ADA requests at Miami.