COD president explains new mask, vaccine requirements
August 2, 2021
College of DuPage faculty, staff and students will be required to wear masks inside all COD buildings effective immediately, COD President Brian Caputo announced Monday. This comes after college officials announced last week that masks would be required for the fall semester.
“Face masks will be required in all college buildings for the fall term for all students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors regardless of vaccination status.” wrote Caputo in an email sent to students on July 29.
Furthermore, beginning on Jan 1, 2022, the college will require all students who wish to take in-person or hybrid courses, faculty, staff and administrators to be vaccinated for COVID-19.
These decisions by COD come after revised CDC guidelines on July 27 recommended that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors in areas of substantial or high transmission rates. DuPage County is currently in that substantial transmission rate category. In addition, on July 19, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Community College Board recommended all colleges and universities in the state require COVID-19 vaccinations for students this fall.
Caputo said in an interview that these decisions were part of ongoing discussion in weekly cabinet meetings and biweekly Shared Governance Council meetings and were kicked up recently as COVID-19 positivity rates began to rise.
“Things were looking good, rates were going down. And then the Delta variant started to pick up.” Caputo said. The recommendations from the two higher education boards also factored into the decisions.
When asked why vaccinations would not be required until January, Caputo said the college must come up with an infrastructure that will keep track of vaccination records and maintain confidentiality, as well as to give students a chance to receive those vaccines.
“With an institution of our size, it’s difficult to just issue a directive and expect it to be immediately implemented.” Caputo said, “ What we really need to do is prepare the college community for this.”
He stressed the fact that the college needed to show sensitivity to all concerns, including students’ expectations when they planned classes earlier this year, but he also reaffirmed that public health was at the forefront in this decision-making process .
Exemptions of vaccinations for medical or religious reasons will be allowed, but details need to be worked out, according to Caputo.
“Exactly what form that exemption will take and how we will act upon that exemption is yet to be determined.” Caputo says, “Will those folks be able to come on campus in January wearing masks? …I can’t answer that question yet.”
Weekly local positivity rates and ICU bed availability are metrics being considered when determining masking and vaccination requirements, according to Caputo. He also says that if the circumstances warrant it, the college is willing to change the mask requirement.
The county’s seven-day rolling positivity rate is at 4.4% as of July 30, with the positivity rate rising since June 21.
The college recently sent out a survey to 14,269 students, staff and faculty asking about their vaccination status. Overall, the college had a 25% response rate to the survey. Vice President of Planning & Institutional Effectiveness, Jim Benté emphasized that the results of the survey do not completely show the true vaccination rates at the college, due to a low response rate and a possible survey bias in favor of those who are vaccinated. Since many who are unvaccinated may have been afraid to respond to the survey. However, lower vaccination rates and higher unwillingness to receive a COVID-19 vaccine within student respondents, who are typically younger than faculty and staff members, is a trend being seen nationwide.
A • Aug 10, 2021 at 11:37 am
If we are to be limited to an online education for not taking the vaccine, tuition prices should be lowered to reflect this lesser education. I will not pay the same for a strictly online degree. I understand the concerns by those who have taken the vaccine, but what will you do when surrounded by your vaccinated peers on campus and the virus still spreads amongst you. Who will be to blame? When it is only the virtious vaccinated left, what will you do?
adviser • Aug 9, 2021 at 2:27 pm
Quick note. We are not posting your comment because your statement is incorrect. The college administration has mandated the use of masks for everyone.
Natalie • Aug 5, 2021 at 2:56 am
If you don’t take it, for whatever reason, you shouldn’t be allowed on campus. Simple as that. If you don’t understand the science that has gone behind the vaccine, then I suggest Biology 1551 and 1552 along with Micro and the A&P courses. We are over a year with this virus now and the virility of it is changing because of those that wish to ignore science. It affects those of us with the vaccine because all those variants being cooked up by the anti-covid crowd are mutating in areas that now make it an issue for those of us with a vaccine. Yes to masks, yes to mandatory vaccines. You can choose to take your classes online if you are not allowed on campus. But the majority of us have been informed enough to do the right thing. We’re not waiting around for those believing a false narrative.
cara • Aug 4, 2021 at 5:13 pm
For a virus with a 99% recovery rate , a vaccine proven to be ineffective and no requirements to show proof of any other vaccine history or even the flu shot annually. This is big pharma and the government experimenting with the public physically and socially. I will not take part in it. You have lost a student unless you change your abusive policy.
Stephanie • Aug 4, 2021 at 8:57 am
Not getting vaccinated so I guess I’ll have to change schools.
Ryan • Aug 3, 2021 at 8:19 pm
I am a current student at COD. The very idea of mandating existing students to take a politically driven, ineffective & stigma creating vaccine is one of many ways to instigate a lawsuit as well as alienate a third of its students. I understand issuing a mandate for new incoming students. However, for those that already have money and class credits invested into COD many of which with varying situations on their credits transferability, this move is one without proper research and thought behind it. For those wondering, I am in fact vaccinated but as many others can testify, it does not prevent you from getting the virus, let alone suddenly make it so that you are unable to spread germs, viruses, & diseases like COVID-19. The sole purpose of the vaccine is to increase anti-bodies of specific and well researched variants of a given illness. It does not protect others if you get it, and it does not give a measurable increase to your survivability rate no matter your age range, or immune systems limited response. The fact that those with simple concerns are unable to get adequate answers and talk with people who might know them is cruel and one of many reasons I did not want to get vaccinated. I encourage others to not get it until time has developed a more effective version, or until you feel more comfortable with its known and unknown effects without the current political atmosphere shoving it down your throat.
I urge College of DuPage to follow in the footsteps of many counties that surround it and strongly recommend the vaccine without a mandate for masks, or the vaccine itself as it only helps the recipient, not those around him or her.
Victor • Aug 3, 2021 at 8:17 pm
This is extremely unethical. I will no longer be attending COD.
Amanda • Aug 3, 2021 at 8:03 pm
This is really disappointing. I guess I’ll be taking online classes in the spring:( Also when was this survey sent out? You should have sent it to all of the students because I never got an email about this. Shouldn’t all students going here, PAYING MONEY to take classes be able to share their opinion on this? To be honest, I’m sure there are way more for each category than this survey is actually showing.
Jasmin • Aug 3, 2021 at 6:55 pm
So we are being forced to be vaccinated with a vaccine that was created in less than six months or we can’t receive an education? So do we not have human rights anymore to make our own decisions on what is entered into our bodies? Since when are we not given the right to choose if we want to be vaccinated or not?
Less • Aug 3, 2021 at 6:21 pm
So why aren’t we the people!, questioning the integrity of the CDC? Isn’t it a hypocrisy how first no masks were in the question and then masks became “mandatory” and then a huge push from the government to be vaccinated and then the CDC stating if you get poked no masks are required. The CDC made it clear that you get the shot your saved and now all of a sudden vaccinated individuals need to wear a mask again? Well what happened to the super powers of this vaccine? If the vaccine is truly the savior then why do unvaccinated people have to wear a mask? Where’s the opinion of other doctors and professionals that state other wise? Where’s the actual research and numbers that is not the CDC which is infiltrated with clown Fauci? You honestly think a mask cloth or store bought is honestly going to stop covid if it’s meant to be for an individual to contract it? Let’s have an honest conversation on how 85% of people that got covid that swore by the masks and still got sick? Let’s talk about how incredible the human body is that once you get sick your body builds natural immunity. And honestly let’s talk about how mandating masks and vaccines is a violation to our constitution and our freedom of choice! The same way there’s feminists yelling. “My body my choice” with abortion, then that also applies here with the choice to vaccinate or not. Has anyone honestly asked themselves where’s the flu? The flu is nonexistent?! How is that? There’s no more flu vaccine commercials! Yet the flu kills all ages at a higher rate than covid has done! If COD isn’t standing up for their students freedom then that’s a disgrace!
Sarah • Aug 3, 2021 at 1:56 pm
Thank you to COD for making the community safer. With the mask requirement AND the many online options, you’ve been a great choice during the pandemic.
Bob • Aug 3, 2021 at 7:59 am
I will stop taking classes at COD if you make the experimental vaccine mandatory. Risking my life is not worth continuing to take classes here. Please change your mind or risk losing students.