Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø joins COVID-19 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Challenge

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has joined more than 340 colleges and universities in the COVID-19 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Challenge, a White House initiative to get 70% of the adult population vaccinated by July 4.

President Steve Bahls signed the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Challenge on behalf of Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø.

¡°The Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø community has worked tirelessly to maintain the  robust in-person experience that we are known for,¡± said President Bahls. ¡°This national challenge is one we are readily prepared to commit to.¡± 

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø has signed the pledge to be a Vaccine Champion Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø and commits to the three primary actions outline in the challenge: Engage students, faculty and staff; organize the college community; and deliver vaccine access for all 

President Bahls launched the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Strong task force in spring 2020 and charged the team with developing a plan to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on campus. The task force shared a comprehensive plan to address the educational, residential, social and health needs of the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø community. 

The college also adopted its own #VikingsTakeCare campaign through the 2020-2021 academic year to encourage COVID-19-concious behavior among students, faculty and staff.

Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø was able to maintain a hybrid model of learning. Both  in-person and online courses were taught. Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø 90% of students lived on campus throughout the school year.

¡°We know our students are global learners, compassionate and curious community members, and we want to reflect that commitment on campus through the COVID-19 Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Challenge,¡± saidPresident Bahls. ¡°Vaccines are an important next step to life after COVID-19 and are critical in our return to a lively, intelligent, connected community.

¡°We know our students want to get back to normal, and this is an important step in that process.¡±

In April, the college hosted a vaccination clinic in partnership with Community Health Care and administered neary 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to students, faculty, staff and community members. 

Preliminary survey results indicate that 87% of the Å·ÖÞ±­ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±­ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø student population to respond to the survey were fully vaccinated by May 23, 2021. An additional 5.7% were partially vaccinated at the time of the survey.