The University of Rhode Island is excited about being together in the fall. But to do this safely and successfully, the University will require all students enrolling for the fall 2021 semester to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption. We require all students to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before returning to campus. Proof of vaccination must be submitted to URI Health Services no later than Aug. 16, 2021 to participate in traditional move-in. If your program requires you to move in earlier, you need to be sure to provide proof of a full vaccination series at least 14 days before your planned arrival.
Required Vaccinations
All students on any of our campuses this fall will be required to be fully vaccinated or file an exemption with URI Health Services. Failure to be vaccinated or have an approved exemption will result in your inability to live on campus, participate in face-to-face classes and in-person activities, and campus events. Simply stated, failure to get the vaccine or having an approved exemption may affect your ability to continue your required coursework and not being enrolled in classes means that you are no longer a student at the University. Your decision to not get vaccinated will also affect certain scholarships that depend on a student’s participation in specific in-person activities, such as athletics.
URI Health Services will be collecting and verifying your vaccination information. Please visit health.uri.edu for instructions on how to upload your vaccination information in the patient portal.
Exemptions
Students who are not vaccinated must file a request for a medical and religious exemption that would allow them to come to URI. Students granted an exemption will be able to live on campus and participate in face-to-face classes, in-person activities, and other campus events. However, those students granted exemptions will need to follow strict adherence to health and safety guidelines such as participation in bi-weekly mandatory surveillance testing, masking both indoors and out, and physical distancing. Most importantly, those who receive exemptions will be required to quarantine or isolate should they become exposed to or test positive for COVID-19. They will be required to return home or secure off-campus space for the duration of the isolation/quarantine time as the University will not be providing the designated space.
URI Health Services will be reviewing exemption requests. Visit the patient portal for instructions on how to download, complete and upload your medical or religious exemption request.
This mandate is to help us achieve our goal of being together again, as a community where we learn together, socialize, attend plays and concerts, play sports, and more. To attend URI and to be fully involved in the many activities that enrich all of us, you must be fully vaccinated.
As we have throughout the pandemic, let’s all come together again—everyone in the Rhody community. We’ve gotten through the toughest parts of this, and now the critical step of getting vaccinated will ensure that we all thrive in and enjoy our wonderful campus and each other.