Covid-19 Vaccine policy updates for Fall 2021 semester

Recently, the City of Philadelphia announced a mandate stating that all higher education students, faculty and staff must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15, 2021. As a result, Community College of Philadelphia has had to reevaluate our fall plans in accordance with local regulations. 

In order to prioritize the safety and security of the community as the Delta variant of COVID-19 becomes more prevalent, the College has made the difficult decision to delay the majority of in-person, on-campus classes until Oct. 15, and instead offer these courses online and on their original days until then. Starting Oct. 18, courses will be offered in their original format (hybrid or in-person), as listed on students’ class schedule. Classes in the 7A term will remain online for the entire term. 

In addition, beginning Oct. 15, staff, faculty and students who remain unvaccinated without an approved exemption will not be permitted on campus. Learn more about the College’s vaccination requirements here.

“It goes without saying that we are living in a time that is consistently evolving, and that takes some adjusting,” said Dr. Donald Guy Generals, College president. “I appreciate our community’s flexibility and patience as we continue to address new circumstances. The health and safety of the College community are our first priorities and are at the forefront of every decision we’ve made thus far.”

To continue to ensure safety, masks are still required through the fall semester for all employees, students and visitors on our campus and at our regional centers, regardless of vaccination status. The College will continue to enforce six-foot social distancing and operate at approximately 50 percent capacity.

Starting Sept. 1, anyone who is unvaccinated must test negative for COVID-19 before being permitted on campus. More information about testing can be found here.

Vybe Urgent Care at 1500 Spring Garden Street will continue to offer the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals can also locate vaccination sites by visiting the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s vaccine resource page or www.vaccines.gov. 

In addition, all student support services will continue to be available online with options available in person, by appointment. Students should visit the Virtual Student Support Services webpage  for more information.

Individuals can also visit the College’s COVID-19 Updates page to stay informed about how the College is keeping the community safe.