Westchester Community College announced that it has reached a COVID-19 vaccination rate of 97% among its undergraduate students taking in-person classes and 97% among its on-site employees. The exceptional cooperation by WCC’s students and employees follows an aggressive outreach program that included a persistent communications campaign, convenient vaccination drives, and information sessions featuring Westchester County Department of Health officials. As a result of enhanced health safety protocols, the COVID positivity rate at WCC has remained at or below 0.5% during the fall semester, well below the state average range of 2.4% to 3.3% during the same period.
WCC allows medical and religious exemptions, and anyone who comes to campus without being vaccinated must participate in a weekly COVID-19 testing regimen at Westchester Medical Center. Everyone indoors while on college property must wear a mask and practice social distancing whenever practicable.
Expanding access to in-person classes is critical for students in courses where hands-on lab work is crucial to the learning process. Being on campus can be a valuable component of the college experience, helping new students acclimate and connect with their peers. For students who prefer not to be on campus, WCC also offers a wide selection of synchronous courses remotely. All online courses are held to the same high academic standards that exist for in-person courses. Registration for the Spring 2022 semester begins October 25. Information on the Spring 2022 semester is available at www.sunywcc.edu/spring.
Students must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption in order to register for in-person courses. Information on WCC’s COVID safety protocols is available at www.sunywcc.edu/COVID.
“I was somewhat hesitant with going back onto campus in the beginning. I didn’t know what it was going to be like or what safety protocols would be in place due to the pandemic,” said Melissa Brown, Westchester Community College student. “I have been back on campus since the very beginning of the semester and am pleasantly surprised with how everything is being run. The classes are much smaller, but the learning I am able to obtain is much greater. I am mournful about the commute, but there is truly nothing that can replace in person classes, learning, personal connections and the hands-on experiences I am able to obtain are extremely beneficial. “
“With Westchester County being the original epicenter of the pandemic in New York State, Westchester Community College has been confronting this public health crisis and its life-threatening effects from the start. Vaccines and protocols to protect our health are helping us confidently return to more familiar in-person educational environments,” said Dr. Belinda Miles, Westchester Community College President. “The evidence is showing that our collective actions are working. We thank our colleagues at the State University of New York, Westchester County, Westchester Medical Center, and other partners for their tenacity and expert guidance. We especially thank our students, faculty, and staff for fostering a community of care that creates safe spaces for teaching and learning.”
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