Unvaccinated Virginia Tech students, staff to be tested for COVID-19 at least once a week

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — Virginia Tech officials released new details this week regarding the university’s coronavirus surveillance testing program for campus community members who are not fully vaccinated against the virus.

According to a presidential policy memorandum issued by Virginia Tech on Monday, Aug. 2, all students, faculty, and staff at campus sites in Blacksburg, Roanoke, and the greater Washington, D.C. metro area who are not fully vaccinated will be required to participate in mandatory testing at least once a week initially.

As previously announced by the university, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for all students in order to remain enrolled for the fall semester. In addition, students need to upload their vaccination cards by Friday, Aug. 6.

For employees, though, vaccinations are strongly encouraged — but not required — and vaccination cards should be uploaded by Aug. 15.

If conditions change within the Virginia Tech community or the health districts, the university says it may change its pandemic approach and mandate employee vaccinations.

In addition to the testing program, school officials say all faculty, staff, and students who are not fully vaccinated will be required to wear a face-covering inside university-owned or leased facilities.

For unvaccinated employees who refuse to participate in the testing program and/or wear a face covering, the university says they will be subject to applicable employment policies.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated students who refuse to participate in the testing program and/or wear a face covering may be excluded from campus sites or in-person activities and will be subject to the policies outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

For students, faculty, and staff, these requirements are a condition of being a part of the university community. The university is committed to the health and well-being of its community members and reducing the spread of COVID-19, while pursuing the goal of an in-person fall semester that offers the fullest possible educational experience. The university’s operations during the pandemic are informed by public health guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and our own public health experts and COVID modeling team.

Virginia Tech University Relations