Most Massachusetts universities to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations Share Updated: 11:37 PM EDT Apr 27, 2021 Share Updated: 11:37 PM EDT Apr 27, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript THE STATE’S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IS MAKING IT A REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS. DAVID: COME THIS FALL, BRIDGEWATER STATE EXPECTS TO HAVE NEARLY ALL OF ITS STUDENTS BACK ON CAMPUS AND IN TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS. SAME GOES FOR ALL NINE SCHOOLS IN MASSACHUSETTS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM WHICH HAVE COMBINED STUDENT POPULATION OF ABOUT 52,000 BUT BEFORE THEY RETURN, STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19. >> IT’S PROBABLY SAFER IN THE LONG RUN. SO IT’S LIKE YOU’RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING COVID GETTING ON CAMPUS. DAVID: STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GET EXEMPTIONS FOR MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS REASONS. BUT ADMINISTRATORS SAY THOSE EXEMPTIONS WILL LIKELY COME WITH SPECIAL RULES. >> SO IT MAY BE THAT THE STUDENT IS IN-CLASS WITH A MASK, SIX FEET APART. IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY’RE IN SOME OTHER FORMAT, FOR SOME KIND OF ACCOMMODATION AGAIN TO THEIR -- SPECIFIC TO THEIR NEEDS. DAVID: UMASS BOSTON AND UMASS AMHERST ARE ALSO REQUIRING STUDENTS GET COVID SHOTS. SO ARE SEVERAL PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES. COURTS HAVE UPHELD COLLEGES’ POWER TO ORDER VACCINES, BUT NEVER BEFORE FOR ONE WITH JUST EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION. ACCORDING TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY LEGAL EXPERT MICHAEL ULRICH. >> IT IS SORT OF UP FOR INTERPRETATION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SAY WITH ANY CERTAINTY. THIS IS DEFINITELY HOW ANY OR ALL COURTS WOULD RULE. DAVID: FOR NOW, THE STATE COLLEGE SYSTEM IS RECOMMENDING, BUT NOT REQUIRING, VACCINATIONS FOR FACULTY AND STAFF, MANY OF WHOM ARE REPRESENTED BY UNIONS. >> THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS IS ONE THAT I RESPECT, AND CERTAINLY, IT IS PART OF OUR CAMPUS CULTURE HERE SO WE FEEL IT IS MOST APPROPRIATE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION DONE IN THAT WAY. DAVID: TWO OTHER BIG PUBLIC COLLEGES, UMASS LOWELL AND UMASS DARMOUTH, SAY THEY ARE RECOMMENDING AND EXPECTING STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED BEFORE FALL. BUT THEY ARE NOT M