Trent University Requires First Vaccine For Students In Residence Living

Trent University has announced students living on campus in residence this fall will be required to have at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine according to a press release issued Tuesday.

Trent University in Peterborough is divided into five separate colleges: Lady Eaton, Gzowski, Champlain, Otonabee and Traill. File Photo.

“The University is committed to keeping our residences and communities safe as we plan to return to in-person terms this September,” says Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent president and vice-chancellor. “Requiring vaccines for students living in residence will be an important way to ensure that we avoid residence outbreaks and are able to offer our residence students the transformative on-campus experiences students have learned to expect from Trent.”

With the support from Peterborough Public Health, the University will ask students to book and arrange their first-dose vaccine prior to moving into residences at both the Peterborough and Durham GTA campuses.

The University’s Housing Services will help students who are unable to receive a vaccine prior to arrival attain their first dose when they move into the residence. Residence students will also be asked to commit to a second dose of the vaccine on a schedule that will be subject to availability. Exemptions will be allowed in cases in which students require accommodation for medical or other reasons. 

Mandating vaccines for all residence students will safely allow for near-full occupancy of residences on both Trent campuses according to the release. As an added precaution, the University also plans to reserve a small number of residence spaces for isolation, if needed.

 “We know living in residence can be a valuable part of the first-year student experience at Trent,” says Dr. Nona Robinson, Trent associate vice president of Students. “We also know the health and safety of our campus and local communities is our shared responsibility. Congregate living areas, such as residences, are at higher risk for transmission due to people living closely together. We are delighted that vaccines are now available for the age group of most of our first-year students. This vaccine requirement will help minimize risk, as we offer a positive residence experience for new students this fall.”  

The vaccine requirement for residence students will be part of a wide range of the University’s COVID-19 health and safety measures to ensure a safe return to in-person learning on campus.

Other measures may include masking, physical distancing requirements and mandatory self-screening, as well as enhanced cleaning. On-campus testing, as well as vaccine clinics for students and employees in Peterborough, may also be implemented based on the recent success of pop-up clinics.

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