Those coming to Western University this fall will need to have proof of their COVID-19 vaccination status before coming on to campus.
In a release sent out Wednesday from the university and its affiliated colleges Brescia, Huron and King's, all students, staff and faculty will need to provide their proof of vaccination to be on campus.
Those without proof of their jabs will have to be tested for COVID-19 twice a week. Western's vaccination and testing centre will remain open for all university community members to use.
Western said the new policy was decided after "careful consideration" with help from public health partners and experts working in faculties of medicine, law and ethics.
The Middlesex London Health Unit said it has endorsed Western's approach.
"To support a safe return to campus this fall, the [health unit] strongly supports all efforts to increase the uptake of COVID-19 vaccination," said Chief Medical Officer of Health Chris Mackie, in a letter to Western president Alan Shepard. "This includes policies that require all members of a post-secondary community who present to campus to be either fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or participate in a serial and frequent rapid COVID-19 testing program."
The university previously announced that it will require students living in residence to be vaccinated. This step comes as a further precaution for students who come to campus for lectures and labs, work on clinical placements, participate in music programs, as well as for those on varsity teams. Exemptions will be provided on grounds protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Earlier this month, Western said it conducted a survey among all students, faculty and staff to gauge vaccination rates in the community. The results found nearly 90 per cent of respondents are already fully vaccinated, more than half of those remaining said they plan to get their vaccines by September.
"This rate of vaccination is consistent among undergraduate student respondents. The survey was sent to over 62,000 members of Western’s community with a response rate of nearly 50 per cent," a release from the university read.
Masks will still be required for all indoor activities on campus. The university added that it has implemented enhanced cleaning and screening across campus and ventilation systems are also being assessed.