SOUTH BEND – The University of Notre Dame will require all students returning to campus for the fall 2021 semester to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The University issued a statement that was signed by a collection of leaders including the University’s President, Rev. John I. Jenkins.in calling for all students — undergraduate, graduate and professional — returning to campus for the fall 2021 semester to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The University will accommodate documented medical or religious exemptions.

“The safety of the University and local communities is always our highest priority,” Father Jenkins said. “Requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is a new and important addition to our health policies, one that we believe will enhance public health at Notre Dame and in our community, while also contributing to our ability to return to a more vibrant campus environment.”

The announcement comes in advance of the University opening a clinic Thursday, April 8, with the Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose vaccine, making it especially easy for current students to meet the vaccine requirement.

The vaccination clinic will use the Compton Family Ice Arena and will administer first doses from April 8 to 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Second doses will be administered from April 29 to May 6.