Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021 | 12:41 p.m.
The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to determine COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees of the state’s universities and colleges.
The board on Sept. 30 approved an emergency policy change requiring employees to be fully vaccinated by Dec. 1, or to provide an approved medical or religious exemption. Anyone not vaccinated by Friday would be terminated.
The board will consider a few options: eliminate the vaccine mandate, extend the deadline to Jan. 15, or keep the standard in place with the Friday deadline.
The meeting follows a ruling last week by the Nevada State Legislative Commission, which voted to not continue with an emergency order issued by the state Board of Health requiring college students to be vaccinated.
The ruling paved the way for nonvaccinated students to enroll for the spring semester, which begins in January.
The regents will also consider sending a letter in support of COVID-19 vaccinations for students to governmental bodies with jurisdiction to impose vaccine requirements, including the Governor’s Office, the Nevada Board of Health and the Nevada Legislature.
Gov. Steve Sisolak in a statement today encouraged the regents to continue with the policy of requiring proof of vaccination for employees — regardless of the policy for students.
“We know without a doubt that COVID-19 vaccines help prevent severe cases, hospitalization and death from this virus,” Sisolak said. “I want to thank all the NSHE employees and students who have already rolled up their sleeves to give themselves, their communities and our institutions an additional layer of protection from COVID-19.”
The meeting is open to the public at NHSE headquarters at 4300 S. Maryland Parkway. It can also be streamed online.
