Welcome to Fall; Vaccine Requirement Update

Dear Students,

Welcome back to campus, and to those of you who are here for the first time, welcome to the LSU family. It’s my first fall semester here as well, and I look forward to experiencing all that LSU has to offer alongside you.

We’re excited to be able to offer the in-person experience we know you’ve been hoping for this semester. Things may still look a little different, but we’ll be able to spend time together, form friendships, participate in campus life, and, most importantly, maintain the outstanding LSU educational experience.

As you may know, yesterday the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer vaccine for anyone 16 and over, paving the way for LSU to require vaccines for students, faculty and staff. Louisiana law allows for students to opt out of vaccinations, and those who choose this route will be required to be tested for COVID on a regular basis. Students have until Sept. 10 to submit proof of their first vaccination or formally opt out via the exemption/waiver form on the LSU Student Health Center Patient Portal. Students have until Oct. 15 to submit proof of full vaccination.

Today, we will also be announcing protocols for home LSU football games that will require either proof of vaccination or a recent COVID test to enter Tiger Stadium. Please be on the lookout for that information as well.

As an epidemiologist, I know that vaccination is the way out of this pandemic, and I’m grateful to everyone who has already been vaccinated for helping us move in that direction. Those who have not yet been vaccinated can do so at one of several locations on campus. We have striven to balance the LSU experience with the necessary steps we must take to protect our community in our fall COVID-19 mitigation protocols. Please help us keep campus safe by reviewing and following our protocols.

I wish you all the very best in your first week of classes. Study hard, but enjoy your LSU family and stay safe. I feel optimistic about the semester ahead of us, and I look forward to seeing great things from all of you this year.

Sincerely,

William F. Tate IV
LSU President