The University of Michigan has locked out an additional 718 students who haven't taken required COVID-19 tests, the school announced Tuesday morning.
In March, the school made a similar move regarding 375 students.
U-M requires all students who live, work or learn on campus, or who access campus buildings and facilities, to complete weekly COVID-19 testing. Notification of the lockout was sent Monday morning to 718 undergraduate, professional and graduate students who haven't had a test in the past four weeks or did not have a test on file and have used their student identification card to access a non-residential building on campus.
Those students had their cards deactivated, meaning they can't get into non-residential buildings. The bulk of students are off campus, attending classes virtually. Some students are on campus to attend a variety of classes that have to be held in person or to do research. The university said it has 7,475 undergraduate on-campus students who are listed as having at least one hybrid or completely in-person class.
Of the 375 students locked out in March, 136 students requested and were granted approval to have their Mcard reactivated, with most students completing a COVID-19 test to get into compliance. Another 21 students requested an exemption to the testing program, were approved for a partial exemption, and then had their Mcards reactivated.
“Despite our excitement and optimism around expanded eligibility and opportunities for COVID-19 vaccines, at this point of the pandemic, when around others we must continue the practices of social distancing, wearing a mask, routine testing and other proven mitigation strategies to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” said Robert Ernst, associate vice president of student life for health and wellness, and executive director of University Health Service, in a statement.
U-M announced in February that, in an ongoing effort to protect the campus community from the spread of COVID-19, all students who live, work or attend class on campus or who access campus buildings and facilities will be required to complete weekly testing through the university.
Not being able to access buildings is one of the accountability measures the university has put in place. Other punishments for not following the rules include academic probation, canceling housing contracts and referral of the complaint for formal student conduct processes.
