A spokesman said the district wants to prevent a spike in quarantine absenteeism. The district will review the policy over fall break in early October.
Under the new regulation, the department will automatically forgive the debt of borrowers who the Social Security Administration has identified as severely disabled.
Transy joins a handful of private colleges requiring the vaccine, including Berea College. So far, no public universities in Kentucky are requiring vaccinations.
The measure keeps universal masking in place for up to 270 days, although it can be withdrawn if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Kentucky Department for Public Health relaxes recommendations for schools.
Superintendent Steve Miracle said he made the decision to not discipline students following a Wednesday morning meeting with concerned parents at the school district’s board of education office.
University officials said they would distribute $4.5 million for students to pay for costs including tuition, food, child care, housing and COVID-19 related expenses. Current students received awards last week. Incoming students will be notified of awards later this month.
The new guidance from Murray State continues to encourage voluntary COVID-19 vaccinations as the “best defense” against COVID-19. The university is hosting a series of on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinics in the next couple of months.
