College updates Covid-19 vaccination rate for on-campus students

Sept. 27, 2021

SARANAC LAKE – Almost 100 percent of students who are attending on-campus classes at North Country Community College campuses are fully or partially vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Monday, the state’s deadline for in-person SUNY students to get the vaccine.

This fall, a total of 448 students are attending in-person classes at North Country’s three campuses: Malone, Saranac Lake and Ticonderoga. Of that number, 91 percent (408 students) are fully vaccinated, while another eight percent (36 students) had completed one of two doses of the vaccine as of mid-day Monday. Two unvaccinated students have received extensions to get the vaccine after having contracted Covid-19, while another two were granted medical accommodations.

The state’s mandate for on-campus State University of New York students to be vaccinated took effect on Monday, Aug. 23, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration fully approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

“In five short weeks, our students and members of our college community mobilized their efforts to comply with the mandate,” said NCCC President Joe Keegan. “Doing so, during perhaps the busiest time of the semester, was no small feat. As a result, we are convinced that our campus community is and will be the safer from the very real threat of Covid-19 going forward.”

For some students, deciding to become vaccinated presented a real struggle, Keegan noted.

“While most elected to do so (as the data illustrate), some chose to study fully online, while others decided to sit out the semester,” he said. “I am grateful to our students who became vaccinated for doing their part to keep our community healthy and safe. For those others who were unable to, we respect the decision and hope that someday they will be able to return to North Country to complete their education.”

In addition to 448 on-campus students at North Country this fall, another 278 are taking fully online classes. While they are not required to be vaccinated, many (120 as of Monday) reported to the college that they had received the vaccine. Additionally, roughly 90 percent of on-campus faculty and staff have voluntarily provided proof of vaccination.

The college is providing regular updates on Covid-19 protocols, vaccination rates, cases and more information at www.nccc.edu/covid.