Indiana University reconsidering vaccine verification for students

Indiana University announced on Thursday that it plans to review the verification process for a coronavirus vaccination requirement after multiple state officials condemned the move.

The school said that while it considers the requirement a safe way for students and staff to return to campus, it received pushback from the state attorney general on how it will collect the proof of vaccination.

“In yesterday’s opinion, the attorney general affirmed that it is legal for us to require a vaccine, including one under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). His opinion questioned specifically the manner in which we gathered proof of vaccination. Although we disagree with that portion of his opinion, we will further consider our process for verifying the requirement,” the school said in a statement.

The move to reconsider comes just one day after state Attorney General Todd Rokita (R) slammed the rule, saying that it violates state law.

“This session, members of the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation to codify in law a prohibition on COVID-19 vaccine passports, preventing public institutions from mandating proof of vaccination as a condition for receiving services or employment,” Rokita said on Wednesday.

“Indiana University’s policy clearly runs afoul of state law—and the fundamental liberties and freedoms this legislation was designed to protect,” Rokita added.

Multiple Republican state senators also condemned the university’s new policy with 35 out of 39 signing a letter sent to university President Michael McRobbie expressing their disapproval.

“This heavy-handed mandate goes against many of the liberties on which our founders built our democratic republic,” the letter said.

Several universities nationwide have moved to require students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus for in-person classes in the fall.

—Updated Friday at 11:46 a.m.