The University requires all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be on campus. This requirement allows for safe in-person instruction and the vibrant, residential and interactive community that creates the full Bucknell experience.
Frequently asked questions about the vaccination policy can be found below. Additional questions should be directed to Bucknell Student Health by calling 570-577-1401 or emailing medicalrecords@bucknell.edu.
Bucknell requires students to be vaccinated to allow safe in-person instruction and the vibrant, residential and interactive community that creates the full Bucknell experience.
To be compliant with the COVID-19 vaccine requirement, students must have had a primary series of appropriate doses of monovalent vaccine or a dose of bivalent COVID-19 vaccine. Either is acceptable to meet the requirement.
The University strongly encourages all students to be up-to-date with COVID-19 boosters, although they are not required. The Pennsylvania Department of Health defines "up-to-date" for COVID-19 vaccination as having received a single dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of past history of receiving monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. Please note that Bucknell will accept evidence of either the primary series of appropriate doses of monovalent vaccine or one dose of current bivalent vaccine as evidence of vaccination.
No. Bucknell will accept evidence of either the primary series of appropriate doses of monovalent vaccine or one dose of current bivalent vaccine as evidence of vaccination.
No. Individuals under 18 years of age are eligible for the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines. Students under 18 years of age are not exempt from the vaccine requirement based on their age.
If you are unable to obtain access to the COVID-19 vaccine, due to lack of availability in your area or for other reasons, contact Bucknell Student Health. Arrangements will be made on a case-by-case basis.
At this time faculty and staff are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but the University strongly encourages employees to be up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.
While most young adults with COVID-19 do not experience symptoms that warrant hospitalization, they can still transmit the disease to other individuals. They also can spread the virus even if they are completely asymptomatic. Bucknell has a responsibility to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus, in Lewisburg and in the surrounding area.
To achieve maximum health and safety protection for the campus community, Bucknell requires all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19, with two limited exceptions:
The application for exemptions can be found here.
Requests for an exemption can be found here. The request will be reviewed by Bucknell Student Health in the same way that all other requests for exemption from other immunization requirements are handled at Bucknell.
If approved, the student will also be required to physically sign a waiver upon arrival on campus explaining the risks and goals of getting the vaccine and individual requirements should an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease occur on campus or if they contract the disease themselves.
No. To maximize protection of the health and safety of the campus community, Bucknell will only approve exemptions for a verified medical contraindication or a bona fide religious belief or practice that conflicts with the COVID-19 immunization requirement. General philosophical or moral objection to the COVID-19 vaccine will not suffice for an exemption to the COVID-19 immunization requirement.
The COVID-19 immunization requirement applies to all students who will be on campus regardless of the location of their residence. Students residing off campus must comply with the requirement.
Want to learn more about Bucknell?