Physical & Mental Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strengthened its recommendations on further COVID-19 vaccinations, raising the possibility that colleges may begin requiring booster shots.

Depending on where they go to college, students returning from the holiday break might face required testing, extended mask mandates, online classes—or no mitigation measures at all.

The University of Michigan is among the many college campuses experiencing early outbreaks of influenza, with nearly 530 students diagnosed since the beginning of October.

Institutions with pet-friendly policies are seeing an uptick in students bringing dogs, cats, hamsters, reptiles and more to campus. Students say the animals help them cope with anxiety and stress.

Advocates say a comprehensive approach is required to address mental health challenges on college campuses, but more information is needed about what does and doesn’t work. Bipartisan legislation introduced in Congress aims to find that information out.

Most colleges and universities will have to abide by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s rule requiring employers with 100 or more employees to mandate COVID-19 vaccination or weekly testing.

Students are enrolling in nursing programs as nurse shortages threaten hospitals across the country. But colleges and universities are having difficulty expanding their nursing programs because of limited funds, faculty and space.

Even as pending deadline prompts more universities to comply with Biden order mandating vaccination against COVID-19 for employees of federal contractors, some are still studying the order or determining next steps.