Northern Marianas College has announced that vaccines will be required for those students who are enrolled in in person classes for the Fall 2021 semester. Read the full announcement and FAQ section here.
COVID-19 Student Vaccination
Required for In-Person NMC Classes
In support of Northern Marianas College’s commitment to the health and safety of its campus community, the College has announced that beginning in the Fall 2021 semester, the COVID-19 vaccination would be part of the health clearance requirements for students who are enrolled in face-to-face or in-person classes.
The vaccination requirement allows NMC to offer a fuller range of in-person campus experiences in the fall, including co-curricular activities and events. Additionally, vaccination remains the most effective way to protect those who are not able to receive vaccination (children under age 12 and those who are medically exempted) and to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end. Further, the vaccine requirement furthers the CNMI’s goal of reaching herd immunity against the COVID-19 virus.
Message from the NMC President Dr. Galvin Deleon Guerrero
Hafa Adai, Tirow, and Good Morning Team NMC I hope and trust all is well with you as we sail ahead on our proa. In fact, it is because we are committed to everyone being well that we are moving forward to keep our College and community safe and healthy against Covid-19. Last week, similar to steps taken by many other colleges and universities, the NMC Board of Regents officially endorsed a requirement that individuals taking in-person classes in the Fall be vaccinated for Covid-19. Many students have expressed their desire to go back inside a classroom and interact physically with their peers and instructors. Having our students fully vaccinated will allow us to have more face-to-face classes, as well as more extra-curricular activities. In addition, getting our students vaccinated will help our entire community reach the 80% vaccination goal set forth by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation and the Covid-19 Task Force. Doing that will bring us closer to reopening our entire Commonwealth safely. Sincerely, Students who are enrolled in and attending in-person classes must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Students who do not opt to be vaccinated can still enroll in NMC’s virtual or online classes and can still access NMC student services online as well. Yes. Students who provide an official medical exemption can attend in-person classes. Medical exemptions to the vaccination requirement will be made provided that students submit a medical exemption form or letter signed by a licensed physician. Students can submit proof of vaccination by: Visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com to view vaccination requirements and to register to vaccinate. The site also lists locations where vaccines are currently being administered. Call (670) 682 - SHOT (7468) for more information about vaccine locations, including pop-up locations, requirements, or to make an appointment. CHCC is currently conducting vaccinations Monday to Friday and on Saturdays. Visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com to register and to view updated information about pop-up vaccination sites. CHCC will also be on the NMC campus in As Terlaje on the following days to administer the first dose of the vaccination - To register, visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com and choose NMC as a vaccination site. If you do not get vaccinated on-campus, you can choose other days, times andlocations offered by CHCC. For more information, visit www.vaccinatecnmi.com or call (670) 682 - SHOT (7468). Yes. Students who have had their first dose and have scheduled vaccine appointments for their second dose can attend classes in person. However, they still must provide verification that the first dose was administered. The vaccination is free and students do not need health insurance to be vaccinated. No. Students enrolled solely in virtual or online courses are exempt from this requirement. Some courses that are required to complete individual degree programs (IDPs) may not be offered in an online or virtual platform in the Fall 2021 semester. Yes, to use student services and attend college activities on campus, students need to complete the vaccination requirement. No, but all participants in off-campus activities must abide by all the COVID-19 safety protocols. Since vaccines had been made available in the CNMI, the College has strongly encouraged NMC employees to vaccinate. Approximately 80% of NMC employees have received their vaccinations. The College intends to begin formal discussions with faculty and staff about the requirement of the vaccine for employees as well. No. Campus visitors will not be required to provide proof of vaccination, but will still need to follow the on-campus health and safety protocols. No. Students, staff and faculty should not inquire about an individual’s vaccine status, which is considered protected health information. Yes. Although restrictions will continue to be reduced, NMC will continue to exercise COVID-19 preventive measures that include masks, social distancing and other measures as recommended by CDC and other health agencies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines after extensive safety analysis and determined that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in minimizing risks to public health. NMC is taking action to mitigate the possibility of COVID cases on campus and in our community. Yes. Students should continue to monitor COVID-19 updates and announcements via student email and the NMC website. From the CDC: “Over 331 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the United States from December 14, 2020, through July 6, 2021. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in tens of thousands of participants in clinical trials. The vaccines met the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality needed to support emergency use authorization (EUA). Learn more about EUAs here. Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines since they were authorized for emergency use by the FDA. These vaccines have undergone and will continue to undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe.” To download full FAQs, please click here. For more information or if you need assistance, contact the Office of Admissions and Records (OAR) at (670) 237-6768/69/70/71 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please work with your academic advisor if you need assistance in scheduling your classes.Click here to view full message
However, out of an abundance of caution, we will continue several safety measures, including temperature checks upon entering classrooms, requiring face masks when on campus, and providing ample hand sanitizing stations. Also, rest assured that students who opt not to be vaccinated can still access online classes and student services through online platforms. We remain committed to providing a high quality education to all our students, whether on campus or online.
Over the next few days, the College’s Healthy Fall Task Force will provide more information and resources to help in rolling out this new effort. We ask for your support in taking this next step towards returning to normalcy while keeping everyone safe.
Thank you again for all that you do for our College, our students, and our community. As we sail ahead with a focus on learning first, let us lift the tide for everyone in our ocean.
Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD
President
Northern Marianas College
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is required to get vaccinated?
Will exemptions be granted?
What do students need to submit to show proof of vaccination?
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To obtain an Immunization Summary Form, visit the Immunization Clinic at the Commonwealth Health Center anytime between Monday - Friday, 7:30am-4:30pm or call (670) 236-8745. The Immunization Clinic is located on the first floor of the CHCC. Enter through the entrance marked “Public Health.” A valid photo identification and a payment of $5.00 are required. Payment can be made at the Immunization Clinic.
NOTE: The $5.00 will be reimbursed to you in the form of a credit to your student account at NMC. Please present your receipt for the $5.00 with your immunization summary to receive the $5.00 credit to your account.
CHCC’s Immunization Program staff will also be available on the NMC campus (in the Office of Admissions and Records Office in Building N) to issue Immunization Summary Forms onsite at NMC on July 26, 2021 (8:00am to 12:00pm) and July 27, 2021 (1:00pm to 4:00pm).
ORHow can students get vaccinated?
Where can I get vaccinated?
Can students attend classes even if they have only received their first dose?
Does the vaccination cost money or do I need health insurance to receive the vaccination?
If I take my classes remotely (virtual or online courses), do I need to complete the vaccination requirement?
To use student services and attend college activities on campus, do I need to complete the vaccination requirement?
To attend off-campus college activities, do I need to complete the vaccination requirement?
Are NMC employees - administrators, faculty, and staff - also required to receive the vaccination?
Will visitors to campus be required to show proof of vaccination, or need to ask for an exemption before coming to campus?
Can I ask students in my class if they’ve been vaccinated?
Will students attending in person classes be required to wear masks?
Why is NMC requiring the vaccination when it is still in emergency use designation?
Will the vaccine be required for the Spring 2022 semester?
How safe are vaccines that have been approved through Emergency Use Authorization?