The Board of Directors of El Camino College has approved and adopted a new mandate for vaccination for all students and employees.

During the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting on September 7, El Camino College (ECC) President Brenda Thames, along with all other BOT members, discussed questions and concerns about what the Vaccination mandate will be made to all persons related to the ECC.

ECC employees must obtain and show proof of vaccination no later than November 8, and students must do the same by January 3, 2022. There are also exceptions for not being vaccinated, including medical precautions, disability, pregnancy and religious beliefs. , in accordance with the resolution of the mandate.

Once the new mandate is in place, different scenarios involving employees and students who do not get vaccinated can occur.

“I don’t know if we want to talk about it in terms of the consequences for the employees, we are negotiating the effects of the policy. For students, we offer alternatives through online course delivery, ”Thames said.

Before the mandate was passed, Academic Senate President Darcie McClellan said in an open comment that the Academic Senate (AS) voted on its own mandate, which showed support for an ECC vaccine mandate.

“The vote was 32 for, two against, three abstentions. Our Academic Senate strongly supports this mandate, ”McClellan said at the meeting.

McClellan also asked during the meeting that the BOT consider an extension that was part of AS’s mandate, which would require contractors and / or visitors coming to the ECC campus to get vaccinated or be vaccinated. McClelland told The Union that she wants this to be looked at later.

“We didn’t want to delay the part that was on their agenda compared to the other guy, that’s why we said ‘please skip this and then please consider the other later, “” McClellan told The Union.

Several BOT members have expressed interest in the AS term extension, questioning how its implementation in their term would work.

A college lawyer in attendance said the current BOT mandate can be adopted and the extension could be considered and considered by various campus bodies. Reviews of people working in contracts and / or public works should be carried out and the appropriate issues should be brought up to the next board meeting.

While some Trustees are concerned about the implementation of the immunization mandate, other Trustees have complete confidence in the creation of the mandate and the team that made it happen.

“I think we asked some really good questions about the community as a whole, our contractors as well, but again, I also have a lot of confidence in President Thames and her team to manage this implementation.” , said administrator Kenneth Brown.

While there are concerns about the future of the college, the BOT and President Thames are focused on the health and safety of the ECC community.

“It matches what many other colleges are doing and there is a problem with the outcome, it will save lives. Period. End of story, ”said administrator Cliff Numark.