Media Release
For immediate distribution
Date: Friday, August 6, 2021
Fanshawe announces vaccination requirement for varsity athletics
Student athletes will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to compete for the Falcons this coming season.
(London, ON) – With Fanshawe Athletics returning to in-person intercollegiate (varsity) competition this fall after an 18-month pause, the College has adopted a vaccination requirement for all student athletes for the 2021-22 season.
As a condition of participation in the 2021-22 sports programming at Fanshawe, student athletes will be required to show proof they have received both doses of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccination condition for varsity athletic participation is guided by the College's focus on making student experiences – including varsity practices, travel and games – as safe as possible this year.
Timelines for vaccination: To participate in fall sports programming (soccer, baseball, softball, cross country, and golf), you must demonstrate that you have received at least a first dose of a Health Canada approved vaccine before team training camps begin on Sunday, August 15 and proof of full vaccination by Thursday, September 16. Watch for another email this week with details about how to submit your vaccination verification. Winter sports programming (basketball, volleyball, curling, badminton, and indoor soccer) will follow the same parameters, but with adjusted timelines according to each sport's start date.
This decision allows students to participate in experiences together with the team like travelling on buses, staying in hotel rooms with teammates and playing away games, as well as accessing shared locker rooms.
"We're excited to welcome students back to our nationally-recognized Falcons athletics program and to be able to provide competitive opportunities again," says Nathan McFadden, Manager of Athletics at the College. "This vaccination requirement is an important and necessary step to facilitate a safe return to on-campus sports and provide the varsity experience to as many students as possible with the least potential disruption in competition."
Students who cannot be vaccinated due to medical accommodations or other protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code may request an exemption. Fanshawe staff will communicate with student athletes about the outcomes of exemption requests and options available. Approved exemptions may impose restrictions for off-campus travel and shared accommodations with varsity teammates.
"We want to make the coming year as safe as possible for everyone – including our student athletes, coaches, staff and their families and classmates, as well as the teams and schools we visit," McFadden says. "This step provides the best means to protect ourselves, our competitors and our communities."
Fanshawe will not require students or staff to show proof of vaccination before coming to campus for in-person labs, classes or services. However, the College strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Students who are not yet vaccinated are encouraged to take advantage of walk-in clinics or book online through the provincial booking system.
Fanshawe will continue to share information throughout the coming months. For the most recent details about Fanshawe's response to COVID-19, please visit www.fanshawec.ca/covid19.
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For more information, please contact:
Dayan J. Boyce
Corporate Communication Officer
Fanshawe College
519-709-2916
dboyce@fanshawec.ca