Reedley College file photo

State Center Community College District Trustees voted Monday to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for students, employees, contractors and visitors beginning Oct. 16.

This includes, but is not limited to, indoor and outdoor facilities at Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College, Madera Community College at Oakhurst and the Career Technology Center.

The mandate is subject to legally required exemptions for “sincerely held religious beliefs and medical conditions,” according to a news release.

The mandate was originally scheduled for a vote Aug. 20 but was rescheduled when more than 700 participants tried to join the Zoom meeting, leaving some out due to capacity issues. The meeting was then held Monday and livestreamed on YouTube.

SCCCD Chancellor Doug Houston shared, “I am very proud of the governing Board for scheduling the meeting in a manner that ensures the broadest possible participation by the public, students, faculty, and staff for this very consequential decision.”

Vaccine mandates now extend to most higher-education institutions in the Central Valley. Back in July the California State University system announced its own vaccine mandate, which applies to students at Fresno State.