Hudson Valley Community College in Troy no longer requires its students attending class on campus to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

COVID-19 policies have relaxed over recent months, but State University of New York schools still require students to get vaccinated in order to attend in-person classes. However, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), a part of the SUNY system, has decided to disregard the SUNY mandate.

“The primary reason for doing such is the number of complaints and concerns from parents and students,” said Hudson Valley Community College Vice President for Student Affairs Louis Coplin. “A mandate for students to be vaccinated and boosted is nonexistent for employees.”

The decision has sparked pushback by the college’s faculty association. Many of the faculty have come forward to oppose the decision and encourage the school to bring back the mandate.

“It is binding policy,” HVCC Faculty Association President Robert Whitaker said. “It’s not choose your own adventure.”

The association has filed a grievance against the college, calling it a reckless and shortsighted decision that violates contractual workplace safety provisions.

“I think we all look forward to the day when we can fully put this pandemic totally behind us,” Whitaker said. “But what SUNY is saying that we’re not quite there yet.”

Coplin said more than 85% of the student body has voluntarily submitted proof of vaccination while 65% of the college’s staff and faculty have.

“Oftentimes, community colleges are places where individuals have one choice, one option,” he said. “We wanted to remove all barriers to enrollment.”

Whitaker claims the administration had not been transparent or open to a conversation on the topic prior to a decision being made.

“We have offered repeatedly to the college to sit down at the bargaining table and to discuss a mandatory vaccination for faculty,” he said.

When the state's executive order mandating student vaccinations ended last spring, the school chose to drop the mandate, but to "strongly encourage" vaccinations.

SUNY is aware of the issue. A spokesperson said it’s in communication with the college about its policy.

Across the river at UAlbany, the mandate is firmly in place.

“Given our residential setting, we know vaccination is an important tool we can use to mitigate spread,” said a spokesman for the college.

Whitaker would not comment on what will follow the grievance process, but said the faculty is committed to making sure students are being educated come the first day on Aug. 29.