Wittenberg University has joined the  COVID-19 College Vaccination Challenge announced recently by President Joe Biden and the White House in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to vaccinate as many Americans as possible.

In signing up, participating colleges and universities agree to three key actions to aid in getting their campus community vaccinated. These include: engaging every student, faculty, and staff member; organizing the college community’s vaccine efforts; and delivering vaccine access for all.

“Since the vaccine distribution began, Wittenberg has made every effort to encourage our students, faculty, and staff to be vaccinated, recognizing that the more people who are vaccinated, the safer our campus will be and the more we can begin to return to the residential living and learning experience that sets Wittenberg apart,” said Wittenberg President Michael L. Frandsen, Ph.D. “President Biden’s recent call to action aligns well with our own goals, and we are proud to join in the national effort.”

In a recent statement on the whitehouse.gov website, President Biden pointed out that “while a significant portion of older generations have received the shot, younger Americans lag behind. It is time for younger generations to get their shot. We’re all in this together: Ensuring that young people join their parents and grandparents and get vaccinated will not only keep them safe, but it will also protect their families and communities by reducing the risk of giving the virus to someone else. Everyone has a role to play in ending this pandemic, including your college or university.”

Wittenberg joins 16 other Ohio colleges and universities in accepting the challenge. To see full list, click here. Also look for messages on social media with the hashtags #COVIDCollegeChallenge and #WeCanDoThis, and learn more about the new effort to encourage and support vaccinations across higher education at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/COVIDCollegeChallenge/