MADISON, Wis. –University of Wisconsin System leaders are taking a unique approach to get students vaccinated ahead of the 2021 school year rather than requiring vaccinations.
UW System President Tommy Thompson announced Sunday the “70 for 70” campaign, which aims to get vaccination rates of 70% at campuses around the state. Vaccinated students who attend universities that reach that goal will be eligible for one of 70 scholarships worth $7,000 each.
“As we welcome students back to campus this fall, we want their experience to be as normal and safe as we can make it,” Thompson said. “That means students should get vaccinated, and we will incentivize it knowing that high vaccination rates are critical to our success. The ‘70 for 70’ campaign is key to helping our universities achieve higher vaccination rates, especially in the face of the looming threat the Delta variant poses.”
The way the initiative works is simple: Students who are vaccinated will let their university know they’ve gotten their shots. Once a school’s student body has reached the threshold, those vaccinated students will be entered into a drawing for a number of the 70 scholarships proportionate to the university’s enrollment. Students must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 15 to qualify for the scholarship.
If any university’s don’t reach the 70% threshold, the number of scholarships for other schools will increase.
Thompson said the UW System is opting for voluntary vaccinations to instill a sense of campus responsibility.
“Even if you order it, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going to do it,” Thompson said. “But what we’re trying to do is try to encourage, have a little fun doing it.”
Thompson said the UW System is working with student governments and other organizations to promote the campaign. Any student governments that help their university reach the benchmark will receive up to $5,000.
“If you want the college experience, vax up,” Thompson said.
The vaccination campaign is expected to cost the UW System roughly $500,000.
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