• Seton Hall University
• Policies and Procedures

Purpose

New Jersey law requires every institution of higher education in the State to maintain certain records of students’ immunizations. This policy codifies, for Seton Hall University (the “University”) students, the immunization requirements, necessary documentation, provisional enrollment requirements, and enforcement procedures in accordance with New Jersey law.

Scope

This policy applies to all University students, who enroll full or part-time in a program or course of study leading to an academic degree. Students who are distance education students and not physically present on campus are exempted from this policy.

Definitions

A. Catch-Up Schedule: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) vaccine schedule for individuals who are behind required intervals.

Policy

A. New Jersey law requires certain University matriculated students to provide documentation of immunity to specific preventable diseases as a condition of admission to and/or continued enrollment at the University. Students who have not provided the required documentation of immunity to the University as required by this policy jeopardize their continued enrollment at the University. As a private institution, the University may impose additional immunization requirements.

B. Required Immunizations and Records. Required immunizations are detailed in the immunizations link. Students are expected to submit complete immunization records prior to the first day of classes of their entering semester. Students must provide any missing records within ten (10) days following notification from the University’s Health Services in order to be in compliance with this policy. Acceptable immunization records include:

• • Official provider record
  • NJ Immunization Information System (“NJIIS”) record
  • Docket mobile or website application record
  • Electronic medical record
  • Official immunization card signed by a provider

Self-reported records without healthcare provider verification are not acceptable records under this policy.

C. Provisional Admission/Enrollment. Students will be provisionally admitted and/or enrolled for a duration of no longer than four (4) months, if: (1) they received at least one valid dose of each immunization required by State law; and (2) they are no more than 14 days behind certain required vaccine intervals in accordance with the applicable Catch-Up Schedule; and (3) receives the remaining doses in accordance with the applicable Catch-Up Schedule; and (4) concurrently provides to the University the evidence of immunization consistent with New Jersey law. Failure to comply will result in registration hold and other potential actions as set forth in the Non-Compliance section below.

D. Exemptions. Under New Jersey law, a student may request an exemption for medical or religious reasons from the legal requirement to provide documentation of immunization. Exemptions shall be granted only as permitted under New Jersey law as detailed below.

• • Medical Exemption: any student seeking an exemption on medical grounds should submit the Medical Exemption form from Health Services, which must be fully completed and signed by the student’s licensed healthcare provider. The form must include: (1) the vaccine contraindicated; and (2) the duration of exemption (temporary or permanent). All requests for medical exemptions must be submitted through the Medicat Student Health Portal.
  • Religious Exemption: any student seeking an exemption on religious grounds should submit the Religious Exemption form from Health Services clearly stating that providing documentation of some (specifying which) or all required immunizations would violate the student’s religious beliefs. This must be signed and dated by the student. In the case of a student under age 18, the request should be signed and dated by the student’s parent or guardian. All requests for religious exemptions must be made sincerely and in good faith, and submitted through the Medicat Student Health Portal.

The University may require any student who is granted an exemption from providing documentation of required immunizations for that disease to take protective measures, potentially including, but not limited to, modifications of class schedules, revised academic or living space, or even temporary exclusion from campus. The University does not refund any tuition or fees to students who are unable to attend classes or complete coursework due to exclusion from campus for lack of immunization. Further, students who receive exemptions are required to release and hold harmless the University and its trustees, regents, officers, and employees from any liability incurred or sustained by the University which arises out of the student’s receipt of an exemption from the University.

The University has no control over, and cannot grant religious or medical exemptions to, vaccine requirements imposed by non-University entities with which students interact as part of their academic courses or for student activities (e.g. study abroad requirements, student internship or clinical experiences, or other unforeseen circumstances in which vaccine requirements may apply). Any student wishing to participate in an event or experience that carries a vaccine requirement imposed by a third-party will be required to comply with the requirement or request an exemption through the third-party’s exemption process. The University will not negotiate vaccine exemptions with third-party entities on behalf of its students and cannot be held responsible for the failure of a student to comply with third-party vaccine requirements for activities that may be required as part of their academic studies.

E. Outbreak Response Protocol. In the event the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJDOH”) determines that a suspected or confirmed vaccine-preventable disease outbreak exists, unimmunized, under-immunized, and provisionally admitted/enrolled students will not be permitted on the University premises, including, but not limited to, inside residence halls, during the suspected or confirmed vaccine-preventable disease outbreak. This prohibition from University campus includes students who have been granted an immunization exemption. Return to any University premises such as residence halls and in-person classes is contingent upon clearance from Health Services or the NJDOH. The University does not refund any tuition or fees to students who are unable to attend classes or complete coursework due to exclusion from campus for lack of immunization.

F. Non-Compliance. Students who have not provided the documentation as required by this policy jeopardize their continued enrollment at the University. Students who do not submit timely documentation will have a registration hold placed on their accounts, preventing registration for the following semester until the required documentation has been provided to the University. In addition, students may be subject to the following: cancellation of their course registration; removal from campus housing; and/or administrative withdrawal from University enrollment, among other actions. Students may not attend classes while non-compliant beyond permitted provisional timelines.

Responsible Offices

• Health Services
• Office of the Registrar
• Department of Residence Life

Approval

Approved by Monica Burnette, Ph.D., Vice President of Student Services, on May 4, 2026.

Effective Date

May 4, 2026