The University of Missouri Board of Curators met Thursday and passed two resolutions not to require vaccines for students, faculty, or staff.

The Columbia campus reinstated some masking requirements on Aug. 2 and is also requesting, but not mandating, students get vaccinated for the fall semester.

Curator Darryl Chatman of O'Fallon said the reason the board decided not to require vaccines is "we wanted to make a statement about our beliefs about personal freedom."

Mizzou does require students to show proof of two measles, mumps, and rubella/MMR vaccines (required of all students); a meningococcal vaccine (required of students living in MU-owned housing); and a tuberculosis screening (required of high-risk students). Students who do not comply with these requirements will not be allowed to register or pre-register at MU.

The surge in cases caused by the Delta variant in the state is the reason the university is instituting the masking requirement for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors regardless of vaccination status, as well as a request that students get vaccinated and upload pictures of their vaccination cards to a secure website. Those who do will be entered in drawings for prizes such as tuition discounts, dinner with head coaches, or free parking for a year.