JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) held a special emergency called meeting on Monday to discuss President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on mandating the coronavirus vaccines.
Monday’s motion by the board required COVID-19 vaccines for university employees, who are federal contractors or subcontractors. The motion would be in conjunction with the president’s executive order.
The board voted 9-3 in favor of the vaccine mandate. IHL leaders said prior board direction will remain in effect. Last month. the IHL Board voted against vaccine mandates.
One board member, Teresa Hubbard, attempted to postpone voting on the motion. She said members had received new information in the 11th hour and did not have enough time to review.
University employees with federal contracts must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by December 8, 2021. Currently, Mississippi’s eight public universities have 120 federal contracts with a value at $271 million.
