Arizona governor issues executive order prohibiting universities from mandating COVID-19 tests, vaccines and masks

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey issued an executive order Tuesday that prohibits public universities and community colleges from mandating COVID-19 tests, vaccines and masks for students to participate in learning. The decision comes days after Ducey criticized a recent announcement from Arizona State University that outlined COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming school year. 

"The vaccine works, and we encourage Arizonans to take it. But it is a choice and we need to keep it that way," Ducey said in a statement. "Public education is a public right, and taxpayers are paying for it. We need to make our public universities available for students to return to learning. They have already missed out on too much learning." This week, Arizona State University's vice president of student services Joanne Vogel said in an email to students that those who have received an authorized COVID shot and who have uploaded their immunization records through a university portal will no longer have to wear face masks on campus. The university said that unvaccinated students will be selected for COVID testing and that face coverings will continue to be a requirement, as well as online daily health check uploads.