Notre Dame will require the COVID-19 vaccine for all faculty and staff before the beginning of the fall semester.

In a message to faculty and staff Thursday, the University said that after careful consideration and consultation with medical experts, they have decided to take the additional step of requiring all faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID, and provide verification no later than August 2.

That’s three weeks before the beginning of fall classes.

Faculty and staff may apply for an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical, religious, or other strongly held beliefs.

The school says they will also be keeping their masking protocols in place for the time being.