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St. Edward's University, a private school in Austin that receives funding from the state in the form of student aid, had previously announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students and faculty. But it amended its policy in response to Abbot's executive order. St. Edward's students can now exempt themselves without explanation.

In Florida, only one private college in the state has announced a vaccine mandate. Nova Southeastern University said it would require all students and employees returning to campus be vaccinated by Aug. 1, with exceptions made for medical reasons and for those \"who have sincerely held religious beliefs (not personal beliefs).\"

One day after Nova Southeastern made the announcement, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis took the school by surprise when he signed an executive order, like Abbott's, banning institutions from requiring vaccines.

University spokesperson Joe Donzelli said in a statement to ABC News that the school is moving forward with plans to enforce its vaccine requirement notwithstanding the governor's order, \"while our administrative team continues to evaluate the best way to keep our community as safe as possible while following the law.\"

\"PHOTO:
Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: Pharmacy student Jason Rodriguez administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Larry Grier at the Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center in Miami, April 15, 2021.
>

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the University of California and California State University announced last week that they intend to require COVID-19 vaccinations for all students and employees returning to campus in the fall -- but will only do so once the FDA gives formal approval to a vaccine. The public university system of Maryland announced a similar measure on Friday. As with vaccine mandates, schools across the country also have varying regulations when it comes to COVID-19 testing.

On the legal front, there are currently two lawsuits playing out that challenge the right to mandate vaccines approved under emergency authorizations: One brought by a corrections officer in New Mexico and one by Los Angeles Unified School District employees.

Reiss says other anti-vaccination groups are waiting in the wings to protest the legality of mandates, but she argued that schools \"absolutely\" have the right to require vaccines, based on the large number of vaccine mandates schools currently have in place. One survey of 100 four-year institutions found that almost 85% already mandate vaccines for measles, mumps, and rubella.

\"Once a vaccine is approved in full, I think you'll see more universities hearing from their legal counsel giving the OK to mandate them,\" Reiss said.

\"PHOTO:
Dan Koeck/Reuters, FILE
PHOTO: Empty vials of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are pictured in a kidney dish at a rest stop near Drayton, N.D., April 21, 2021.
>

Jim Malatras, chancellor of the State University of New York -- the nation's largest higher education system -- said he's leaving the decision to the students for now, but will reevaluate the situation as the fall semester approaches.

\"Students we've spoken to on campus visits are eager to get the vaccine and to help put an eventual end to this pandemic,\" SUNY spokesperson Holly Liapis told ABC News. \"We firmly believe the vast majority will choose to get vaccinated without any requirement in place.\"

But Reiss argues that it's the responsibility of schools to officially mandate vaccines as opposed to simply recommending them.

\"If we have vulnerable students or vulnerable faculty, we can't just trust the kindness of other students to protect them,\" she said.

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