Northern WY Community College District Awaiting US Supreme Court Ruling On Vaccination Mandate

President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate will soon be argued in front of the nation’s highest court and the result could have an impact on not just businesses but educational facilities as well.

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it will hear oral arguments on cases that are challenging the mandate in which businesses with more than 100 employees must be vaccinated or get tested weekly and wear masks.

A lower court in Missouri had issued an injunction against the mandate for a number of states including Wyoming, saying the vaccine requirement likely exceeds the president’s power to set purchasing rules as spelled out in federal law. 

Last week the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio reinstated the mandate, prompting many opponents to ask the US Supreme Court to intervene.

Members of the Northern Wyoming Community College District are one of many that will be monitoring the situation, and await a verdict.

District President Walter Tribley says the ruling and how well the district and students comply with it, could impact not only federal dollars that the district receives, but also how much federal aid the students get to attend the colleges.

He adds that a mandate being issued by the board of trustees is not needed, because the colleges have taken the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the mandate, then the board will discuss what actions to consider.

“We would not be choosing to do any other action, including any kind of mandate of a mask or a vaccination etc…it’s just not necessary based on our local information, however, if we have orders from the federal government that we have to follow, then that’s what this discussion is about and that will very strongly involve the board if and when we have to make that decision.”

The US Supreme Court has scheduled the oral argument hearing for Friday, January 7th, but that does not mean the court will make a ruling on that same day.