Meningitis Vaccination Requirements

All incoming Texas college students under 22 years old must be immunized against bacterial meningitis. Students who fail to meet this requirement may be dropped from their courses or blocked from enrolling.  

Texas state law mandates that the following students be vaccinated against bacterial meningitis:

• First-time college students
• Students transferring from another institution
• Students who are re-enrolling following a break of at least one fall or spring semester
• Students previously or currently enrolled exclusively in UT Arlington online courses who enroll in a UT Arlington in-person course in subsequent session
• Individuals under age 22 who plan to audit a course

It is imperative that UT Arlington students who fall into one of the categories above and plan to enroll for the coming semester be vaccinated as soon as possible or provide documentation demonstrating that they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis within the last 5 years. Proof of vaccination is required 10 days before the start of the semester as the vaccine is considered effective several days after it is administered and to ensure that documents are processed in time to comply with the law.

Limited exemptions are specified in Texas state law. For a list of exemptions, please refer to UT Arlington’s Meningitis Requirement website.

Meningitis Vaccination and Housing

If you are required to receive the bacterial meningitis vaccination and are offered campus housing accommodations, you must comply with the meningitis vaccination requirements at least 10 days from a housing contract offer or 10 days before move in, whichever is earliest.

Students will not be permitted to move into on-campus housing until without submitting timely proof that they have complied with the meningitis vaccination law or until a full 10 days has passed since the date of their vaccination. Students who have been approved for on-campus housing and have not received a vaccination in a timely manner will be expected to pay to stay in an off-campus hotel, or make alternate arrangements for housing until the full 10 days have elapsed. In addition, non-compliant students may experience financial penalties for failure to comply with their contractual obligations.  

For answers to commonly asked questions, please visit UT Arlington's Meningitis Requirement Website or the Texas Department of State Health Services College Vaccine Requirements.

Policies Subject to Change: The University, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to make exceptions and changes to the assignment priorities and policies without prior notice and without compensation to applicants waiting for assignment to university housing.