COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The start of the Spring 2022 semester was postponed until Monday, January 24. Classes began with a normal Monday schedule on January 24. 

On-campus housing reopened for the Spring 2022 semester at 9 a.m. Friday, January 21. The Spring 2022 move-out date is now 11 a.m. May 16 for all residential students. 

Because tuition is assessed based on credits taken and the number of credits available to students this semester is unchanged by the brief delay in the start of the term, UAlbany tuition rates for Spring 2022 are not impacted. Similarly, room and board rates are assessed on a per-semester basis. 

There will still be a Spring Break and a Reading Day, with classes ending on May 4 and final exams beginning on May 6. The dates for Commencement remain unchanged.  

Classes are being offered in person. Generally, only courses and programs that were online before the pandemic are being taught remotely. 

Review our Health & Safety and Instructor Guidance pages for more information on our academic protocols.

Housing: Only students who are fully compliant with our vaccination and testing requirements are permitted to live in on-campus housing. Residential students also must follow the Residential Life guest policy.

Dining: The State Quad dining hall, the Indigenous Quad dining hall and all retail dining locations, are open to all students, employees and guests.

Student Life: Only students who are fully compliant with our vaccination and testing requirements are permitted to participate in campus recreation (including intramural sports and campus fitness centers), club sports, intercollegiate athletics, student organizations, activities and events, and performing arts.

Visitors & Events: Visitors and event guests should not come to campus if they have possible COVID-19 symptoms.

For detailed information, please visit our Health & Safety page. This is a brief overview. 
 

All UAlbany students are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, it is recommended that all students receive a COVID-19 vaccination booster shot as soon as they are eligible.

Employees are strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster, as well. 

Review UAlbany’s vaccination requirements.
 

Masks are strongly encouraged in all places on UAlbany’s campuses, including the Campus Center, instructional spaces (classrooms, studios, labs, etc.) and most other common meeting areas, except where required below:

• Student Health Services 

• Counseling & Psychological Services 

• All areas of Alumni Quad

• Mass transit, including CDTA and UAlbany buses, per state requirement

All students and employees must also wear a mask when required due to close contact with a person with COVID-19 or by campus isolation and quarantine requirements, including in all areas on Alumni Quad. 

Note: These protocols are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions change, so please check back with this website often.

We strongly recommend unvaccinated individuals, as well as vaccinated individuals who have not yet received a COVID-19 booster, to continue wearing a mask. 

Accessibility: Alternatives are available for individuals who may need to see others’ faces or mouths to communicate. Please contact Disability Access and Inclusion Student Services (DAISS) or your Human Resources office for assistance. 

All students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, must monitor their symptoms and stay home if they are sick.  

If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, or have received a positive surveillance or diagnostic test result, do not come to campus. Follow these instructions for notifying the University. 
 

All students who have been approved for a medical or religious exemption are required to participate in weekly surveillance testing for the entire semester.

All employees who have not provided proof of full vaccination to the University, and who are coming to any UAlbany campus in any capacity, must also participate in weekly surveillance testing until they provide proof of full vaccination to the University. 
 

Students who live on campus should review our Quarantine & Isolation Instructions for Residential Students. 

All other students and all employees should review the quarantine and isolation instructions listed on our Health & Safety page. 

The University’s risk management, emergency management and public health experts are closely following all relevant data, including:

• UAlbany’s surveillance and diagnostic test results 

• Local, state and national testing and infectivity rates 

• Local, state and national vaccination rates and breakthrough infection rates 

• UAlbany’s on-campus isolation and quarantine housing capacity 

• the University’s ability to safely and effectively continue operations  

This team will continue to adjust UAlbany’s health and safety protocols according to current conditions, as they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Adjustments could include additional protocols for dining, events, recreational facilities, visitors and other aspects of campus life. Changes in protocols have been and will continue to be made incrementally, based on the health and safety of our campus community.