COVID-19 (coronavirus)

The Fall 2021 semester features a normal academic schedule with a traditional Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break and final exam period.   

Classes started on Monday, August 23, and the semester will end on Tuesday, December 14. To prepare, faculty and staff returned to their on-campus offices in July. 

Classes are being offered in person. 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.

For detailed information, please visit our Campus Life page. 

Housing: On-campus residence halls and apartments are open. Only students who were at least partially vaccinated, or exempted by UAlbany from being vaccinated, received a housing assignment. 

Dining: The Indigenous Quad and State Quad dining halls, as well as all retail dining locations, are open. However, only students who are at least partially vaccinated, or residential students who have been approved for an exemption, may enter the dining halls. All others, including guests, may eat in the Campus Center. 

Student Life: Students can participate in recreation, intramural sports, performing arts, athletics, student organizations, activities and events. However, participation in intercollegiate athletics and club sports, and use of the campus fitness centers, is limited to students who are at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 or who have a valid vaccination exemption. 

Visitors & Events: Visitors and events are allowed but must adhere to the University’s mask mandate and other health and safety protocols. 

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

Effective Monday, August 23, 2021, all UAlbany students are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This mandate is in effect for any UAlbany student coming to any UAlbany campus or facility for any reason during the 2021-2022 Academic Year. 

Employees are strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Review UAlbany’s vaccination requirements and instructions.
 

Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a face mask inside all buildings — unless the person is inside a private residence hall room, office, workspace with a proper barrier, workspace distanced at least six feet from any other occupied workspace, or other enclosed space where they are alone.  

Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or have not provided proof of full vaccination to the University must always wear a face mask outdoors while on any UAlbany campus.  

Individuals who are fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to wear a mask outdoors on UAlbany campuses, especially when within six feet of others.  

Review UAlbany’s mask mandate.
 

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. 

Employees who are unvaccinated, or who choose not to submit proof of vaccination, must also submit a Daily Employee Health Screening in the hour before reporting to work on campus or within an hour of reporting to campus and follow any directives that appear after submission.  
 

All exempt, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated students and employees who are coming to any of our campuses must participate in our weekly surveillance testing program until they have provided proof to the University of full vaccination.  
 

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.