Preparing for the Spring '22 Semester
A student receives a COVID-19 vaccination at the University last April. All students coming onto campus must be fully vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, unless they have a religious or medical exemption. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2022) – The start of the spring semester is just days away and the University is gearing up for another safe and successful semester. With COVID-19 still prevalent throughout New York and the nation, there are a number of things to keep in mind as we all look forward to a return to bustling campus life.
- All students are required to upload proof of a negative COVID-19 test before returning to campus. Instructions can be found in the pre-arrival testing section of the Spring ’22 protocols webpage.
- Vaccination boosters are required for all eligible students coming to any UAlbany campus or facility during the Spring 2022 semester for any reason. Read the Jan. 3 announcement for more information.
- Residence halls reopen this Friday at 9 a.m.
- Spring semester classes, originally scheduled to begin yesterday, now begin Monday, Jan. 24. This change does not impact spring break, Reading Day or commencement, and extends the final exam schedule by one day.
- Students who are not yet eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster, and students who have been approved for a medical or religious exemption from vaccination, must participate in weekly surveillance testing.
- Any student who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should contact Student Health Services (SHS) and arrange for COVID-19 testing through SHS.
- The University’s indoor mask mandate and other safety protocols remain in place until further notice.
- Students and employees can call the COVID-19 hotline (518-442-2683) with any questions, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- To support our surrounding community, the former Colonial Quad dining hall is serving as a state-sponsored COVID-19 testing site. The site is operated by Quadrant Biosciences in partnership with New York State (UAlbany is not involved in the site’s day-to-day operation). Those arriving for testing use a dedicated parking lot, and a dedicated path to access the site through the exterior doors at the back of the Quad. The public does not have access to any residential space on the Quad. The dining hall also uses a different HVAC system from the Quad’s residential areas, which means there is no air exchange between the dining hall and residential spaces.
Full details of all the spring protocols are available on the Spring 2022 Pre-Arrival Instructions for Students page.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge the entire University community, the dedication and resilience of students, faculty and staff is the top reason why UAlbany has been able to continue operating safely.