What You Need to Know Before the School Year Begins 

Seats marked with X are off limits in order to keep students at least 6 feet apart. Masks must be worn during classes. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2020) — The start of the fall semester will be anything but normal this year, and a successful school year will rely on every member of the UAlbany community consistently adhering to health and safety guidelines.

That means the basics: face masks, physical distancing, reduced density in physical spaces and no large gatherings.

Before arriving for the semester, all students must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test via either a PCR or antigen test. Any test taken on or after July 26 is acceptable. Antibody test results will not be accepted. Students should upload their results beginning Friday, Aug. 7, to a portal created exclusively for students that can be accessed via MyUAlbany.

There are also specific quarantining guidelines depending on your student status.

Everyone – students, faculty and staff – is required to wear cloth face masks inside all buildings, unless the person is alone and inside a private residence hall room, office or other enclosed area. Masks also are required outdoors whenever you cannot maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others.

Students are highly discouraged from hosting and/or attending off-campus gatherings.

Adapting to a new normal

You’ll see lots of changes on campus, including new cleaning protocols and lots of hand-sanitizing stations. Many seats in classrooms and lecture halls will be marked off limits in order for students to stay at least 6 feet apart. Tape at the front of the room will mark safe distances between faculty and the class. Masks are required to be worn for the duration of all in-person classes.

Consider downloading the CBORD Mobile ID App, which will be the preferred method for contactless payment and meal swipes. You can also purchase food by credit or debit card, but cash transactions won’t be available. A new food ordering app, GET Food, is available through the CBORD app (after an initial download) and allows ordering for contactless pick-up from most campus retail locations.

Keeping the campus safe – and open – is the responsibility of every member of the campus community. Students will be required to sign a pledge agreeing to abide by the community expectations. These expectations are continually being reviewed, updated and are subject to change, so please continue to check the COVID-19 website for updates.

The entire Student Guide for the Fall 2020 return to campus is online.

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