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New System for Tracking COVID-related Student Absences 

Report of COVID-Related Student Absence Form

Dear Students,

We have created a more stream-lined system for tracking attendance for those students who need to attend classes remotely or watch class recordings due to COVID-related reasons.

Our current system requires that you receive permission in advance to attend classes remotely or receive class recordings.  This has resulted in delays in getting you access to the classes and the recordings you need.

To address this problem, we are changing the system so that the Office of Academic Affairs will monitor attendance at the back-end to ensure that students who reported COVID-related issues are marked present for the period of time they were required to attend remotely. 

Beginning Monday, September 20, faculty will post the Zoom link to their class and the link to class recordings on Canvas publicly so students who have reported COVID-related issues to Human Resources can join class remotely or watch class recordings without prior approval.  

Any student attending class via Zoom will be recorded as absent by the faculty member, or if the faculty member is using the Quickly Attendance Self-Check, students should not check in.  Once a student returns to in-person instruction, that student should fill out and submit a Report of COVID-Related Absence form (see attached) detailing the dates they attended via Zoom or attended by reviewing the class recordings.  

The Office of Academic Affairs will ascertain that the dates they attended remotely are consistent with the dates reported by Human Resources and the student’s attendance record will be changed accordingly.  If a student attends remotely and has not reported a COVID-related issue to Human Resources, their absence will stand and they will be subject to being withdrawn from the class as per our attendance rules.

The Report of COVID-Related Absence form is submitted to Katie Palmieri (Kpalm@albanylaw.edu). If an email form is submitted please use “COVID Absence Report” in the subject line. E-mailed forms must include this subject line to ensure they are properly processed.

Forms will be processed weekly on Fridays, so please do not anticipate seeing updates to your attendance record before the process day.

Also see the policies and procedures you need to follow when you have a COVID-related issue.  Please contact me if you have any questions.  Stay safe and have a good weekend.

Best,

Connie Mayer 
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Raymond and Ella Smith Distinguished Professor of Law

Student COVID-19 Policies

Students who are Fully Vaccinated

If You Experience ANY COVID-19 Symptoms 

  1. Leave (or don’t come to) Campus 
  2. Schedule a COVID test within 24 hours 
  3. Seek medical care If necessary 
  4. Self-isolate until you have your test results 
  5. Notify the school by emailing Kpalm@albanylaw.edu and hr@albanylaw.edu
  6. Attend your classes via Zoom if you are able. Otherwise watch class recordings when able. Students attending via Zoom should not check themselves in through Quickly. Your attendance record will be adjusted by the Office of Academic Affairs. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-Related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page. 
  7. Once you receive your test results follow the instructions below. 

If Your Test Result is Negative 

  1. Submit proof of a negative test through Share My health or by emailing hr@albanylaw.edu
  2. You are expected to return to class the day after you receive your negative test result unless your medical provider instructs you to continue isolating. 
  3. If your medical provider instructs you to continue isolating, contact Kpalm@albanylaw.edu
  4. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-Related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely or by viewing class recordings and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence form is also posted on the Academic Affairs portal page. 

If Your Test Result is Positive 

  1. Notify HR at hr@albanylaw.edu 
  2. Remain in self-isolation for 10 days after the date you of your positive test 
  3. Seek medical care if necessary 
  4. Attend your classes via Zoom if you are able. Otherwise watch class recordings when able. 
  5. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page. 

If You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19 

Exposure means being within 6 feet of someone with a confirmed case for at least 15 minutes. 

  1. Notify HR at hr@albanylaw.edu 
  2. Although the CDC is not requiring vaccinated individuals to self- quarantine based on exposure unless experiencing a COVID-19 symptom, Albany Law reserves the right to require exposed vaccinated individuals deemed close contacts to remain off campus until they can produce a negative COVID test taken at least 3 days after exposure. 
  3. Vaccinated individuals should monitor symptoms closely for 14 days following exposure. 
  4. Schedule a COVID test within 3-5 days after exposure and again at the end of 10 days. Submit results through Share My Health or by email to hr@albanylaw.edu
  5. Follow directions given by school officials or medical personnel regarding attendance. If you are instructed to attend remotely you will be given COVID accommodations and counted as present if in attendance by Zoom. Students attending via Zoom should not check themselves in through Quickly. Your attendance record will be adjusted by the Office of Academic Affairs. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page. 

Students who are Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated

If You Experience ANY COVID-19 Symptoms 

  1. Leave (or don’t come to) Campus 
  2. Schedule a COVID test within 24 hours 
  3. Seek medical care If necessary 
  4. Self-Isolate until you have your test results 
  5. Notify the school by emailing Kpalm@albanylaw.edu and hr@albanylaw.edu
  6. Attend your classes via Zoom if you are able. Otherwise watch class recordings when able. Students attending via Zoom should not check themselves in through Quickly. Your attendance record will be adjusted by the Office of Academic Affairs. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-Related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page. 
  7. Once you receive your test results follow the instructions below. 

If Your Test Result is Negative 

  1. Submit proof of a negative test through Share My health or by emailing hr@albanylaw.edu
  2. You are expected to return to class the day after you receive your negative test result unless your medical provider instructs you to continue isolating. 
  3. If your medical provider instructs you to continue isolating, contact Kpalm@albanylaw.edu
  4. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-Related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely or by viewing class recordings and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence form is also posted on the Academic Affairs portal page. 

If Your Test Result is Positive 

  1. Notify HR at hr@albanylaw.edu 
  2. Remain in self-isolation for 10 days after the date you of your positive test. 
  3. Seek medical care if necessary 
  4. Attend your classes via Zoom if you are able. Otherwise watch class recordings when able. 
  5. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page. 

If You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19 

Exposure means being within 6 feet of someone with a confirmed case for at least 15 minutes. 

  1. Leave (or don’t come to) Campus 
  2. Report your exposure to the school by emailing hr@albanylaw.edu
  3. Self-Quarantine for 10 days 
  4. Monitor your symptoms closely 
  5. Schedule a COVID test to be administered 3-5 days after the date of your confirmed exposure, and again after 10 days. 
  6. Submit results of your test via Share My Health or by emailing hr@albanylaw.edu
  7. Attend your classes via Zoom if you are able. Otherwise watch class recordings when able. 
  8. If your COVID test is negative, follow the instructions above for Negative Tests 
  9. If your COVID test is positive, follow the instructions above for Positive Tests 
  10. Once you are back in-person, fill out the COVID-related Absence form detailing dates you attended remotely and Academic Affairs will adjust your attendance record. The Absence Form is also posted on the Academic Affairs Portal Page.