Revised COVID protocols
March 25, 2022
Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:
As promised, I write to update you on Albany Law’s COVID-19 protocols following this morning’s meeting of the Public Health and Safety Committee.
Continuing our practice, the committee has closely followed the data and guidance of public health experts as we have worked toward two goals: keeping our campus community safe while simultaneously providing students as rich and vibrant an Albany Law experience as possible. We are encouraged to see consistently low COVID-19 rates on our campus and in Albany County in recent days and weeks. We are also encouraged to hear that other local campuses with relaxed masking requirements have not seen a corresponding increase in cases. We are further encouraged by the cooperation of our community in complying with booster and surveillance testing requirements, measures that make it possible to be together safely.
We are therefore ready to make a significant change to our COVID-19 health and safety protocols, bringing us closer in line with revised guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Infection (CDC).
Effective Monday, March 28, 2022, the following policies will go into effect:
Masks
Albany Law School will remain a mask friendly community, meaning that anyone who chooses to wear a mask is welcome to do so. At the same time, masks will be optional in most indoor spaces.
Faculty may require masks in individual classrooms during class time due to the proximity of many individuals for an extended period of time. Students should bring masks to all classes, and wear them unless told they are optional in a particular class.
Individuals experiencing COVID symptoms, or those who have had a close exposure should remain off campus and attend classes remotely. In the event such individuals are on campus, they must wear a mask until they have been cleared by the COVID testing team.
Continuing Surveillance and Other Testing
Our campus testing center will continue to test students and employees who are symptomatic or who have been exposed to COVID. We are also continuing weekly testing for vaccine exempt students and employees.
In addition, we will continue random surveillance testing for vaccinated individuals as a continuing preventative measure to assist in monitoring campus infection rates. Your cooperation with surveillance testing is appreciated.
The campus testing center is located in the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science’s Holland Building (HAB B209) and is open Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 3:00pm. Appointments can be scheduled using: https://acphscovidtesting.timetap.com/#/ .
Vaccination/Booster Requirements
All faculty, staff, and students, except those eligible for religious or medical exceptions, must still be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before coming to campus. Booster shots are also required for all those individuals who become eligible during the remainder of the semester.
For this reason, Albany Law School has previously added COVID-19 to the list of already required immunizations that includes Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. All students will have to present proof of vaccination before returning to campus.
Guests
The Law School is still allowing invited guests onto campus. We are not yet opened to the public.
Invited guests are still required to provide proof of vaccination and booster or a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours at entry to Public Safety.
Questions
If you have any questions please email bmeye@albanylaw.edu and ttore@albanylaw.edu.
We will continue to closely watch COVID infection rates on campus and within the Capital Region, and we will continue to adapt policies.
I know these last two years have been challenging in so many ways. I truly appreciate your continued support in our efforts to protect our community. And I can’t wait to see some of your smiling faces on Monday!
All the best,
Alicia Ouellette
President and Dean