We are excited to announce certain amendments to Albany Law School’s COVID19 Campus Plan that will allow for more in-person activities on campus in the coming weeks. These changes were agreed upon by leadership and the public health and safety committee and will allow the law school to expand in-person and on-campus activities. With these changes comes a renewed responsibility to remain vigilant as we approach the end of the spring semester and the start of the summer semester. The law school is preparing to open our campus in some long-awaited ways in the coming weeks.
Welcoming Invited External Guests for Educational Purposes: Beginning April 5, Albany Law School will welcome external guests to campus by invitation only. Faculty members, student organizations, and law school departments may invite guests to visit campus for specific purposes. These visits include guests for in-person classes, mentoring and interviewing in the career center, invitations by student clubs, and groups for educational programs. Each external guest will be required to present proof of a negative COVID test taken within 7 days of entry or proof of complete vaccination (two weeks after the last dose), wear masks and maintain distance on campus, and answer the attestation questions prior to entry. Documentation should be sent to hr@albanylaw.edu. The law school will no longer require proof of a negative test for invited guests who are fully vaccinated.
Expanded Outdoor Group Activities for Students, Faculty, and Staff: Students, faculty, and staff may now hold outdoor group gatherings in the courtyard or under the tent (available after April 5), including those at which food or beverages are served, provided they adhere to the following safety protocols:
- Food and beverages must be served in single-serving containers. Buffets and shared platters are prohibited.
- Participants must wear masks when not eating or drinking.
- Participants must sanitize tables before and after use.
- Gatherings are limited to 50 people in the courtyard and 36 in the tent.
- Gatherings will be limited to students, faculty, and staff who have been approved to access campus.
Any group seeking permission to hold a gathering should submit an application to administrative services. Applications must include specifics about the purpose for the gathering and safety protocols.
Even as we begin to open the campus, the Albany Law community must continue to share responsibility for the safety of every community member. We will continue to protect one another by completing the daily health questions, practicing physical distancing, wearing masks, washing our hands, and staying home if you are sick.
In addition, the law school will continue surveillance testing for our on-campus personnel, staff, students, and faculty each week. All community members, including those who have been fully vaccinated, are required to get tested when selected for surveillance testing. Such testing will allow the law school to be sure that safety measures—including vaccines—are working as intended.
The law school is looking forward to returning to in-person learning and student life in the fall. Vaccinations are key to a safe return to a more traditional on-campus experience. When our community is vaccinated, we can do more, safely, together. As we move forward, we will continue to review and act on the latest public health guidance to determine the best course of action for the law school. We will continue to communicate to the community as we know more. Until then, we will continue to use guidance from the CDC, the Governor’s office, as well as the best available health guidance from our partners at the Albany County Health Department and The Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
- Public Health and Safety Team
