Published July 13, 2021
Colleagues:
Throughout the pandemic, UB faculty, staff, students and senior leadership have worked continuously and diligently to ensure that we are providing the best possible research and educational experience while protecting the health and safety of our campus community. I want to take this opportunity to offer special thanks to the entire campus community for your truly exceptional efforts over the past 16 months.
Thankfully, with the COVID-19 rate of infection at an all-time low in Western New York and across the state, NYS easing restrictions on masking and distancing, and venues from restaurants to theaters to concert auditoria fully reopening, in alignment with NYS and SUNY guidance, UB is looking forward to returning to a fully in-person university environment and more active and vibrant campus experience for fall 2021.
In preparation for students’ return in the fall, faculty should plan to return to campus according to their standard faculty year obligation, which for faculty with 10-month appointments will commence on August 23, 2021. We encourage you to check UB’s COVID-19 website periodically for updates regarding social distancing, mask-wearing, weekly COVID-19 testing, vaccination, ventilation and other frequently asked questions.
In navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been significant challenges but also transformative innovations in education, research and service delivery that we never imagined possible. As the university returns to a more active and vibrant campus experience, we encourage faculty to continue the innovations you have utilized during the pandemic while prioritizing in-person instruction. Many classrooms have been equipped with new technology. For faculty who have not been teaching in person this academic year, you may want to visit classrooms to familiarize yourself with this new technical equipment.
Our primary concern, as always, is the health and safety of the UB community. We will continue to monitor closely the rate of virus infection in the community and will be prepared to adjust our plans in line with the latest guidance from the CDC and our own faculty and staff experts. As we prepare to be fully in person, we strongly encourage all of our faculty, staff and students to complete their COVID-19 vaccination series as soon as possible.
I hope that all of you are having a healthy and successful summer. I look forward to welcoming all of you back in person in August.
Sincerely,
A. Scott Weber Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
