Guidelines for Spring ’22

Dear Students,

Happy new year! As we prepare for the start of the spring 2022 semester, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your diligence in helping to keep the UB campus and community safe this past fall semester. The health and safety measures we took together made for a semester that was different in many ways but, in the end, successful—and for that, we are grateful.

At UB, the health and safety of our students and our entire university community is paramount. With the changing nature of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, UB officials are keeping a close eye on the spread of the omicron variant around the state and in our region. Our experts continue to monitor the latest scientific findings regarding the infectiousness of the variant and respond to the new challenges it poses.

As such, UB is updating guidelines for students in advance of the start of the spring semester, in accordance with new guidance issued by SUNY. While more details are forthcoming, please review the following points now to help you prepare for your return:

• Vaccination requirement. Students must be in compliance with SUNY’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement for the spring semester. Students new to UB must submit documentation about their COVID-19 vaccination status before they are allowed to register for courses.
• *NEW* booster requirement. All students who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are required to obtain a booster and submit documentation. This booster requirement must be met by January 31, 2022. If you are not yet eligible to receive a booster by January 31, you must obtain your booster and submit your documentation within one week of becoming eligible. More information regarding this can be found on the Return to Campus - Spring ’22 webpage.
• Return-to-campus testing requirement. All students must get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to their arrival on campus. More details on testing and submission of results will be provided soon.
• Surveillance testing requirement. Random surveillance testing will be conducted among all those with a regular physical presence on campus who have not received a booster shot. More details will follow.
• Good health behaviors. All students are advised to strictly adhere to good health practices during the winter break and throughout the next semester. That means:

- wearing a high quality, tight-fitting, high-filtration mask indoors and in public settings;
- avoiding high-risk indoor settings where mask wearing and/or vaccination is not in practice;
- frequent handwashing;
- staying home when sick;
- getting tested if symptomatic or in close contact with someone who is positive; and
- following recommended isolation and quarantine guidelines.

We will continue to communicate to students regarding back to campus guidance for the spring 2022 semester. This includes communicating developments as they unfold on UB’s COVID-19 Planning and Response site. Please check the site often for the latest authoritative guidance.

We look forward to welcoming you back to campus for the start of the spring 2022 semester. As always, the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors is of top priority. Enjoy the break safely; I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Sincerely,

Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life