Dear UAlbany Community:
As we enter the homestretch to the end of the fall semester, there are some important and timely updates for our pooled surveillance testing program.
First and foremost, this is the last week of routine testing for students this year. This week’s test will serve as the students’ end-of-semester requirement; those students planning to leave for the Thanksgiving break will not test next week.
During the week of November 22, the University will not follow a formalized testing schedule. Those faculty/staff working on-campus and any students approved for intersession housing must submit a sample anytime between Sunday and Tuesday at 8 am.
Post-Thanksgiving Break/Intersession
Beginning the week of November 29, any faculty and staff who will remain on campus during the intersession as well as students approved for intersession housing, including those residing in University apartments, must continue to follow their weekly test schedule. If you do not plan to be on campus during this timeframe, there is no need to pick up a kit.
Please note, during this timeframe there will be no weekly testing reminders . Per the alpha chart below and also online , please make note of your specific day to test. Should you miss your day or not be on campus, please submit your sample the next day or time you report to campus.
Las t Names Beginning With
Testing Day
Time Frame to Submit Your Saliva Sample
A to D
Sunday
between noon Sunday and 9:30 a.m. Monday
E to K
Monday
between noon Monday and 8 a.m. Tuesday
L to Q
Tuesday
between noon Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday
R to Z
Wednesday
between noon Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday
All faculty, staff and students should utilize any tubes that remain in their existing kit before securing a new one. Remember, all new kits must be registered before submitting your first sample. Registration is important so we know who to contact should a presumptive positive pool be returned.
Test kits for intersession will include eight tubes (for eight-week sample submission). If you do not plan to be on campus during intersession, there is no need to pick up a kit; spring kits will be made available late January.
Intersession Kit Pick-Up – Begins November 20
Faculty, staff and students not residing on campus but coming to campus for any reason during intersession may pick up an intersession test kit from the following locations:
Lobby of University Police Department (UPD) Building (24/7 access)
Richardson Hall 102, Outside the School of Social Welfare Dean’s Office
George Education Center 100, Outside of the School of Public Health Dean’s Office
Facilities staff must pick up their intersession test kit in SBA – see Kim Warren for additional details.
All students approved for intersession housing will receive their test kit from Residential Life staff. Those students living on Empire and Freedom who are planning to stay on campus should soon receive an email with instructions for picking up a test kit.
Sample Submission
Faculty, staff and students approved for intersession housing have access to outdoor drop-off-sites regardless of intersession building closures, including:
UAB – outside to the left of the main entryway facing University Plaza
Campus Center – outside the West entry doors near the bus stop
Campus Center – outside the podium level entry doors near the small fountain
Should you have any questions, please visit the COVID-19 website or call the COVID-19 hotline at 518-442-2683 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
Thank you again for your collective efforts to help keep our campus community healthy and safe.
Sincerely,
Andrew Berglund, Director
The RNA Institute
College of Arts & Sciences
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
albany.edu
