Town Hall and Email Archive

UAB Students,

Please read the following important information about COVID and flu vaccines.

Student Health Services has received the new “bivalent” COVID-19 booster vaccine and can begin administering immediately. Students can self-schedule a free COVID-19 booster vaccination through the Student Health Patient Portal.

The updated bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine targets the most recent Omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5) that are more contagious and more resistant than earlier strains of Omicron. The updated booster can strengthen protection that has decreased since previous vaccinations and provides broader protection against newer variants.

All people age 12 and up are eligible for the booster if it has been at least two months since their original COVID vaccination series (the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson) or their last booster.

The new bivalent formulation will be used for all booster doses. The original formulation will be used for the initial COVID vaccination series only, which is also available at SHS. Students can also self-schedule an initial COVID-19 vaccination series through the Student Health Patient Portal.

Click here to learn more about the updated COVID-19 booster.

Schedule your flu shot now

Flu shots for UAB students are now available at Student Health Services and can be scheduled through the Student Health Patient Portal.

It is safe and effective to receive both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same visit, if eligible and preferred.

Thank you,

Mike Faircloth, M.D.
Medical and Laboratory Director
Student Health and Wellness

UAB Students,

Please read the following important information about COVID and flu vaccines.

Student Health Services is scheduled to receive the updated “bivalent” COVID-19 booster vaccine, which targets the most recent Omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5) that are more contagious and more resistant than earlier strains of Omicron, within the next two weeks. Once the vaccine has been received, additional messaging will be forthcoming.

The updated booster can strengthen protection that has decreased since previous vaccinations and provides broader protection against newer variants. All people ages 12 and up are eligible for the booster if it has been at least two months since their original COVID vaccination series (the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson) or their last booster.

The new bivalent formulation will be used for all booster doses. The original formulation will be used for the initial COVID vaccination series only; SHS has a current supply and is happy to begin the series now. Students can self-schedule a COVID-19 vaccination through the Student Health Patient Portal.

Click here to learn more about the updated COVID-19 booster.

Schedule your flu shot now

Flu shots for UAB students are now available at Student Health Services and can be scheduled through the Student Health Patient Portal.

Thank you,

Mike Faircloth, M.D.
Medical and Laboratory Director
Student Health and Wellness

UAB Community,

Please read the following important information about COVID and flu vaccines.

Beginning today, patients and employees may receive an updated “bivalent” COVID-19 booster vaccine, which targets the most recent Omicron subvariants (BA.4 and BA.5) that are more contagious and more resistant than earlier strains of Omicron.

The updated booster also can strengthen protection that has decreased since previous vaccinations and provides broader protection against newer variants. All people ages 12 and up are eligible for the booster if it has been at least two months since their original COVID vaccination series (the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine or the one-dose Johnson & Johnson) or their last booster.

Employees can receive the updated booster with no appointment necessary at the following UAB Medicine Injection Clinics:

The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital, Second Floor Clinic

• 2000 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Monday-Friday (closed on Saturday and Sunday)
• 8 am-4:15 pm
• Park in parking deck and take elevator to the second floor

UAB Hospital-Highlands

• 1201 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
• Monday-Friday (closed on Saturday and Sunday)
• 8 am-4:15 pm
• Park in the patient parking lot or deck and enter through the main entrance. Proceed to the first-floor media center.

The new bivalent formulation will be used for all booster doses. The original formulation will be used for the initial COVID vaccination series only.

Click here to learn more about the updated COVID-19 booster.

Flu shots available beginning Oct. 3

Free flu shots for all UAB employees will be available at Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium beginning Oct. 3, according to the schedule listed below. You must bring your ID badge to receive the vaccine.

• Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Sunday: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (Oct. 9, 23, and 30)

Click here to learn more about this process.

Thank you,

Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Vice President Clinical Support Services
UAB Medicine

UAB community,

Throughout the pandemic, UAB has maintained robust reporting, contact-tracing and active case management of positive COVID-19 cases, long after other institutions ended similar activity.

As the virus has waned in our highly vaccinated campus population and the community around us, UAB infectious disease and public health experts agree that now is a reasonable time to adjust certain protocols to be consistent with our traditional cold/flu precautions.

Recent COVID variants, although highly transmissible, typically produce less severe effects — especially among those who are vaccinated. Cases at the university and hospitalizations at UAB Hospital remain steady at rates well below previous surges. Among inpatients at UAB Hospital, the number of those requiring a ventilator remains particularly low.

Readily available testing and effective treatments also are increasingly instrumental in containing the spread of disease and severity of symptoms, and data now suggests it is reasonable for UAB to redirect Student Health efforts and resources to areas of greater and continuing need, including mental health support services.

In short, we are moving into a new phase of COVID response for our student population and will adjust protocols accordingly. The following applies to the university setting; at this time, UAB Medicine is maintaining COVID protocols in the healthcare setting.

Beginning with the first day of classes, Aug. 22, students are encouraged to manage COVID illness as they typically would for other infectious diseases, such as flu or strep throat — with Student Health or other primary health care provider, self-reporting any recommended precautions or limitations to their instructor.

UAB Student Health is making these changes to COVID protocol:

• Student Health will not manage contact-tracing and notification of close contacts; students who are positive should notify their close contacts.
• Students who test positive through Student Health or upload an outside positive test (at home or outside clinician) through the Patient Portal will continue to receive follow-up messaging through the portal with CDC-recommended instructions for next actions, including when to return to class and campus activities; this document can be shared with instructors if the student chooses to or is required to per class attendance policy.
• Individual positive COVID cases will no longer be reported to faculty (for a student in their class), and the related follow-up clearance notification is also discontinued.
• Active case management will be limited to those at heightened risk for severe illness who may need assistance.
• We strongly encourage students to continue to upload a positive COVID test to the Student Health Patient Portal.

We realize that some in our community may be uncomfortable as we enter new stages of COVID management, but this is a sound strategy — consistent with public health best practices — given the current state of COVID. We will continue to monitor and assess data carefully and adjust protocols as needed to promote safety.

For your benefit and the well-being of others, we continue to recommend these precautions:

• Get vaccinated and boosted: Vaccines are effective at protecting against severe disease, and the vaccines in the pipeline are expected to be even more effective. They are available on campus by appointment.
• Get tested: If you suspect you have contracted COVID, use an at-home test or contact Student Health, Employee Health or your primary health care provider.
• Get treated: Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies have made COVID a more manageable illness. If you test positive and are symptomatic, seek treatment to help stop or slow the progression of disease.
• Get comfortable with your surroundings: UAB is a mask-optional campus, not a mask-free campus. People concerned with the prevalence of low- and non-symptomatic cases are welcome to wear face coverings like KN95 masks to enhance their personal safety.

Please note that notification protocols for supervisors of COVID-positive employees are not changing at this time. Look to official emails, including eReporter, for guidance and updates on our policies and protocols regarding COVID.

As public health, infectious disease and university health professionals, we will stay vigilant in following the evolving pandemic and ensure that UAB decision makers have the right data, projections and context to make the best decisions for our campus community.

#UABUnited,
Michael Faircloth, M.D.
UAB Student Health Services

Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D.
UAB Division of Infectious Diseases

Suzanne Judd, Ph.D.
UAB School of Public Health

Blazers,

Throughout the pandemic, UAB has maintained robust reporting, contact-tracing and active case management of positive COVID-19 cases, long after other institutions ended similar activity.

As the virus has waned in our highly vaccinated campus population and in the community around us, UAB infectious disease and public health experts agree that now is a reasonable time to adjust protocols to be consistent with our traditional cold/flu precautions.

Recent COVID variants, although highly transmissible, typically produce less severe effects — especially among those who are vaccinated. Cases at the university and at UAB Hospital remain steady at rates well below previous surges. Among inpatients at UAB Hospital, the number of those requiring a ventilator remains particularly low.

Readily available testing and effective treatments also are increasingly instrumental in containing the spread of disease and severity of symptoms, and data now suggests it is reasonable for UAB to redirect limited Student Health efforts and resources to areas of greater and continuing need, including mental health support services.

In short, we are moving into a new phase of COVID response and should adjust protocols accordingly. The following applies to the university setting; at this time, UAB Medicine is maintaining COVID protocols in the healthcare setting.

Beginning with the first day of classes, Aug. 22, students are encouraged to manage COVID illness as they typically would with cold/flu — with Student Health or other primary health care provider, self-reporting any recommended precautions or limitations to their instructor. We strongly encourage students to continue to upload a positive COVID test to the Student Health Patient Portal.

UAB Student Health is making these changes:

• Individual positive COVID cases will no longer be reported to faculty (for a student in their class), and the related follow-up clearance notification is also discontinued.
• Students who test positive through Student Health or upload an outside positive test (at home or outside clinician) through the Patient Portal will continue to receive follow-up messaging through the portal with CDC-recommended instructions for next actions, including when to return to class and campus activities; this document can be shared with instructors if the student chooses to or is required to per class attendance policy.
• Student Health will not manage contact-tracing and notification of close contacts; students who are positive should notify their close contacts.
• Active case management will be limited to those at heightened risk for severe illness who may need assistance.

We realize that some of you may be uncomfortable as we enter new stages of COVID management, but this is a sound strategy — consistent with public health best practices — given the current state of COVID. We will continue to monitor and assess data carefully and adjust protocols as needed to promote safety. For your benefit and the well-being of others, we continue to recommend these precautions:

• Vaccines: Vaccines are effective at protecting against severe disease, and the vaccines in the pipeline are expected to be even more effective. They are available on campus by appointment.
• Tests: If you suspect you have contracted COVID, use an at-home test or contact Student Health or your primary health care provider.
• Treatments: Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies have made COVID a more manageable illness. If you test positive and are symptomatic, seek treatment to help stop or slow the progression of disease.
• Masks: UAB is a mask-optional campus, not a mask-free campus. People concerned with the prevalence of low- and non-symptomatic cases are welcome to wear face coverings like KN95 masks to enhance their personal safety.
• Isolation: If you test positive for COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you stay home for at least five (5) days and isolate from others. If you have symptoms, you should contact Student Health and follow CDC guidelines for ending isolation. Do not return to class if you are still ill.

Look to official emails, including GreenMail, for guidance and updates on our policies and protocols regarding COVID. As always, you can learn more about UAB COVID measures at uab.edu/uabunited.

As public health, infectious disease and university health professionals, we will stay vigilant in following the evolving pandemic and ensure that UAB decision makers have the right data, projections and context to make the best decisions for our campus community.

#UABUnited,
Michael Faircloth, M.D.
UAB Student Health Services

Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D.
UAB Division of Infectious Diseases

Suzanne Judd, Ph.D.
UAB School of Public Health

UAB University Community,

We continue to monitor the pandemic and make data-driven recommendations to guide UAB COVID-19 safety protocols. While cases are on the rise in the community, there is good news:

• Hospitalizations remain low
• The most common COVID variant – while spread easily – is often less severe
• Vaccinations are widely available and largely effective against severe disease
• The UAB campus community is vaccinated at a higher rate than the community at large
• Treatments like Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies are now widely available
• COVID tests – including free at-home tests – are widely available
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Data Tracker shows most of Alabama – including Jefferson County – in its GREEN (low community level) category

As a result of these factors and others, UAB plans to maintain our mask-optional policy in non-clinical university facilities at this time. Future decisions regarding masking will consider CDC data, as well as additional relevant data. Consequently, the university policy may not change simultaneously with a change in Jefferson County’s transmission category in the CDC Tracker.

Please continue to read official UAB emails, including e-Reporter and Greenmail announcements, to stay up to date.

We are moving into a different phase of managing the pandemic in which we have more knowledge and tools than ever. From vaccines to masking, individuals can make decisions based on their personal risk factors and comfort levels, and there are many good reasons individuals may choose to wear a mask.

We ask members of the campus community to respect the decisions others make and be considerate of others in keeping with our Shared Values.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, MD
UAB Employee Health

Michael Faircloth, MD
UAB Student Health Services

Jeanne Marrazzo, MD
UAB Division of Infectious Diseases

Suzanne Judd, PhD
UAB School of Public Health

Dear university community,
2022 is off to a promising start. We’ve celebrated groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings, breakthroughs, milestones, and a championship, among other student, faculty and staff achievements. For example, 10 UAB students were named Fulbright semifinalists this month, another five participated in the Clinton Global Initiative University annual meeting, and we anticipate more great things to come.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to make our success possible.

We expect summer semester COVID safety measures to remain similar to those in place during the spring, allowing the on-campus experiences we know increase student success. The availability of COVID testing for students and employees and free vaccines will combine with measures such as contact tracing, active case monitoring and air filtration to promote on-campus safety.

Students should continue to report positive cases to Student Health Services, and faculty and staff should continue to report positive cases to Employee Health. Notification of positive cases to instructors and/or supervisors will be handled as it was during the spring semester.

COVID remains low in the hospital and university. Last week, we saw four COVID cases among students and six among university employees. On Monday, UAB Hospital was down to five active cases among inpatients, with one in the ICU.

With cases this low, updates to the UA System COVID-19 dashboard will discontinue; but we will continue to work closely with public health, infectious disease and university health experts to monitor variants, transmission rates and hospitalizations, and we will adjust our health and safety strategies as needed to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Please continue to read official UAB communications — including GreenMail for students and eReporter for employees — to stay aware of the latest information and guidance. Any changes will be communicated directly and posted online at uab.edu/uabunited.

#UABUnited
Ray Watts
President

Effective March 18, 2022, all University of Alabama at Birmingham and UAB Medicine clinical and non-clinical employees — along with trainees and students — are no longer required to complete the daily electronic Healthcheck.

The requirement ended for UAB students, faculty and staff in non-clinical areas in May, 2021. With today’s announcement, the Healthcheck requirement has now ended for all of UAB.

To stop receiving the daily text message reminders, YOU MUST TAKE ACTION.

To stop Healthcheck text messages, simply reply STOP to your Healthcheck text beginning March 18. Alternatively, you can choose to not respond to your Healthcheck text messages for six consecutive days, and the texts will stop thereafter.

While COVID-19 cases continue to decrease across our community, we must remain vigilant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our facilities. Employees should continue to self-screen prior to work to ensure:

• You are NOT COVID-positive
• You DO NOT have possible COVID symptoms
• You have NOT been in close contact with someone with COVID

If any of the above applies to you, please complete the Employee Symptom and Exposure form. Employee Health will help determine if COVID-19 testing is needed and provide guidance on any requirement for quarantine or isolation.

Thank you for your participation in Healthcheck. We applaud your efforts to keep our students, patients and employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

#uabunited

UAB campus community,

Effective immediately, UAB no longer requires masks to be worn inside non-clinical university buildings, except:

• UAB Medicine employees should continue to follow UAB Medicine-specific guidance
• Individuals are still required to wear a mask in accordance with CDC guidance, including:
  • Following an isolation period after a positive test (i.e., wear a mask for five days when around people following the isolation period)
  • After an unvaccinated person’s close-contact exposure to a COVID-positive individual (i.e., wear a mask for five days following the exposure)
• Masks are not required in university meetings, events, classrooms or laboratories unless there is a non-COVID environmental health and safety policy or guideline that otherwise requires a mask for the setting or activity being performed
• In university buildings that have both clinical and non-clinical areas (e.g., schools of Dentistry and Optometry), masks are required where patient care is being delivered and in patient-facing areas (including common areas like lobbies and waiting areas)

Jefferson County is now within the mask-optional range according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as COVID-19 cases, disease severity and hospitalizations have continued to decline, and new effective antiviral treatments are available.

At UAB, the number of positive cases among students and employees has dropped significantly since the start of the year as our already-high vaccination rate has continued to climb far beyond that of the surrounding community. UAB Hospital has also seen a dramatic decrease in active COVID cases, dropping to 8 in the ICU and 27 in acute care settings on March 4.

As a Health Promoting University, we will continue to lead during this recovery by making data-driven decisions and approaching COVID as a manageable public health challenge. We’ve come a long way and learned a lot about this virus, and we can safely implement this mask-optional policy while transmission and hospitalizations remain low, and we have readily available vaccines, tests and treatments.

We know some of you will be wary about this policy change and may choose to wear a well-fitting mask for many good reasons, including a weak immune system, a friend or family member at greater risk, an inability to get vaccinated, or simply for personal comfort and peace of mind. Whatever you choose to do, this is a significant change after two years of masking. Please respect each individual’s choice.

The UAB COVID Incident Command Committee will continue to meet and monitor the data; if another surge occurs, temporary required masking may return.

UAB students, faculty and staff should continue to follow other COVID-19 safety precautions outlined on the UAB United website, including staying home if sick and guidance regarding reporting symptoms and exposures and testing. We encourage everyone to protect themselves with free vaccines available on campus, Monday through Friday.

Continue to look to official UAB communications for updates as policies evolve. Any changes in UAB safety protocols will be posted on the UAB United site.

#UABUnited,

Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
VP for Clinical Operations, UAB Health System
Director of UAB Employee Health

Michael Faircloth, M.D.
Director of UAB Student Health Services

Suzanne Judd, Ph.D.
Professor and Epidemiologist, UAB School of Public Health
Director of the Lister Hill Center of Health Policy

Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D.
Director of the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases

UAB Medicine community,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its guidance, COVID-19 Community Levels, to allow masking rules to be relaxed or suspended in many public settings based on hospitalization and community transmission levels. This guidance does not apply in health care settings.

Masks continue to be required where patient care is being delivered and in all patient-facing spaces such as common areas, lobbies, elevators, and waiting areas in all UAB Medicine facilities.

UAB Medicine has incorporated the community transmission rates and the CDC’s infection prevention and control recommendation for health care workers into the UAB Medicine COVID-19 Operations and Safety Procedures guide. It includes key triggers to direct decisions on masking, in-person meetings, distancing, and more. It also indicates when employees may go without masks in non-patient-facing areas within UAB Medicine facilities.

UAB Medicine safety precautions are guided by experts in infectious diseases, infection prevention, and public health. These experts monitor the latest data-driven recommendations of the CDC and Alabama Department of Public Health, and we adapt our processes to limit exposure and prevent the spread of disease to our patients, employees, and community.

Effective today, UAB no longer requires masks to be worn inside academic university buildings. The UAB Medicine Operations and Safety Procedures guide also allows for optional masking in the non-clinical office spaces in UAB Medicine facilities, as Jefferson County is currently in the “Yellow-Medium” risk category. Again, masks must be worn at all times where there is direct patient care and in common areas in clinical buildings. The University masking guidance can be followed when visiting academic campus facilities.

Continue to look to official UAB Medicine communications for updates as policies evolve. Any changes to the UAB Medicine COVID-19 Operations and Safety Procedures guide will be posted on ONE.

Thanks,

Sarah Nafziger, MD
VP for Clinical Operations, UAB Health System
Director, UAB Employee Health

Rachael Lee, MD, MSPH
UAB Healthcare Epidemiologist
Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases

UAB campus community,

We continue to monitor COVID data on and off campus, as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance. Last Friday, the CDC updated its masking guidance, but Jefferson County remains in an area where indoor masking is recommended.

For now, masks remain required inside UAB buildings. However, we anticipate moving to a mask-optional policy for the university’s non-clinical facilities in the near future, maybe as early as next week.

UAB public health and infectious disease experts point to encouraging data as we actively consider optional masking under revised CDC guidance:

• Jefferson County is no longer in the “High Transmission” category, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health
• Vaccination rates among UAB students, faculty and staff far exceed those in the broader community, and safe and effective vaccines remain readily available — make an appointment
• COVID cases among UAB students, faculty and staff continue to decline rapidly
• Effective treatments for COVID — including new antivirals — are more readily available
• In late February, the number of COVID-positive patients in the UAB Hospital ICU dropped to 13, and the total number of COVID-positive inpatients dropped to 40
• 40 percent of COVID-positive patients in UAB Hospital are not from Jefferson County
• A well-fitting KN95 mask is an effective personal safety option for individuals who wear them

If these trends continue as expected, UAB School of Public Health Epidemiologist Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., and Division of Infectious Diseases Director Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., think we are days — not weeks — away from safely making masks optional on campus.

In the meantime, please continue to wear masks indoors at UAB, and continue to read official UAB emails for updates as we make data-driven decisions to maintain safety.

#UABUnited

UAB Medicine employees,

Thank you for all you do to serve our patients who count on us to deliver on our vital mission. It is extraordinary how you and the UAB Medicine community continue to adapt as the pandemic evolves.

As you may be aware, there is an important update about the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine requirement for health care workers.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the CMS requirement that workers in U.S. health care facilities must be vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result, UAB Medicine’s requirement for health care workers — which was paused — must be reinstated: The first shot of the vaccine must be received by Feb. 14 — or you must have submitted a request for a medical, disability or religious exemption. If you receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, you must receive a second shot by March 15 unless you have an approved exemption on file.

Because this vaccine is mandated by the federal government, UAB does not have flexibility in its application or enforcement of this rule.

We continue to interpret the law and will provide additional guidance to health care workers who are required to be vaccinated under the CMS rule. We will notify you in the coming days if you are required to get a vaccine and are not yet compliant, so please continue to read official UAB emails.

In the meantime, you can:

• Confirm that Employee Health has a record of your vaccination and/or upload your documentation
• Request a medical, disability or religious exemption
• Schedule a vaccine appointment

At this time, the CMS requirement for health care workers is the only mandate moving forward. The requirements for federal contractors and large employers have been paused by the courts. If that changes, we will let you know.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

#UAB United
Sarah Nafziger, M.D., MSHA
Vice President of Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

Blazers,

Being able to provide you great educational and other opportunities during the struggles of the pandemic is a great source of pride across the UAB community we hope you share. While we had hoped to lift some of our COVID safety restrictions in the new year, current circumstances make it necessary to keep them in place when the spring semester begins Jan. 10.

Unfortunately, starting a semester during a COVID surge is not new to us; but our continuing safety measures like testing, masking, vaccinations, air filtration and enhanced cleaning protocols, timely and effective isolation/quarantine protocols and contact tracing, event approvals, and visitor registration protocols have allowed us to accomplish so much together.

Thank you for all you have done to make that possible.

We know in-person learning and an on-campus experience improve student success, so it remains important that we maintain those opportunities while implementing safety measures that have proved to be effective in reducing COVID transmission.

As such, we expect the spring 2022 semester to look much like the fall of 2021.

UAB will require masks indoors on campus regardless of vaccination status. Cloth masks have offered effective protection, and experts point to a lack of scientific evidence to support media speculation that a KN95 mask is needed to protect against the omicron variant. While a well-fitting KN95 mask offers added safety, a cloth mask (preferably a thick one) is an acceptable choice to remain compliant with the university’s requirement in non-clinical settings.

Regardless of the type of mask you wear, we strongly encourage vaccination. Although omicron is highly contagious, it generally causes less severe illness compared to other variants — especially among people who take advantage of widely available, free, safe and effective COVID vaccines. Fortunately, the UAB community has a high vaccination rate. In late 2021, we reached more than 90% of employees vaccinated and at least 74% of students with at least one shot, and we continue to learn of more vaccinated students and employees. If you haven’t been vaccinated, consider making an appointment today.

If you are vaccinated and haven’t uploaded your documentation and/or confirmed it is on file with Student Health Services, please do so now, as this information plays an integral role in our decision-making.

The omicron variant has pushed Jefferson County and Alabama into the CDC’s high community-transmission category in recent weeks, so we expect continued challenges as the current surge peaks. Please be aware that we may experience disruptions. Enhanced safety measures — including possible temporary restrictions on certain events and gatherings — may become necessary, and absences due to isolation and quarantine could be significant. We are working closely with public health, infectious disease and college health experts to monitor changes in viral variants, transmission rates and hospitalizations, and we will adjust our health and safety strategies as needed to protect the campus community.

In-person student events will not be allowed for now. In addition, all off-campus student events organized by or for a student or student organization are STRICTLY PROHIBITED, absent special approval from the vice president of Student Affairs. Learn more.

Don’t forget to take advantage of resources available to you:

• Please make an appointment with Student Health Services if you have COVID concerns or need to use any of our comprehensive primary care services, including eye care.
• Testing is available for any student who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Use the Student COVID Screening Survey for reporting and to receive guidance from Student Health Services.
• If you receive a positive test outside of UAB (including an at-home test), alert Student Health Services using the Student COVID Screening Survey.
• Student Housing will share safety protocols with residential students, and isolation suites are available for residential students who test positive and do not have the ability to isolate off campus.
• Free vaccines are available on campus all day Monday through Friday for any student who wants them. Book an appointment online.

As a campus community, we have adapted together throughout the pandemic to promote safety, and we ask for your continued commitment to remain flexible as we manage this fluid situation. Please continue to read official UAB communications — including GreenMail every Wednesday — to stay aware of the latest information and guidance.

We are working to schedule a virtual town hall in the near future to provide more information and answer any questions you may have. Look for the date and time in an upcoming edition of GreenMail.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for a safe and successful new year.

#UABUnited

UAB university community,
Delivering on our mission during the pandemic has been a great source of pride across UAB. And while we had hoped to be closer to normal operations by now, current circumstances require that we keep safety measures in place as we begin 2022.

Unfortunately, starting a semester during a COVID surge is not new to us; but our continuing safety measures like testing, masking, vaccinations, air filtration and enhanced cleaning protocols, event approvals, and visitor registration protocols have allowed us to accomplish so much together.

Thank you for all you have done to make that possible.

We know in-person learning and an on-campus experience improve student success, so it remains important that we maintain those opportunities while implementing safety measures that have proved to be effective in reducing COVID transmission.

As such, we expect the spring 2022 semester to look much like the fall of 2021.

UAB will require masks indoors on campus regardless of vaccination status. Cloth masks have offered effective protection, and experts point to a lack of scientific evidence to support media speculation that a KN95 mask is needed to protect against the omicron variant. While a well-fitting KN95 mask offers added safety, a cloth mask (preferably a thick one) is an acceptable choice to remain compliant with the university’s requirement in non-clinical settings.

Regardless of the type of mask you wear, we strongly encourage vaccination. Although omicron is highly contagious, it generally causes less severe illness compared to other variants — especially among people who take advantage of widely available, free, safe and effective COVID vaccines. Fortunately, the UAB community has a high vaccination rate. In late 2021, we reached more than 90% of employees vaccinated and at least 74% of students with at least one shot, and we continue to learn of more vaccinated students and employees. If you haven’t been vaccinated, consider making an appointment today.

If you are vaccinated and haven’t uploaded your documentation and/or confirmed it is on file with Employee Health, please do so now, as this information plays an integral role in our decision-making.

We are working closely with public health and infectious disease experts to monitor changes in viral variants, transmission rates and hospitalizations, and we will adjust our health and safety strategies as needed to protect the campus community. Learn more at uab.edu/uabunited.

The omicron variant has pushed Jefferson County and Alabama into the CDC’s high community-transmission category in recent weeks, so we expect continued challenges as the current surge peaks.

Please be aware that we may experience disruptions. Enhanced safety measures — including possible temporary restrictions on certain events and gatherings — may become necessary, and absences due to isolation and quarantine could be significant. Chairs or supervisors in any academic or administrative units that experience significant absences in their area due to student, faculty or staff illness should alert their dean or vice president to allow for a timely review and response before changes are made in class format or working schedules.

As a campus community, we have adapted together throughout the pandemic to promote safety, and we ask for your continued commitment to remain flexible as we manage this fluid situation. Please continue to read official UAB communications — including eReporter every Tuesday and Friday — to stay aware of the latest information and guidance.

Don’t forget to take advantage of resources available to you:

• New process for Employee Testing: Employees who are experiencing COVID symptoms or had a COVID exposure MUST complete the Employee Exposure or Experiencing Symptoms Form. After completing the form, those who are symptomatic please go to the UAB Hospital-Highlands parking deck testing site for a COVID test. It is open Sunday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. You do not have to wait to be contacted by Employee Health to get tested. Those without symptoms, follow guidance from Employee Health about possible testing. Students who have been exposed, have symptoms or test positive outside of UAB should be referred to Student Health Services.
• Free vaccines are available on campus all day Monday through Friday for anyone who wants them.
• If you need to, request an accommodation through UAB’s AWARE program or access services of the Employee Assistance and Counseling Center.

We are working to schedule a virtual town hall in the near future to provide more information and answer your questions. Look for the date and time in an upcoming edition of The eReporter.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for a safe and successful new year.

#UABUnited

UAB community,

In accordance with updated CDC guidelines, UAB will shorten the isolation and quarantine times following a close-contact exposure or a positive COVID test for individuals who recover quickly. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that most of the COVID-19 transmission occurs early in the course of illness.

Symptoms or a close-contact exposure — what to do

• Students should report symptoms or exposures using the Student COVID Screening Survey, and clinical students should also report via UAB Healthcheck.
• Non-clinical employees should report symptoms or exposures using the Employee Exposure or Experiencing Symptoms Form.
• Clinical employees should continue to report COVID symptoms and exposures through either UAB Healthcheck or the Employee Exposure or Experiencing Symptoms Form.

If needed, Employee or Student Health will refer for testing. If it is determined you did NOT have a close-contact exposure and have no symptoms, you do not need to be tested.

COVID-positive test result — isolation and next steps

The CDC has shortened the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to five days, if asymptomatic or recovered, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. People who test positive should isolate for five days and, if asymptomatic, may be cleared by Employee Health or Student Health to leave isolation if they continue to mask for the next five days to minimize the risk of infecting others. NOTE: At this time, all individuals are required to wear masks indoors in UAB and UAB Medicine facilities regardless of vaccination status or prior positive test result.

Student Health and Employee Health will continue to monitor COVID-positive individuals. With the exception of those who are immune-compromised, individuals who test positive will be released from isolation on Day Six if they are asymptomatic on Day Five. Those who continue to experience symptoms will be reassessed daily and released when they become asymptomatic during Days Six-10.

Individuals who are COVID-positive and have been identified as moderately to severely immune-compromised will be managed using personalized plans in consultation with our Employee or Student Health physician staff.

Once individuals have been released from isolation

• They MUST continue to wear a well-fitting mask at work and around other people, especially through Day 10. NOTE: This is consistent with UAB’s current policy requiring all individuals to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status or prior positive test result.
• They MUST maintain 6 feet of social distance during meals until Day 10.
• If they get sick again during Days Six-10, they need to go home and report that back to Student Health or to the Employee Health nurse who has been following them.
• Close-contact exposure — quarantine and next steps
• A close-contact exposure is defined as exposure to someone less than 6 feet away for 15 minutes or longer. If you are experiencing ongoing close-contact exposure in a circumstance where you cannot isolate from the person who is COVID-positive (e.g., you are caring for a COVID-positive child or you sleep in the same bed with a person who is COVID-positive), then the date of last exposure is at the end of that person’s infectious period.

Who does NOT have to quarantine after a close-contact exposure?

If you had a close-contact exposure (see definition above) to a person who is COVID-19-positive AND:

• You are vaccinated for COVID-19 OR
• You are a health care worker

Who DOES have to quarantine for five days after a close-contact exposure?

If you had a close-contact exposure (see definition above) to a person who is COVID-19-positive AND:

• You are NOT vaccinated for COVID-19 AND
• You are NOT a health care worker

You must remain at home (quarantine) for five days from the date of last exposure. Employees, it is your responsibility to communicate this quarantine requirement to your supervisor. Students, it is your responsibility to communicate this quarantine requirement to Student Health via the Student COVID Screening Survey. If you develop symptoms, you will need to self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19. It is very important that you wear a mask at all times when around others when you end your isolation or quarantine period, consistent with CDC guidance.

NOTE: UAB and UAB Medicine masking policies remain in effect.

If you have additional questions, please call 205-934-SAFE.

#UABUnited

Blazers,

In October and December, UAB shared plans to continue indoor masking through 2021, as well as make masks optional for vaccinated individuals inside non-clinical campus buildings at the start of 2022 if community transmission continued to decrease. Unfortunately, transmission has increased due to the delta and omicron variants, putting Jefferson County in the high community transmission category in which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masking.

As a result, UAB will continue to require masks indoors to start 2022 and the spring semester regardless of vaccination status.

We will continue to monitor data with public health and infectious disease experts and hope conditions will allow us to safely remove the mask requirement in non-clinical campus buildings for vaccinated individuals soon. Continue to read official UAB communications for important updates.

If you are not vaccinated and want to be able to unmask indoors when the requirement is lifted for the vaccinated, please make an appointment for a free, safe and effective vaccine provided by Employee Health and Student Health Services. Available vaccines offer undeniable protection against the worst outcomes of COVID.

If you are vaccinated and haven’t already uploaded your documentation and/or confirmed it is on file with Student Health or Employee Health, please do so now, as this information plays an integral role in our decision-making.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to keep our campus and community safe.

#UABUnited

Dear employees,

We have seen a significant increase in employees testing positive for COVID-19 and in community transmission of COVID-19. We are also beginning to see a rapidly growing number of positive tests identified in our lab as the Omicron variant.

With positive cases increasing at work, in the community, in the state and around the country — and with the holidays upon us — it is even more important that we remain vigilant to protect ourselves and each other. How can we do this? At work, wear a mask at all times, maintain social distancing and refrain from gathering in groups in breakrooms for celebrations and meals. Frequent hand washing is also critical. At home, wear a mask and stay distant if you think you have been exposed and wash hands frequently.

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, stay home. To report symptoms or a high-risk exposure, fill out the Employee Exposure and Symptom form on the UAB Healthcheck page.

While early data on the severity of the Omicron variant has been mixed, the new variant appears to be much more transmissible than prior versions and could spread as quickly as measles. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.

We understand this is the worst time of the year to be experiencing another high transmission rate — when we want to celebrate with family and friends during the holiday season. Take steps to avoid COVID fatigue. Mitigate your risks and the risks of those you plan to visit. If you are not vaccinated, please consider protecting yourself and loved ones by making an appointment. If you are vaccinated, please get boosted if you are eligible. If you are going to be around people whose status you don’t know, wear a good, less permeable mask. And always wear a mask and social distance, even in small groups.

Happy holidays and stay safe,

UAB and UAB Medicine community,

To comply with multiple federal mandates, UAB and UAB Medicine implemented an employee COVID-19 vaccination requirement this fall. Specifically, President Biden’s Executive Order 14042 mandates that employees of federal contractors are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated vaccination of employees of healthcare facilities.

Federal courts have put the vaccine requirement on hold for further consideration. On Nov. 30, 2021, a federal court issued a nationwide order to suspend the CMS vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. Today, a federal court issued a nationwide order to suspend the vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors.

As a result, UAB’s vaccine requirement is suspended. At this time, UAB will not be required to take action regarding unvaccinated employees on Jan. 4.

Because the ultimate outcome of legal challenges is not decided, we will continue to closely monitor legal developments and provide guidance to employees.

If the injunctions are lifted by the courts, UAB must be ready to comply with federal requirements. If you are an employee (including student employees) who does not already have a COVID-19 vaccine record or an approved vaccine exemption on file with UAB, please consider taking the following steps as a voluntary measure:

• Upload your documentation:
  • Employees: You may submit proof of vaccination to Employee Health.
  • Student Employees: You may submit proof of vaccination to your Student Health Patient Portal.
• Request an Exemption:
  • Employees who wish to have an exemption on record with UAB Employee Health are encouraged to request a medical, disability or religious exemption.
  • Student employees who wish to have an exemption on record with UAB Student Health are encouraged to request a medical, disability or religious exemption.

Taking these voluntary steps now will help ensure (1) medical, disability or religious exemption requests by our employees are processed in a timely manner, and (2) UAB can achieve compliance if the injunctions are lifted. It also provides UAB’s public health and infectious disease experts important data to guide future decisions about on-campus safety strategies. In addition, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires UAB Hospital to report employee vaccination rates.

We remain encouraged by the high vaccination rates reported among faculty, staff and students and continue to urge others to take advantage of the free vaccines. The protection afforded by the vaccine has been essential in keeping positive case numbers low.

#UABUnited

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

As you know, UAB and UAB Medicine recently implemented an employee COVID-19 vaccination requirement to comply with multiple federal mandates. Specifically, President Biden’s Executive Order 14042 mandates that employees of federal contractors are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated vaccination of employees of healthcare facilities. On Nov. 30, 2021, a federal court issued a nationwide order to suspend the CMS vaccine mandate for healthcare workers.

Executive Order 14042, however, remains in effect and still applies to UAB and UAB Medicine. The Executive Order requires COVID-19 vaccination for all federal contractors and their employees. As a result, the COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all employees, including full-time and part-time faculty, staff and postdocs (Status 21). Under the Executive Order, employees must receive their final COVID-19 vaccination dose by Jan. 4, 2022 and submit proof to Employee Health or have an approved medical, disability or religious exemption.

Because this vaccination requirement is mandated by the federal government, UAB does not have flexibility in its application or enforcement. Failure to comply will place UAB in jeopardy of losing millions of dollars that we receive through federal contracts and awards, as well as jobs funded, in part, by those dollars.

We continue to follow and assess legal developments regarding the requirement that employees of federal contractors be vaccinated. As we know more, we will provide detailed guidance for UAB and UAB Medicine employees.

Please continue to look to official UAB communications for the latest news and updates. If you have not already, please get vaccinated to keep yourself and everyone around you safe. Vaccines are free, safe, effective, and critical to putting an end to the pandemic as soon as possible.

#UABUnited

UAB and UAB Medicine employees,

The White House and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued new federal vaccine requirement guidance on Thursday Nov. 4, 2021. As a result:

• Healthcare workers across the country must be vaccinated
  • This extends UAB’s vaccination requirement – previously announced for Workgroups A and F – to healthcare workers (including Workgroup C, as well as students, trainees and volunteers who provide patient care/services in a healthcare setting), as hospitals and healthcare facilities must now require employees to be vaccinated.
• Deadlines for vaccines and exemptions have changed
  • UAB and UAB Medicine employees must now be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022.
  • The preferred deadline to request a vaccine exemption is now Nov. 19, 2021.
• Previously communicated dosing timelines based on manufacturers will change
  • Deadlines for first and second doses for Moderna and Pfizer and the single Johnson & Johnson dose will be updated and communicated.

Additional guidance that will include instructions to upload vaccine confirmation will be emailed next week to employees (including student employees). Updated information will be posted to the UAB United Vaccine Page and UAB Medicine ONE as it is available, and questions can be directed to 205-934-SAFE.

Vaccines are the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic, and more than 90 percent of UAB full-time faculty and staff are already in compliance with the federal vaccine requirement.

UAB Employee Health provides safe and effective COVID vaccines free of charge Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

#UABUnited
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Vice President of Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine
Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

UAB faculty and staff in Workgroups A and F,

As a federal contractor, UAB, like most higher education institutions, must comply with the Executive Order and accompanying guidance. Consequently, UAB is required to ensure all university faculty and staff (Workgroups A and F) are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Dec. 8, 2021, unless they have an approved medical, disability or religious exemption.

Because this vaccination requirement is mandated by the federal government, UAB does not have flexibility in its application or enforcement. Failure to comply will place UAB in jeopardy of losing millions of dollars that we receive through federal contracts and awards, as well as jobs funded, in part, by those dollars.

We continue to closely examine and monitor these federal mandates. Please note that, if you are in Workgroup A or F and have not yet been vaccinated, you should begin the process promptly to ensure compliance by the Dec. 8 deadline. The timeframes in which you should act vary, depending on the vaccine manufacturer:

• Pfizer: The first dose must be administered no later than five weeks in advance of Dec. 8, which is Nov. 3, and the second dose by Nov. 24.
• Moderna: The first dose must be administered no later than six weeks in advance of Dec. 8, which is Oct. 27, and the second dose no later than Nov. 24, which is two weeks before Dec. 8.
• Johnson & Johnson: The single required dose must be administered no later than Nov. 24.

UAB Employee Health provides the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine free of charge to employees at Margaret Cameron Spain Auditorium, Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All employees in Workgroups A and F, please review the information below carefully to determine what you need to do to ensure you comply with the federally mandated requirement.

• If you obtained your COVID-19 vaccination at UAB, Employee Health has confirmation of your vaccination status; there are no further steps you need to take at this time.
• If you obtained your COVID-19 vaccination at a location other than UAB, you must submit confirmation of your vaccination status to Employee Health by Dec. 8, 2021, even if you previously submitted an application for the one-time incentive payment in August or September 2021 (the executive order requires a copy of your vaccine card be submitted or shown, which was not required under the incentive application process). We will provide additional guidance by email on how to confirm your vaccination status. You will have the option of uploading documentation confirming your status to Employee Health or physically presenting your documentation for review at a specified location.
• If UAB approved your request for a medical, disability or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for purposes of the one-time incentive payment, there are no further steps you need to take at this time; you do not have to submit a new exemption request.
• If you did not submit a request for a medical, disability or religious exemption for purposes of the one-time incentive payment (or your request was denied), and you wish to submit a request with respect to this federal requirement, you must do so by Nov. 5, 2021. We will provide you with additional guidance by email on how to apply for an exemption.
• If you have not obtained your COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption, you must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 8, 2021, and provide confirmation to Employee Health.
• All newly hired faculty and staff in Workgroups A and F will be required to comply with this federal mandate as a condition of employment prior to their start date.

This announcement does not apply to employees in Workgroup C; UAB Health System will consider this requirement in conjunction with forthcoming guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that will apply to all hospitals.

Additional information about this requirement will be shared through official UAB communication channels. If you have questions about this requirement, review more detailed information here or call 205-934-SAFE.

For those who have not yet been vaccinated, we encourage you to receive a free, safe, effective vaccine within the timeline above to ensure that UAB remains in compliance with the federal mandate. Vaccines are the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and end the pandemic, and more than 90 percent of UAB full-time faculty and staff are already in compliance with the federal vaccine requirement.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Vice President of Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine
Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

University faculty and staff,

As student, faculty and staff vaccinations have climbed, and cases of COVID and hospitalizations have dramatically declined, I am increasingly optimistic for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Thank you for everything you’ve done to stay safe and give our students opportunities to enjoy educational experiences and activities that were limited or absent last year. Our ability to do so has significant benefits for their success and well-being.

This pandemic is a test of endurance and resilience, and you have found a way to maintain the standard of excellence that is the hallmark of UAB in the face of uncertainty, exhaustion and fear. I offer my most humble and sincere appreciation for your perseverance.

I also want to recognize and thank the public health and infectious disease experts who continue to inform our campus safety strategies. Time and again, hindsight has proved their guidance to have been measured and accurate. Data continue to show masking and vaccines are the key tools that allow us to teach, research, care for patients and be active in our community.

With guidance from our experts supported by data from the 2020-2021 school year, our university was able to suspend the daily HealthCheck and sentinel testing, relieving busy employees and students of that recurring responsibility.

We have retained symptomatic, exposure and “for cause” testing of individuals in shared locations, and testing and contact tracing continue to indicate that cases are consistently not linked to places where masks are required, like classrooms.

Our experts and Incident Command Center continue to monitor changes in viral variants and transmission rates, and we can adjust our health and safety strategies as needed. Please continue to look to official UAB communications including uab.edu/uabunited and The eReporter each Tuesday and Friday for updated information, protocols and resources.

If you have not yet been vaccinated, please make an appointment now. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine offered free to UAB employees is safe and effective, and the benefits far outweigh possible minor side effects. The more people get vaccinated, the sooner we will move past this pandemic.

While the university’s fall semester is off to a promising start, it is important to recognize that the pandemic continues to challenge us. Many of our colleagues continue to carry a heavy burden as we manage personal and professional stressors, so please continue to be patient and supportive.

Thank you for making safety a priority and moving us a little closer to normal every day. Your contributions are important, and your commitment is deeply appreciated.

#UABUnited,
Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB and UAB Medicine employees,

Thank you for all you continue to do to keep yourselves and others safe. Please read the following important updates about how employees can apply for their $400 vaccine incentive payment, as well as about the Health System vaccine requirement.

UAB Health System to follow federal vaccine requirement

The UAB Health System’s policy requiring COVID vaccines for its workers was implemented in August prior to the announcement of forthcoming federal directives. As you likely know, President Biden issued an executive order Sept. 9 indicating that federal rules and regulations will be issued in the coming weeks that will require COVID vaccines for workers at health care facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid dollars. Because UAB Health System must follow federal law, UAB Health System will remove its vaccine policy at this time. UAB Health System will wait for the detailed federal guidance to develop a replacement vaccine policy in order to ensure full compliance with federal law.

The safety of our patients, employees, friends and families is of the utmost importance. Because vaccines are safe, effective and a critical tool to end the pandemic, and because it is expected that federal guidelines will require the vaccine, we continue to strongly encourage those who have not been vaccinated to get a free COVID vaccine as soon as possible.

Apply for your $400 vaccine incentive

The voluntary $400 incentive payment available to vaccinated employees who want it remains available. Interested employees have until Sept. 30 to apply for the incentive payment or to request a religious or medical/disability vaccine exemption in order to apply for the incentive payment. The previous deadline to request a religious or medical/disability vaccine exemption to apply for the incentive payment has been extended from Sept. 21 to Sept. 30.

If you haven’t already, please choose to:

• Schedule a free, safe and effective COVID vaccine
• Apply for the voluntary $400 incentive payment

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Senior Vice President of Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine
Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

University faculty and staff,

In order to keep you as current as possible on our efforts to keep our faculty and staff safe this semester, here is updated guidance from the University of Alabama System office and from UAB Employee Health and Student Health Services. This information will also appear on the UAB United website, which is our comprehensive, updated source for guidelines and policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Symptomatic Employees

If you develop COVID symptoms, you will need to self-isolate and report these symptoms to Employee Health using the Employee Exposure and Symptom, form which can be found on the UAB United page here. Anyone experiencing COVID symptoms should stay home. Do not come to work or to class until cleared to do so by Employee Health. Please notify your supervisor immediately in these circumstances to determine next steps. Pending completion of testing or other actions directed by Employee Health, you may be allowed to work remotely if your supervisor (department chair for faculty) determines it is feasible and you are able to do so. If remote work is not feasible or you are not able to perform your duties remotely, you may use leave time until cleared to return to work. Your unit’s HR professionals can help you understand your available leave time.

Close Contact Exposure (potential or known)

If you believe you have had a close contact exposure, you should report it to Employee Health using the Employee Exposure and Symptom form, which can be found on the UAB United page here. Exposure should be reported on the Employee Exposure and Symptom Form, and Employee Health will evaluate circumstances and provide instructions for testing and quarantining. Pending completion of testing or other actions directed by Employee Health, you may be allowed to work remotely if your supervisor (department chair for faculty) determines it is feasible. If remote work is not feasible, you may use leave time until cleared to return to work. Your unit’s HR professionals can help you understand your available leave time.

COVID-19 Positive/Isolating Employees

If you are an employee who is testing positive for COVID through campus or external testing, or who has been directed or advised by a medical professional or a campus authority to isolate, you may be allowed to work remotely if your supervisor (department chair for faculty) determines it is feasible and you are able to do so, until Employee Health clears you to return to work. If remote work is not feasible or you are not able to perform your duties, you may use leave time or FMLA leave (if eligible) until cleared to return to work by Employee Health. Your unit’s HR professionals can help you understand your available leave time.

Remote Work Due to Quarantine of Immediate Family Member or Closure of School/Care Facility

You may work remotely if you satisfy all of the following conditions:

1. A member of your immediate family (parent, spouse, child) for whom you are the primary caregiver is advised or directed to quarantine by a medical professional, public health authority, or the management of a school or care facility utilized by the immediate family member; and
2. You are required to stay at home to care for the affected family member; and
3. Your supervisor determines that remote work is feasible; and
4. You return to work as soon as your immediate family member is cleared to return to work or school (not to exceed 14 days).

If remote work is not feasible, you may take leave under the FMLA (if eligible) to care for the immediate family member. If you are ineligible for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, you may use other leave time to care for the immediate family member. Please see UAB’s FMLA policy here. Your unit’s HR professionals can help you understand your available leave time.

For Faculty: Possible Notifications From Student Health Services About Students Testing Positive or Quarantined

Faculty, you will be notified if a student enrolled in an in-person class for which you are an instructor tests positive for COVID-19. Such students should not be attending class in person until you are notified they are cleared to return or they provide you with a note from SHS clearing them to return to in-person classes. Their absences from in-person classes should be considered officially excused. The student’s COVID-19 status or reason for absence should not be shared with others. You and students in a class with a positive student who attended class will be encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days. Asymptomatic unvaccinated students who reside on campus will be required to test as soon as possible, but will not be required to quarantine unless they are determined to be a true close contact exposure. Symptomatic students will be isolated, and testing will be recommended for them. Students can be treated and tested by outside providers; but for the purposes of clearance related to COVID-19, the student is required to report symptoms, exposures or positive test results to Student Health Services so that the university can proceed with appropriate follow-up and contact tracing. Any non-clearance and clearance letters that students provide to their instructors must come from Student Health Services to be valid. Excuses for other medical issues (not related to COVID-19) from outside providers can be accepted.

Students who have been asked to quarantine, by SHS or an external source, can get a note from SHS regarding an excused absence. You will not be notified directly about students in quarantine, only those in isolation. Students may request that such letters simply state that the student will be absent but not include quarantine or isolation language.

If you receive a notice from a student that they have tested positive outside of SHS, or have been advised not to attend class due to COVID by an external source, please direct the student to contact Student Health Services using the UAB Student Health Patient Portal. Student Health is usually able to respond to a student within 24 hours.

You will be contacted by Student Health directly if there have been three or more positive cases within seven days in an on-campus class taught by you. Please follow the precautions recommended by Student Health.

Your safety is very important to us.

Sincerely,

Pam Benoit
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Alesia Jones
Chief Human Resources Officer

Blazers,

The fall semester is underway with COVID precautions designed to make it possible to continue in-person instruction in the safest manner for the benefitof all.

We are encouraged by the good news that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine available to the UAB community has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We hope that this testament to its high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality — plus incentives — will motivate more of our campus community to get vaccinated.

Even with the majority of the campus community vaccinated, we expect to see COVID cases this semester. It is important to note that vaccinated individuals will not be required to serve a 14-day quarantine after a confirmed close contact exposure (i.e., within 6 feet of a COVID positive individual for 15 minutes or more) in most circumstances.

When there are positive cases:

If an individual in one of your classes tests positive, Student Health Services will notify you. This is not necessarily a reason for concern. Masks are effective in protecting against COVID and are required indoors on campus.

• Unvaccinated students who are identified as a close contact will be notified and directed by Student Health to quarantine.
• Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals who are not identified as close contacts will be notified and encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, and to seek testing if any symptoms develop.
• Unvaccinated students who do not have symptoms and live on-campus in a residence hall will be required to take a COVID test within 5 days but not required to quarantine unless they are confirmed as a close contact. They will be referred to student conduct on day 6 if they have not tested.
• Students with symptoms will be isolated and recommended for testing and a virtual visit with Student Health.

If Student Health Services identifies multiple positive cases in a single classroom or residence hall floor (e.g., if multiple people test positive), “for-cause” testing protocols may be used. Affected students will receive further directions based on the circumstances and their vaccine status.

If you experience COVID symptoms, have a close contact exposure or test positive for COVID outside of UAB Student Health Services, fill out this online form to alert Student Health. Students who exhibit symptoms should not attend class, work or other activities until tested and cleared by Student Health Services.

It is important for the safety of all students, staff and faculty that students with COVID do not attend in-person classes. Student Health Services has a system in place to notify faculty/instructors when a student “should not be in class on campus,” and when they are cleared to return. Faculty/instructors will not share that information with any other person, act upon it in any other capacity or attempt to discuss any potential Personal Health Information with an affected student.

If you need a vaccination, you can book an appointment online with Student Health Services or attend walk-in clinics scheduled through Sept. 3.

As always, we recognize that the conditions within the pandemic continue to evolve, and we will communicate any changes in our protocols recommended by our infectious disease and public health experts. Look for any updates in GreenMail and on uab.edu/uabunited.

University faculty and staff,

The fall semester is underway, and we want to ensure that COVID-19 precautions are observed and we all are diligent in following procedures that make it possible to provide in-person instruction in the safest manner for the benefit of our students and employees.

We are encouraged by the good news that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine available to the UAB community has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We hope that this testament to its high standards for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality — plus incentives — will motivate more of our campus community to get vaccinated.

Even with the majority of the campus community vaccinated, we expect to see COVID cases this semester. It is important to note that vaccinated individuals will not be required to serve a 14-day quarantine after a confirmed close contact exposure (i.e., within 6 feet of a COVID positive individual for 15 minutes or more) in most circumstances.

UAB has updated its Positive Notification Protocol for faculty and students in classes that meet in person during the fall semester. The procedures use real-time data to manage class attendance for any student who tests positive for COVID-19.

If a student has a confirmed positive COVID-19 PCR or antigen result with Student Health Services (SHS), the dean or associate dean will send an email to the instructor/faculty to notify them of a student’s eligibility to attend an in-person class. To protect student privacy, the email will not explicitly state the health status of the student. Emails will note one of two possible statuses:

• A student “should not be in class on campus”
• A student has been “cleared to be in class on ca

Faculty/instructors are expected to monitor classroom attendance to ensure that a student with restricted access does not attend in-person class until cleared to return.

Faculty/instructors should not share that information with any other person, act upon it in any other capacity or attempt to discuss any potential Personal Health Information with an affected student. SHS staff will report the presence of COVID-positive students to UAB Occupational Health and Safety and UAB Building Services to assess the need for enhanced cleaning or quarantining of those spaces.

Regardless of vaccination status, students and employees must comply with COVID-19 safety precautions, including mask-wearing while on campus. Non-compliance concerns can be reported through the UAB Ethics Hotline.

As noted above, protocols for quarantining after a close contact exposure do vary by vaccination status. Vaccinated persons who are asymptomatic do not have to quarantine for 14 days after a close contact, but they are encouraged to get tested after three days (quarantine is not necessary for a vaccinated individual during those three days prior to testing). Unvaccinated persons do need to quarantine for 14 days after a close contact with someone who tests positive, including classmates. Health care workers may be managed using different criteria as directed by Employee Health depending on staffing requirements. Symptomatic students will be isolated and tested.

Next steps:

If an individual in a class tests positive, faculty will receive notification described above. Students will be notified by Student Health. This is not necessarily a reason for concern. Masks are effective in protecting against COVID and are required indoors on campus.

• Unvaccinated individuals who are identified as a close contact will be notified and directed by Student Health or Employee Health to quarantine.
• Vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals who are not identified as close contacts will be notified and encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, and to seek testing if any symptoms develop.
• Unvaccinated students who do not have symptoms and live on-campus in a residence hall will be required to take a COVID test within 5 days but not required to quarantine unless they are confirmed as a close contact. They will be referred to student conduct on day 6 if they have not tested.
• Individuals with symptoms will be isolated and recommended for testing and a virtual visit with Student Health.

If Student Health Services identifies multiple positive cases in a single classroom, “for-cause” testing protocols may be used. Affected individuals will receive further directions based on the circumstances and their vaccine status.

Finally, it remains important for faculty to articulate clear written policies with regard to attendance and engagement for in-person and online courses respectively, especially in the event students have to be absent due to isolation or quarantine. Any proposed change in the overall modality of the course indicated in the course schedule must be approved by the department chair or dean, then the Office of the Provost.

As always, we recognize that the conditions within the pandemic continue to evolve, and we will communicate any changes in our protocols recommended by our infectious diseases and public health experts. Look for any updates in The eReporter and on uab.edu/uabunited.

#UAB United,

Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Senior Vice President of Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine
Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

UAB students,

Entering another school year during a pandemic is frustrating, and each of you plays an essential role in our special, resilient community. While this may not be easy, we can succeed together.

Data tell us that in-person learning and face-to-face engagement improve student success, so we intend to offer as many in-person opportunities as we can while emphasizing safety measures and personal responsibility. Masking — on and off campus — and vaccines are the tools you have to help us ensure those experiences are available.

Vaccines are the best first-line defense against COVID-19, and regardless of your age, health status or prior exposure to the virus, the benefit of this free, safe and effective vaccine far outweighs the short-term, minor side effects of the vaccination.

We estimate that more than 60% of your fellow students have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Incentives also are being offered to improve that margin, including Blazer Bucks, textbook vouchers and swag.

• If you’ve been vaccinated, choose to let Student Health Services know and redeem your incentives.
• If you are not vaccinated, please get one now. You can make an appointment online with Student Health Services, or you can just show up to walk-in clinics scheduled Aug. 20-Sept. 3.

The vast majority of UAB faculty and staff — about 70% — also have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and we hope that new incentives will move us closer to 100% soon.

Second, studies consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of masks. In fact, a study of North Carolina schools reported that proper masking was the most effective mitigation strategy to prevent secondary transmission. The study also showed that distance was not a factor in the spread of COVID-19 when students/staff/teachers are masked; masking was adequate to prevent within-school COVID-19 transmission, with no difference between schools requiring greater than 3 feet of distance between students compared to those requiring less than 3 feet.

This is the reason UAB requires facemasks indoors on campus — regardless of vaccine status. Read CDC guidance here.

The pandemic remains a fluid situation, and we will adjust our health and safety plans as needed to protect our campus community. Please continue to look to official UAB communications including uab.edu/uabunited and GreenMail each Wednesday.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for yourselves and others.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB faculty and staff,

We have accomplished so much together these past 18 months. Among the many things we learned during the pandemic is that UAB is a resilient community of amazing people. Still, the idea of entering yet another academic year with heightened uncertainty is daunting.

All available data tell us that in-person learning and face-to-face engagementimprove student performance, retention and graduation rates, so we intend to offer as many in-person opportunities as we can while emphasizing safety measures and personal responsibility. Masking — on and off campus — and vaccines are the tools you have to help us ensure those experiences are available.

While this will not be easy, we absolutely can do it together.

First, we are better positioned than we were a year ago: A free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine that protects against serious complications is available. Regardless of your age, health status or prior exposure to the virus, the benefit of this vaccine far outweighs the short-term, minor side effects of the vaccination.

To your credit, the vast majority of UAB faculty and staff — about 70% — have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and we hope that the recently announced incentive payment for university and Health System employees and required vaccines for Health System workers will move us closer to 100% soon. If you need a vaccine, you can get one by appointment or at a walk-in clinic on campus

We estimate that more than 60% of students have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Some 54% of students(excluding fully online students) are confirmed with Student Health to have received at least one dose, with 50% fully vaccinated. We identified an additional roughly 6% of students who volunteered via a survey that they had been vaccinated. Incentives also are being offered to improve that margin, including Blazer Bucks, textbook vouchers and swag.

Second, studies consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of masks. In fact, a study of North Carolina schools reported that proper masking was the most effective mitigation strategy to prevent secondary transmission. The study also showed that distance was not a factor in the spread of COVID-19 when students/staff/teachers are masked; masking was adequate to prevent within-school COVID-19 transmission, with no difference between schools requiring greater than 3 feet of distance between students compared to those requiring less than 3 feet.

This is the reason UAB requires facemasks indoors on campus — regardless of vaccine status. Read CDC guidance here.

Our infectious disease and public health experts will continue to monitor changes in viral variants and transmission rates, and we will adjust our health and safety strategies as needed to protect our campus community.

Please continue to look to official UAB communications including uab.edu/uabunited and The eReporter each Tuesday and Friday for updated information, protocols and resources. If you missed the Aug. 17 town hall, look to an upcoming eReporter.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for yourselves and others. Your work is important and much appreciated.

#UABUnited,
Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

University faculty and staff,

I am pleased to announce that UAB is rewarding employees for protecting themselves, each other, their families and our community by getting a free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.

UAB employees who have already been fully vaccinated or have at least one shot by Sept. 30 will receive a one-time $400 payment [i.e., full-time, regular, part-time and post-doc (status 21) employees].

If you are not already vaccinated, I sincerely hope you will choose to take advantage of this opportunity to protect yourselves and others against the highly contagious Delta variant — and whatever variant may come next — and benefit from this incentive payment (payments will be made in the late fall to eligible employees who are employed at the date of the payout).

We have enough data across Alabama and the country to know that, whether you are young or old, healthy or unhealthy, pregnant or trying to get pregnant, already had COVID or not, the benefits of a COVID-19 vaccine FAR outweigh short-term, minor side effects. Learn more.

The only thing you need to do now is get vaccinated if you are unvaccinated. If you have already been vaccinated no action is required at this time; please continue to look to official UAB communications for updates and guidance.

If you have not been vaccinated, please click here to get information to get vaccinated.

UAB University Community,

Due to the recent surge of COVID-19 and updated CDC guidance, UAB will require face coverings indoors on campus — regardless of vaccine status — effective Thursday, July 29.

There are limited times when individuals can be unmasked indoors on the university campus (exceptions may not apply to clinical buildings — please continue to follow established protocols for clinical buildings).

• Employees can unmask if alone in a private workspace (e.g., office or cubicle)
• Students can unmask in their residence hall room
• Individuals can briefly unmask while actively eating or drinking if a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing can be maintained

We will continue to monitor key data with public health and infectious disease experts and update this temporary guidance as necessary.

It is still critically important that all eligible individuals get vaccinated as soon as possible so we can end this surge and the pandemic.

While it is possible for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to transmit COVID-19, the vaccinated remain largely protected from infection — especially serious complications — compared to those who are unvaccinated. An increasing number of unvaccinated people, including more younger people, are being hospitalized and losing their lives due to COVID-19.

Recent data reveal that 97 percent of people hospitalized from COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

In addition to the overwhelming health benefits of the vaccine, vaccinated individuals on campus can avoid inconveniences such as quarantine after a close contact. Students can get free swag if they get a vaccine on campus and Blazer Bucks if they upload their vaccine card to Student Health Services.

Vaccines are free, safe, effective and easy to get. If you are not yet vaccinated, please get vaccinated now.

FACT: Short- and long-term risks of getting COVID far outweigh minimal risks associated with getting a vaccine.

This remains a very fluid situation. Please continue to look to official UAB communications, including Greenmail for students and eReporter for employees, for updates, information and resources.

Thank you for all you continue to do to keep yourselves and others safe.

#UABUnited,
Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB campus community,

We have come a long way since this time last year, thanks to your dedication and sacrifice. With free, safe and effective vaccines available to all, I look forward to a successful fall semester together.

Roughly 70% of UAB employees have been vaccinated at UAB Medicine. Through survey data and confirmed vaccinations, we estimate that at least 12,500 UAB students (more than half) have been vaccinated, and incentives are now available to students to get vaccinated and upload their vaccine card (see Student Vaccine Incentives below).

As we continue to consult public health and infectious disease experts to safely pursue our mission, today University of Alabama System Chancellor Finis St. John issued a memo updating the Health and Safety Plan (effective July 26) endorsed by the UA System Health and Safety Task Force to guide in-person activities this fall. Please read Chancellor St. John’s full memo here. Highlights include:

• The Task Force remains concerned about the rise in cases and the Delta variant, and will remain active and continue to monitor data on campus and in the community; safety requirements are subject to change
• Unvaccinated individuals are expected to assist in protecting the campus community by using face coverings inside campus buildings and should practice social distancing wherever possible Individuals in a clinical setting remain subject to requirements, which may include face covering, social distancing, visitor restrictions, health screenings and other established protocols for that setting
• Campus events, including those sponsored by student organizations, will follow pre-pandemic university policies (athletic events remain subject to NCAA and/or conference requirements) On-campus COVID testing will remain available

Unvaccinated individuals risk significant inconveniences:

• Periods of isolation and quarantine associated with an exposure or a positive test
• Possible required close-contact, symptomatic and for-cause testing
• Unvaccinated students who reside in a residential hall and have a close contact or test positive may be required to arrange alternate living arrangements (e.g., their permanent off-campus address) for a period of time
• Unvaccinated individuals are expected to use face coverings inside campus buildings

If you have not yet been vaccinated, please do so now. Data continue to demonstrate that vaccines are safe and effective, and the benefits far outweigh rare, minor side effects. Learn more about vaccines here.

Students who receive a vaccine on campus will receive a T-shirt or hat. Also, students who get vaccinated or have been fully vaccinated and share their immunization information with Student Health Services will receive $20 in Blazer Bucks. Registered student organizations that have at least 70% of their members vaccinated by Aug. 23 will receive money for catering, allowed purchases and/or travel.

Click here to make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Click here if you have symptoms or a close contact.

Please continue to look to official UAB communications — including Greenmail for students and eReporter for employees — for additional updates, guidelines and resources, and please be flexible if circumstances change and guidelines are updated. The UAB United website will continue to be updated to reflect the latest information.

Thank you for all you continue to do to stay #UABUnited.

Sincerely,
Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

You may have seen a communication from UAB earlier this week about the campus community allowing fully vaccinated students, visitors, and professors to be unmasked on campus. These changes are based on recently updated masking guidancefrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for fully vaccinated people. The guidance is based on strong data showing that vaccinated people have a very high level of protection against COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated, and they have a much lower chance of getting sick or spreading COVID-19 to others.

As a health care institution, UAB Medicine must follow guidance from the CDC and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) specifically for health care facilities. That guidance, found here, states that everyone should continue to wear a well-fitted mask in health care settings.

When/where is a mask required?

• Entering or exiting buildings or facilities used for any patient care services
• Clinic or hospital areas where you may come in contact with patients
• Hallways, corridors, elevators, parking decks, and other areas open to the general public
• Nursing units
• Blazer Express buses
• In groups when you can’t social distance and do not know the vaccination status of all individuals in the group If you have not been fully vaccinated, you must wear a mask in all areas, except when alone in your own personal office.

When/where is a mask optional?

• Fully vaccinated individuals who work in administrative-only areas may go unmasked while in their offices and enclosed department suites.
• Outdoors, regardless of vaccination status

Masking is an easy intervention, and fully vaccinated individuals may consider continuing to wear masks in areas with people who are unvaccinated or immunocompromised.

There are limited data on vaccine protection in people who are immunocompromised. Further, data on which immunocompromising conditions might affect response to the COVID-19 vaccine and the magnitude of risk are not available. To best protect themselves, people with weakened immune systems – even those who are fully vaccinated – should consider wearing a mask in all public spaces and when around others.

We all look forward to the day when we can remove our masks permanently. Until then, it’s extremely important that we follow these guidelines at all times. Thank you for all you do to keep our patients and colleagues safe and healthy.

UAB students, faculty and staff,

Thank you for keeping our campus community safe. We continue to track data, and cases of COVID-19 have consistently remained very low for several weeks as the number of vaccinated individuals continues to increase in our community and state.

As a result, the University of Alabama System and UAB — in consultation with public health and infectious disease experts — have modified on-campus masking guidelines for non-clinical settings consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

All individuals entering or working in a health care environment should continue to follow the personalized protective equipment (PPE) and other guidelines for those specific areas (e.g., masking and Healthcheck requirements remain), and individuals riding on Blazer Express buses or participating in UAB youth programs are required to wear masks (these are not changes from existing practice).

Otherwise, effective immediately at UAB and all UA System campuses:

• Fully vaccinated individuals (14 days or more following the final dose) are no longer required to wear masks indoors or outside.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear masks at all times indoors except when masks are not required by existing guidance (e.g., established rules for residence halls, or when individuals are alone in a private workspace like a cubicle or office).
• For everyone, regardless of vaccine status, masks are no longer required outdoors on campus.

Individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask in circumstances where one is not required. Please remain committed to UAB’s Shared Values that include accountability, integrity and respect, and be considerate and understanding of fellow members of the campus community.

If you have been vaccinated:

• Students are encouraged to submit vaccine documentation to Student Health Services now through your patient portal (whether you received a vaccine at UAB or a non-UAB site). We thank the many students who have already uploaded their confirmation; a more complete health record allows Student Health Services to best serve you, and it is important that UAB understands our continued progress of vaccinations on campus.
• Employees vaccinated at a non-UAB site are encouraged to submit proof of vaccine to UAB Employee Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Employees who got vaccinated at UAB are already documented and do not need to submit proof of vaccine.

If you have not been vaccinated:

• Anyone can visit www.uabmedicinevaccine.org to find a vaccine time and location.
• Students can get vaccinated at the UAB Student Health Services Immunization Clinic on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by appointment.
• If you are not on campus, find a vaccine site near you at www.vaccinefinder.org.

Safe and effective vaccinations are now readily available and free to anyone 12 years or older, and overwhelming data show individuals who are fully vaccinated are extremely unlikely to contract or spread COVID-19. In rare instances in which a vaccinated individual contracts the virus, symptoms are typically mild or nonexistent. Learn about more benefits of being fully vaccinated from the CDC.

Please continue to read official UAB communications, including Greenmail for students and eReporter for employees, for important information and updates.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
UAB Vice President for Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine

Michael Faircloth, M.D.
Director, UAB Student Health Services

UAB students,

We continue to make data-driven decisions with public health and infectious disease experts to guide our COVID safety plan.

Last week’s revised masking guidance from the CDC will not change UAB’s on-campus masking requirements at this time. With few exceptions, please continue to wear masks inside and outdoors while on campus.

We want to relax COVID restrictions as soon as we can do so safely, but we need to confirm more students have been vaccinated before we can.

Please help UAB relax restrictions faster by confirming your vaccine status with Student Health Services now through your patient portal (whether you received a vaccine at UAB or a non-UAB site).

Sharing your vaccine status is easy and voluntary, and it will help the UAB community safely return to a more normal learning environment.

Students who have not yet been vaccinated can:

• Go to Bartow Arena from 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 18, to get a FREE VACCINE, FOOD AND SWAG Visit www.uabmedicinevaccine.org to learn about other UAB opportunities
• Get vaccinated at the UAB Student Health Services Immunization Clinic on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by appointment
• Find a vaccine site near you at www.vaccinefinder.org

If you have questions about whether you should get vaccinated, talk to Student Health Services.

#UABUnited,
Michael Faircloth, M.D.
Director, UAB Student Health Services

UAB faculty and staff,

We continue to make data-driven decisions with public health and infectious disease experts to guide our COVID safety plan.

Last week’s revised masking guidance from the CDC will not change UAB’s on-campus masking requirements at this time. With few exceptions, please continue to wear masks inside and outdoors while on campus.

CDC guidance relies on vaccinations as criteria for unmasking, and we need to confirm that more employees and students have been vaccinated before we relax COVID restrictions on campus. Students — particularly those vaccinated outside of UAB — have been asked to upload vaccine confirmation to their Student Health Services patient portal.

Employees who got vaccinated at a non-UAB site are asked to voluntarily submit proof of vaccine to UAB Employee Health by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we have a more accurate idea of the UAB population vaccinated.

We will continue to monitor data and hope to relax on-campus COVID restrictions at the right time to allow students, faculty and staff to safely return to more normal learning and working environments.

If you have not yet been vaccinated, please visit www.uabmedicinevaccine.org.

#UABUnited

UAB faculty and staff:

Please watch this short video for a message from President Watts about our continued phased approach to a safe campus reentry. Also visit the United and Reporter websites for important updates and information:

• Access frequently asked questions and read more about reentry and expectations regarding May 10
• Learn more about updated masking and distancing requirements, including guidance for employees working socially distanced outdoors or alone in an office or cube.

UAB students, faculty and staff,

Starting May 10, many members of the UAB community will no longer be required to complete a daily Healthcheck to access campus. However, in part to comply with a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirement, students, faculty and staff who are considered health care personnel or have a touchpoint in a clinical building or setting will be required to complete Healthcheck daily until further notice.

Please read all of the following information carefully to determine what you should do.

Who will no longer be required to complete Healthcheck starting May 10?

Starting May 10, UAB students, faculty and staff who are not considered health care personnel and do not work in or visit UAB clinical buildings or settings will no longer be required to complete Healthcheck.

In the event you experience a COVID symptom or exposure after discontinuing daily Healthcheck:

• Students: Access the COVID Screening Survey through your Student Health Services Patient Portal.
• Employees: Visit the Healthcheck page on the UAB United website to be directed to the Employee Exposure Notification Form through UAB Employee Health.

All individuals should continue to complete a daily Healthcheck through May 9. To stop Healthcheck text message reminders, simply respond STOP to your Healthcheck text on May 10 or do not respond to Healthcheck for six days. Before you stop Healthcheck, please confirm that you do not fit into a category listed below.

Who needs to complete daily Healthcheck?

CMS requires that all UAB Medicine employees, health care personnel and others — including trainees and students — with a clinical touchpoint be screened prior to their shift. It is quick and easy to comply using UAB Healthcheck, which allows you to simply reply “YES” or “NO” to a daily text message. A completed Healthcheck generates a digital “passport”; employees and students should be prepared to display this passport upon request by a health screener to enter clinical buildings. Please enroll in Healthcheck if you have not already done so.

The following groups are required to complete Healthcheck seven days a week:

• All Workgroup C employees
• Health Services Foundation (HSF) employees
• Health System employees
• School of Dentistry: students, faculty and staff
• School of Medicine: students, faculty and staff
• School of Optometry: students, faculty and staff
• Students or employees of other units, schools, colleges — including Joint Health Sciences — working in or entering clinical facilities on a regular basis, including but not limited to:
• School of Education: Students and faculty working in the Community Counseling Clinic
• School of Health Professions: Students, faculty and staff who work in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistant programs
• School of Nursing: Clinical students, faculty and staff
• Faculty members who use medical equipment (e.g., MRI) in a clinic

This requirement is effective now, and compliance of those required to complete Healthcheck will be monitored and enforced. To complete Healthcheck and/or register for or reactivate Healthcheck text messages, click here and enter your cellphone number.

Students, faculty and staff required to complete Healthcheck will receive additional communications with context and guidance from their respective schools or units. Please pay close attention to UAB and UABMC emails for important information. If you have questions, please consult with your program, school, college or unit.

Until further notice, visitors to UAB Hospital and clinics will be screened upon arrival. University guests must follow UAB visitor policies and complete the visitor Healthcheck.

Thank you, and please continue to take care of yourself and each other. Thank you, and please continue to take care of yourself and each other.

#UABUnited
Ray Watts, President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

Reid Jones, CEO
UAB Medicine

Blazers,

If you are age 16 years or older, you are eligible to register now for a COVID vaccine in Alabama. The faster more people get vaccinated, the sooner we will be back to a more normal life on and off campus.

Please read answers to important questions below, and click here to REGISTER NOW for a vaccine.

Why should I get a vaccine?
The Pfizer vaccine administered at UAB protects nearly 100 percent against serious complications and death. In addition to having more confidence and less anxiety, keeping yourself and others safe, and helping end the pandemic for everyone, there are other benefits. Among them, the CDC does not require vaccinated individuals to quarantine after a close contact.

Is the Pfizer vaccine safe?
The Pfizer vaccine administered at UAB has been studied extensively and is considered both safe and effective. UAB has administered more then 140,000 doses of vaccine with ZERO serious complications reported.

I will not be in Birmingham for a second dose. Should I still get my first dose now at UAB?
Yes. The sooner you can get your first dose, the better. If you cannot get your second dose at UAB, you can use www.vaccinefinder.org to find a second Pfizer dose at a different location. Even one dose is protective for you and others, so get your first dose now to help keep you and your family and friends safe.

Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
No. UAB is investing millions of dollars in our five vaccine sites and providing vaccines at no cost to you.

I am young and healthy. Should I still get the vaccine?
Yes. Public health experts urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect you and others, and help end the pandemic.

I had COVID. Should I still get the vaccine?
Yes. Public health experts urge you to get vaccinated 90 days post-infection.

Does the vaccine pose a risk to fertility?
Experts believe the vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect from COVID-19, regardless of fertility aspirations. Read more. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor to decide what is best for you.

Should I wait and allow those at greater risk to get vaccinated first?
Do not wait. The more people who get vaccinated, the less virus there will be in our community. That makes everyone safer. With the amount of vaccine UAB receives and is able to administer, we can schedule interested community members for a vaccine quickly.

If I have concerns or barriers to getting vaccinated, who can I talk to?
Reach out to UAB Student Health Services through your patient portal or at 205-934-3580.

What are they saying?
Visit @exploreUAB on Instagram to hear why UAB freshman neuroscience major Sumedha Bobba got her vaccine.

Hear what UAB Chief of Hospital Medicine Kierstin Kennedy has to say about why she decided to get vaccinated.

Thank you for all you have done to keep yourself and others safe. Let’s get across the finish line together. Click here to REGISTER NOW for a vaccine. We should be able to schedule your appointment soon — likely within a week.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
UAB Vice President for Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine

Michael Faircloth, M.D.
Director, UAB Student Health Services

UAB students, faculty and staff,

We're thrilled to share that the Alabama Department of Public Health announced this morning that everyone in Alabama 16 years old and older will be eligible to receive a COVID vaccine starting Monday, April 5.

We encourage anyone interested in a vaccine to register as soon as possible. This, of course, applies to UAB students, faculty and staff, and also members of our community at large.

There are different registration processes for UAB and non-UAB audiences, which helps us know how much of our campus community has been vaccinated as we make data-driven decisions about campus operations.

Vaccine registration for UAB students, faculty and staff
We encourage UAB students, faculty and staff who are interested but have not yet received a COVID vaccine to register NOW online using this link. These safe and effective vaccines are not mandatory for students, faculty and staff but are highly encouraged.

Vaccine registration for those who ARE NOT UAB students or employees
Community members who are not UAB students or employees are encouraged register online at www.uabmedicinevaccine.org. If you share a registration link outside of UAB – which we encourage – please be sure it is this one. UAB patients who are not UAB students or employees should also use this link.

UAB Medicine continues to vaccinate members of the community and has administered more than 140,000 doses at our five vaccination sites: AOH Cathedral of the Cross church in Center Point and the Hoover Met, as well as our downtown Parker High School, UAB Highlands and Spain Auditorium sites.

The more people get vaccinated, the sooner we will move past this pandemic.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D.
Vice President for Clinical Operations, UAB Medicine

Michael Faircloth, M.D.
Director, UAB Student Health Services

UAB students, faculty and staff,

Good morning, Blazers. COVID cases among UAB students, faculty and staff recently hit their lowest point since before the start of the 2020 fall semester and remain low. If we remain vigilant and this trend continues, we will safely move closer to a normal campus life sooner rather than later.

For now, we will maintain current safety requirements but plan ahead for important events, including a return to in-person commencement ceremonies this spring.

In-Person Spring Commencement

For the first time since 2019, UAB graduates will participate in commencement ceremonies in-person this spring. We plan to host ceremonies at Birmingham’s historic Legion Field to allow for social distancing.

Ceremonies will be held Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1 (May 7/8 are backup dates in the event of inclement weather). We do not anticipate limits on the number of guests who can attend. Participating graduates will be required to register. Additional information will be posted at www.uab.edu/commencement and emailed to spring 2021 graduates from Provost Pam Benoit later today.

In addition to spring 2021 graduates, anyone who graduated in 2020 is encouraged to participate in spring commencement. We look forward to proudly joining these alumni in a long-overdue celebration of their accomplishments.

Masks and Other Safety Measures

While Alabama’s statewide ordinance that requires masks will expire April 9, Gov. Kay Ivey supports organizations’ requiring masks at their discretion. For at least the remainder of the spring semester, UAB will maintain current safety requirements, including masks indoors and outside.

Some on-campus safety measures like masks will likely also be required through the summer and possibly beyond. Others are likely to relax in the coming months as we continue to assess the pandemic. We will stay on top of trends and projections with public health and infectious disease experts and make data-driven decisions.

Please read official UAB emails — including Greenmail for students and eReporter for employees — regularly, as we anticipate many important updates in the coming weeks and months.

I remain eternally grateful for all you have done to keep yourselves and others safe — sacrifices that have made it possible for UAB to serve you and maintain our mission of advancing education, patient care, community service, and research, innovation and economic development.

Thank you.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts
President

UAB students,

Thank you for all you continue to do to keep yourselves and others safe. We’re all eager to get back to normal, and we continue to work closely with public health and infectious disease experts to assess the COVID-19 pandemic and plan ahead.

Incidents of COVID among members of the campus community remain relatively low as cases and hospitalizations in Alabama and beyond continue to decline and vaccinations increase.

Based on these data and expert projections, I am pleased to share news regarding the summer and fall terms made possible by the leadership and support of the University of Alabama System and the UA System Health and Safety Task Force.

Summer and fall 2021 schedules will publish March 8, and assigned registration times will begin April 5.

Visit UAB United for a description of course modalities, including face-to-face, hybrid, remote and fully online.

• Summer 2021: Fully face-to-face (i.e., in-person) courses or fully online courses (i.e., asynchronous “Q” courses) are the primary formats offered this summer, and the few blended courses (i.e., online courses with periodic in-person requirements) that are traditionally available can be offered. The remote (e.g., primarily synchronous virtual classes) and hybrid class (e.g., alternating attendance) models will not be offered this summer.

We will continue to require masks and arrange schedules and classrooms to accommodate social distancing for in-person instruction, as well as offer safe study spaces for students to use in between classes.

• Fall 2021: Fully face-to-face (i.e., in-person) courses or fully online courses (i.e., asynchronous “Q” courses) are the primary formats offered this fall, and the few blended courses (i.e., online courses with periodic in-person requirements) that are traditionally available can be offered. The remote (e.g., primarily synchronous virtual classes) and hybrid class (e.g., alternating attendance) models will not be offered this fall.

COVID safety measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or Alabama Department of Public Health will remain in place as long as necessary, but we anticipate social distancing requirements are likely to be relaxed by the fall. We will continue to assess the pandemic and make adjustments as necessary to maintain a safe campus.

This decision about course modalities for summer and fall needed to be made now so summer and fall class registration could begin, but there are many details and logistics that are being worked out now. Please participate in upcoming virtual town halls and look to official UAB emails including Greenmail for updates and more details as they become available.

The COVID pandemic remains a fluid situation. If projections change and require plans to be altered, we will alert you as soon as possible. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other.

#UABUnited,
Pam Benoit, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB faculty and staff,

Thank you for all you continue to do keep yourselves and others safe. We’re all eager to get back to normal, and we continue to work closely with public health and infectious disease experts to assess the COVID-19 pandemic and plan ahead.

Incidents of COVID among members of the campus community remain relatively low as cases and hospitalizations in Alabama and beyond continue to decline and vaccinations increase.

Based on these data and expert projections, I am pleased to share news regarding the summer and fall terms made possible by the leadership and support of the University of Alabama System and the UA System Health and Safety Task Force.

Summer and fall 2021 schedules will publish March 8, and assigned registration times will begin April 5. We are asking faculty to complete course schedules in CLS no later than March 1.

Visit UAB United for a description of course modalities, including face-to-face, hybrid, remote and fully online.

• Summer 2021: Fully face-to-face (i.e., in-person) courses or fully online courses (i.e., asynchronous “Q” courses) are the primary formats offered this summer, and the few blended courses (i.e., online courses with periodic in-person requirements) that are traditionally available can be offered. The remote (e.g., primarily synchronous virtual classes) and hybrid course (e.g., alternating attendance) models will not be offered this summer.

We will continue to require masking and social distancing for in-person instruction. Any face-to-face classes should be assigned to classrooms with adequate capacity to accommodate proper distancing. We will continue to have safe study spaces for students to use in between classes to maintain social distancing.

While the hybrid class model will not be used this summer, we encourage continued use of the best practices developed in hybrid courses for both face-to-face and online courses, such as increased use of recorded lectures so that class time can be used for discussion and more individualized learning.

• Fall 2021: Fully face-to-face (i.e., in-person) courses or fully online courses (i.e., asynchronous “Q” courses) are the primary formats offered this fall, and the few blended courses (i.e., online courses with periodic in-person requirements) that are traditionally available can be offered. The remote (e.g., primarily synchronous virtual classes) and hybrid class models (e.g., alternating attendance) will not be offered this fall.

COVID safety measures recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and/or Alabama Department of Public Health will remain in place as long as necessary, but we anticipate social distancing requirements are likely to be relaxed by the fall. We will continue to assess the pandemic and make adjustments as necessary to maintain a safe campus.

This decision about course modalities for summer and fall needed to be made now so summer and fall class registration could begin, but there are many details and logistics that are being worked out now. Please participate in upcoming virtual town halls and look to official UAB emails including eReporter for updates and more details as they become available.

The COVID pandemic remains a fluid situation. If projections change and require plans to be altered, we will alert you as soon as possible. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and each other.

#UABUnited,
Pam Benoit, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB students, faculty and staff,

You have done an incredible job keeping yourselves and each other safe in the midst of the pandemic. COVID cases and hospitalizations are decreasing locally and nationally, and cases remain down among UAB community members.

If we don’t remain vigilant, however, that can change quickly with serious consequences. Outbreaks at the universities of Maryland and Virginia have resulted in responses like bans on in-person gatherings, library closings, a “sequester-in-place” order for on-campus housing residents and a suspension of in-person classes.

This can happen quickly, especially with the threat of more contagious COVID variants a reality, so we need to stay vigilant.

The good news is that there is real hope we’re nearing the light at the end of the tunnel. UAB School of Public Health epidemiologist Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., recently released a model that suggests we may reach herd immunity by late spring.

With cases trending in the right direction, it can be tempting to relax. But please don’t just yet. Remember, masks and distancing are required on campus inside and outdoors, including the Campus Green. Enjoy the warmer weather on and off campus, but please do it safely.

You have played an important role in how well UAB has responded to the pandemic, and you should be proud. Thank you, and keep up the good work. The more diligent we remain, the sooner we are likely to get back to a more normal life on and off campus.

#UABUnited,
Ray Watts
President

UAB community,

The spring semester is off to a great start thanks to all you continue to do to keep our campus and community safe. Weekly COVID cases among UAB students just hit their lowest mark since September, and employee cases are as low as they’ve been since October.

To get back to normal, it’s important we get vaccinated as soon as we are eligible. I received mine, and all UAB employees can register for a vaccine appointment now; after you register, check your email daily for appointment information

Vaccines are not mandatory but are highly encouraged, and now is the best time for UAB employees to access a vaccine. From a public health perspective, everyone in an eligible group who has the opportunity should get a vaccine to protect themselves and others; if you are willing to get a vaccine, please do not delay. As soon as the health department makes students eligible, we will provide guidance.

If we stay vigilant with masks, distancing, hand hygiene and daily Healthcheck and get vaccinated, we will be able to reduce restrictions and get closer to normal sooner than later.

It is also important that students and employees with any on-campus activity register with Verily and participate in Active Sentinel Testing (and get free T-shirts and/or Starbucks gift cards).

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and you’re helping us all get there. Continue to take care of yourself and each other so we can get through this more quickly.

In the meantime, consider helping in the vaccine distribution effort by registering to volunteer at a UAB community vaccination site.

#UABUnited, Ray Watts President

UAB faculty and staff (workgroups A and F),

In order to support the massive undertaking of vaccinating UAB employees and much of the Birmingham community, UAB needs clinical and non-clinical volunteers to help operate vaccination sites.

There is great interest among UAB employees to help. Interested employees who have the ability and receive necessary approvals may be able to volunteer at the sites during business hours — and at their current compensation level — without using vacation or sick time.

UAB will allow faculty and staff in workgroups A and F to work some or part of their regular, scheduled work hours assisting at the vaccination sites. The vaccination centers will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the foreseeable future.

To ensure campus operations are maintained, paid volunteer hours worked at the vaccination sites should be limited to 16 hours per month (eight hours per biweekly pay period). You must have prior approval from your supervisor before signing up for a shift at the vaccination site. Based on departmental operational needs, the supervisor may deny or delay the request. Employees who wish to work longer than the allotted paid volunteer time during regular business hours should make a paid-time-off request and use vacation or personal holiday time.

While supervisor-approved work at the vaccination sites will be compensated at current pay rates, additional supervisor approval must be requested prior to volunteering if the employee is approaching overtime hours.

To work during your regular scheduled work hours:

1. Complete Adobe form for supervisor approval (click here).
2. Sign up at one of the sites below:

• Hoover Met
• MCSA or Highlands
• Opportunities at A. H. Parker High School coming soon

Any UAB campus employees who wish to work at the vaccination sites outside of scheduled work hours should sign up for volunteer shifts using these links:

1. Sign up at one of the sites below:

• Hoover Met
• MCSA or Highlands
• Opportunities at A. H. Parker High School coming soon

Every employee who volunteers is providing an invaluable service to our community.

Thank you.

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

To address volume issues with the online vaccine registration form for UAB and UAB Medicine employees, the form has been modified and moved to a more robust online location.

• If you were successful in completing registration on the original form, you do not need to register using the new one.
• If your session on the original form was interrupted or you are unsure whether your registration completed, please register using the new form (duplicates will be removed from the system during scheduling).

This registration is for UAB and UAB Medicine employees only (non-UAB employees will have other options); do not share the registration link with non-employees, as it will not help them and could slow UAB’s process. If you are not a UAB or UAB Medicine employee and received this message, please disregard.

For your reference, below is Friday afternoon’s communication about vaccine registration that includes the link to the updated form (if you are experiencing issues please restart your browser or clear you cookies and try again):

UAB faculty and staff,

The Alabama Department of Public Health has announced that all remaining groups included in COVID-19 vaccination Phase 1B will be eligible to receive a vaccine starting February 8. Phase 1B includes “those who work in the education sector (teachers, support staff members)”.

Please do not call for an appointment, which could overwhelm infrastructure. Instead, read and carefully follow this guidance:

ALL UAB EMPLOYEES can now register to be scheduled to receive a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Employee vaccines are not required but highly encouraged.

If you are a UAB employee who has not already received a personal email invitation to schedule a vaccine appointment register now for your vaccination appointment using this online form (DO NOT FILL OUT THIS FORM MORE THAN ONCE).

If you previously received an email invitation but did not accept and now want to be vaccinated, please notify Employee Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To avoid unnecessary delays in vaccine administration, UAB is not segmenting groups within the ADPH-approved “education sector.” That said, we expect that all UAB employees who want to be vaccinated will be able to receive their first dose soon. You may not be contacted immediately after filling out the registration form, so continue to look for an email from Employee Health to schedule your appointment based on vaccine availability. To avoid delays in getting an appointment, please be as flexible as possible when indicating your availability.

At this time, non-UAB employees eligible for vaccinations in Phase 1B should refer to health department guidance (e.g., Jefferson County residents can register interest in a vaccine online with JCDH – do not register more than once). UAB will offer vaccinations to the public at multiple sites and will coordinate with JCDH. We continue to work quickly to assess the latest ADPH guidance, and we will communicate additional vaccine information and opportunities for non-UAB employees as soon as additional logistics are finalized.

University students, faculty and staff:

We continue to monitor COVID-19 trends, projections and UAB-specific data in consultation with public health and infectious disease experts and in keeping with the UA System Comprehensive Health and Safety plan. At this time, UAB plans to begin the spring semester on Tuesday, Jan. 19, with a combination of in-class, hybrid and virtual instruction. (Note: Research intensive students and those in professional schools like Medicine and Dentistry should consult their program schedules, as some resume as early as Jan. 4.)

Our testing and contact tracing data indicate that UAB COVID-19 protocols kept campus locations such as classrooms, common areas, labs and residence halls safe during the fall semester. The vast majority of positive cases were attributed to off-campus gatherings where safety measures were not followed.

To maintain a safe campus in the spring semester, more extensive, free COVID testing of UAB students, faculty and staff will help us identify and isolate positive cases. Tests will be the non-invasive but highly effective self-administered nasal swab.

• Students living on campus will be required to test upon arrival.
• Voluntary testing for the university will be increased, including active sentinel testing volume and frequency.
• Testing will be available by appointment to all on-campus students and university employees who are designated by their class schedule or unit administrators as on-campus or hybrid at least every other week while supplies last. (Note: We do not anticipate limited supplies at this time but will notify the campus if that changes.)
• UAB Medicine employees will not participate in UAB’s piloted active sentinel testing at this time due to their unique health and safety protocols. UAB Medicine employees should continue to follow asymptomatic, symptomatic and close-contact testing procedures as currently outlined by their leadership.
• Symptomatic testing will continue as it did in the fall.
• For-cause testing of individuals in a shared location where people test positive will be conducted as necessary at the discretion of medical professionals.
• Regular testing will be required of students who are at elevated risk (e.g., individuals who are required to remove their masks during official UAB activity).
• More groups of students will be required to test regularly.
• Close contacts will be offered testing.

In addition to increased testing, the spring semester will begin with limitations on campus visitors and enhanced, temporary restrictions on in-person student events. Please note that masking and social distancing requirements will remain in place throughout the spring semester.

This is intended to be a general overview of our enhanced safety strategies. Additional information, logistical details and specific guidance will be provided in the coming days. For important updates, please look to official UAB email, visit uab.edu/uabunited, and attend the Employee Town Hall on Jan. 8 or the Student Town Hall on Jan 20.

In the meantime, please take care of yourself and each other, and be safe.

#UABUnited,
Ray Watts
President
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB and UAB Medicine Community,

This holiday season will be very different for members of the UAB community. Some will have an opportunity to relax and recharge, while others, like our heroes on the front lines of a growing pandemic, will continue to face great challenges and need our community’s support. Please watch this brief video, and — now more than ever — be safe and careful, and take care of yourselves and each other.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to persevere through this difficult year.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts
President

Watch Video

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in and around Birmingham (and among UAB employees), it is critical we promote proper distancing, masking and handwashing to protect one another and those we serve. Please be as vigilant in the community and at home as we are at UAB. Here are key points to know right now:

Resist COVID fatigue.

As COVID fatigue sets in, people are loosening their vigilance by attending larger events and relaxing safety strategies in small groups. With the significant increase of COVID spread in our community and uptick in gatherings, it is more important now than ever to be vigilant. See tips from UAB experts to fight COVID fatigue.

Always wear a mask and social distance, even in small groups.

Contact tracing shows the vast majority of positive cases among UAB employees is the result of off-campus gatherings where social distancing is not observed, and masks are not worn. For university employees, for example, we have still seen no evidence of classroom transmission. Large and small off-campus gatherings, even those in homes, appear to be the problem. As temperatures drop and outdoor activities become more difficult, it will be important to be mindful of indoor precautions.

Avoid COVID transmission at home.

Data show that spread happens quickly among members of a household, but it can be stopped. Masks can protect you from catching COVID from a family member or roommate, so don’t assume you will definitely catch COVID just because you live with a person who is COVID-positive. If you continue to adhere to safety strategies, you may be able to avoid infection. Wear a mask at home if someone in your household is COVID-positive, symptomatic or involved in high-risk activities.

Know what a close contact is and what to do if you are exposed.

If you are within 6 feet of a COVID-positive individual for 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (outside of a clinical setting), you should quarantine (you cannot “test out” of quarantine with a negative test). A secondary contact should not quarantine (e.g., if your child is sent home from school to quarantine because a classmate tested positive, family members do not need to quarantine unless they have direct close contact with the COVID-positive individual).

When in doubt, visit UAB United or call the UAB COVID information hotline, 205-934-SAFE, to ask questions. If you are exposed or have symptoms, report it in Healthcheck.

Please wear your mask, remain 6 feet from others, and practice good hand hygiene.

#UABUnited,
Sarah Nafziger, M.D., MSHA
Medical Director, UAB Employee Health

UAB Students,

COVID-19 cases are again on the rise in and around Birmingham. This is a critical time for UAB and our community, so we must be vigilant.

Please read and follow these urgent safety reminders:

• Avoid gatherings (large and small) where masks are not worn, and where 6 feet of social distance is not maintained. Read about UAB restrictions/sanctions on student gatherings (on- and off-campus).
• Make safe Halloween plans with masks and social distancing.
• If you attend a UAB Athletics event, wear masks and socially distance (violations may result in limits on attendance at future games).
• If you test positive for COVID-19: Help stop the spread by providing quick, accurate information for contact tracing and exposure notification.
• If you test positive through an off-campus lab, alert UAB Student Health.
• Student Health will not submit information about positive tests and student gatherings to Student Conduct, so disclosing a positive test or close contact to Student Health will not result in sanctions.
• Our priority is to take care of your health and manage the spread of COVID-19.
• Download the GuideSafe app to anonymously learn or notify others of exposures.
• If you are ordered to quarantine: Complete the full duration. You cannot “test out” of quarantine early with a negative test.
• If you have questions about exposures or protocols, call 205-934-SAFE.

Read tips from infectious disease and public health experts to have a fun, safe college experience during COVID, and follow the latest updates on the UA System COVID-19 Dashboard.

Thank you for making the temporary sacrifices that SHOW your Blazer spirit and protect our community. Please stay vigilant. We will get through this together.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, M.D., President
John Jones, Ph.D., VP Student Affairs
Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., UAB Medicine Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases

UAB students and parents,

COVID-19 cases have increased among UAB students primarily as a result of large and small off-campus gatherings at houses, apartments and bars/clubs, putting our campus community at risk.

As outlined in our Student Code of Conduct, students cannot engage in behavior that endangers the welfare of the community. Until further notice, escalated sanctions will be applied for violating restrictions for off-campus gatherings.

Off-campus Gatherings, Interim Policy (All Students)

Residences (e.g., Apartments/Houses/Condos): Consistent with public health ordinances, 6 feet of social distancing must be maintained at gatherings in residences occupied by students that are attended by individuals who do not reside at that location. Such gatherings should also include masking and hand hygiene, as well as compliance with state and local health ordinances.

• Escalated sanctions will be imposed for students found responsible for hosting or attending a social gathering in violation of this interim guidance.

Bars/Clubs/Public Establishments: Masks and physical distancing parameters are required by state and local health ordinances at bars/establishments in the community, and students are expected to comply.

• Escalated sanctions will be imposed for students found responsible for violating masking and/or physical distancing off-campus.

These sacrifices are necessary to SHOW your Blazer spirit and protect our community, but they are only temporary based on the prevalence of COVID-19. Please stay vigilant, and we will get through this #UABUnited.

Respectfully,

John Jones

Vice President, Student Affairs

UAB students and parents,

Given last week’s increase in COVID-positive tests among UAB students, as reported Friday on the UA System COVID Dashboard (up from 19 to 49 weekly cases), we need to reverse this trend by acting quickly.

In addition to increasing sentinel testing and contact tracing, we will continue to add health and safety measures.

Your decisions are vital. Please increase vigilance with safety compliance, and encourage your roommates and friends to do the same.

Most new cases result from off-campus gatherings, even in groups smaller than 10 people, where masking and social distancing are not followed. Experts advise students to limit small group interactions outside the classroom to no more than five people and maintain masking and social distancing.

Continued increases in infection rates will disrupt campus life, including heightened restrictions, increased disciplinary actions, and threats to classroom and business operations.

To avoid this, please:

• Limit small group interactions outside the classroom to no more than five people (avoid bars, restaurants, parties/gatherings where masking and distancing are not maintained).
• Wear your mask indoors and outdoors on- and off-campus.
• Maintain 6 feet of social distance indoors and outdoors on- and off-campus.
• Accurately enter symptoms and possible exposures in Healthcheck.
• Download the anonymous GuideSafe app to speed exposure notification.

Thank you for your efforts to protect health and safety through these temporary but vital sacrifices. Please read official UAB emails, including Greenmail, for updates, and call the UAB COVID-19 hotline at 205-934-SAFE if you have questions.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts
President

University faculty and staff,

As reported Friday on the UA System COVID Dashboard, UAB student COVID-19 cases increased (up from 19 to 49 weekly cases), and new cases continue to be detected.

Most new cases result from off-campus gatherings, even in groups smaller than 10 people, where masking and social distancing are not followed; experts advise students to limit small group interactions outside of the classroom to no more than five people and maintain masking and social distancing.

Continued increases in infection rates will disrupt campus life, including heightened restrictions, increased disciplinary actions, and threats to classroom and business operations.

To reverse this trend, we are increasing testing and contact tracing, as well as communicating the importance of vigilance with students. You can help by increasing your vigilance on- and off-campus and by participating in sentinel testing when invited (it is important that faculty/staff participation improves). *NOTE: Sentinel testing is for those who do not have symptoms. If you are symptomatic, please do not do a sentinel test; instead work through Employee Health to go through the symptomatic test process.

Please reinforce key messages with students and colleagues:

• Limit small group interactions outside the classroom to no more than five people (avoid bars, restaurants, parties/gatherings where masking and distancing are not maintained).
• Wear your mask indoors and outdoors on- and off-campus.
• Maintain 6 feet of social distance indoors and outdoors on- and off-campus.
• Accurately enter symptoms and possible exposures in Healthcheck.
• Download the anonymous GuideSafe app to speed exposure notification. (Faculty, please add this to a slide in class and/or in Canvas to encourage downloads.)



• Sacrifices we all make to protect health and safety are temporary and will not last forever.

Please read official UAB emails, including eReporter, and call the UAB COVID-19 hotline at 205-934-SAFE if you have questions. We are monitoring the situation and will continue to add strategies to increase safety.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts
President

UAB students, faculty, staff and UAB Medicine employees,

Beginning Monday, Oct. 12, all students and employees, including faculty, staff and UAB Medicine employees, coming on site are expected to complete UAB Healthcheck daily for entry. Healthcheck is a COVID-19 assessment tool that allows users to easily report COVID-19 symptoms and exposure history daily.

For quick and easy access, Healthcheck will now send a daily text message allowing you to respond via text to the three questions pertaining to symptoms, exposure and current quarantine status with a simple “yes” or “no.”

Based on your response, you will receive further instructions via text message on next steps.

UAB Healthcheck consists of three categories: Least Risk, May Be at Risk, or Greater Risk.

If you respond “no” to the text message, you are considered to be in the “Least Risk” category and cleared to come on-site. Your GuideSafe™ Passport for campus entry is available through go.uab.edu/healthcheck or the UAB App, under Healthcheck.

If you are experiencing symptoms, have been exposed, or have been asked to quarantine or are self-isolating, you will be prompted to fill out your daily Healthcheck online to fully report symptoms. You will receive a text message with instructions on how to fill out Healthcheck and determine your risk level. Based on your risk level, you will receive further instructions on next steps.

Healthcheck can be accessed on a phone, tablet or computer by going to uab.edu/healthcheck or through the UAB app. Employees can also access it through the myUAB employee portal at my.uab.edu and UAB Medicine ONE.

Existing Healthcheck Participants
Current participants have been receiving an email reminder if Healthcheck has not been completed in two days and a text reminder if Healthcheck has not been completed in three days. Reminders will move to daily with an easy “yes” or “no” response that allows for easier access to complete your Healthcheck.

If you are not receiving a text reminder, visit go.uab.edu/healthcheck and enter your cellphone number.

New Healthcheck Participants
To begin using Healthcheck, visit uab.edu/healthcheck and log in with your Blazer ID. An initial setup survey must be performed the first time you access Healthcheck to connect your Blazer ID with your cellphone number. Entering your cellphone number ensures your response is properly reported and enables text message reminders for you to easily respond to each day with a “yes” or “no” answer and clearance to come to campus. Your GuideSafe™ Passport is available through go.uab.edu/healthcheck and the UAB App, under Healthcheck.

The phone number you register with will be associated with your Blazer ID and used for tracking your responses. Please be sure to respond from the number used in the initial Healthcheck survey. Multiple phone numbers can be registered by logging into go.uab.edu/healthcheck. To opt out of daily text messages, reply with “Stop.”

Healthcheck is expected to be completed daily for everyone that is hybrid or on campus, including weekends or when you are on vacation. If you have an extended absence like maternity leave, then you should work with UAB Human Resources and your supervisor to change your status to remote. Healthcheck is not required for anyone that is entirely remote. Students will receive email communications regarding Healthcheck before winter break.

If you have questions about COVID-19 safety at UAB, call the UAB GuideSafe™ Hotline at 205-934-SAFE (7233). Please read official UAB emails (including GreenMail, eReporter and ONE) for important updates and information as we continue to deliver on UAB’s vital mission and keep your health and safety our top priority.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Reid Jones, UAB Medicine CEO

UAB students, faculty, staff and parents,

Thank you for practicing health and safety on- and off-campus, making it possible for us to continue instruction during this pandemic. Key decisions have been made for our spring 2021 semester in partnership with the University of Alabama System:

Spring 2021 course delivery will be similar to the fall 2020 semester.
With expectations that COVID-19 and seasonal influenza will remain a threat in early 2021, we plan to continue to offer a combination of in-person, hybrid, remote and online instruction for the spring semester.

Spring 2021 registration will be held in November.
When students register for the spring semester, they will know whether classes will be in-person, hybrid, remote or online. Faculty and staff will receive guidance, and students will be able to access their new registration time online and in BlazerNet.

Spring semester dates have been changed.
The 2021 spring semester will begin Jan. 19 and end with commencement April 30-May 1. Infectious disease and public health experts advise that holidays and long weekends significantly increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. As a result, UAB will provide an extra week of Winter Break (i.e., between the end of the fall semester and the start of the spring semester) but no Spring Break. We are exploring strategies to promote health and wellness, relaxation, and fun for the UAB community in lieu of Spring Break. UAB administration is working with Student Government, Faculty Senate and Staff Council leaders to explore the best options.

Students living in residence halls can leave belongings on campus.
Students who live on campus will have the option to leave belongings in their residence hall room over Winter Break.

Options for pass/fail grading will remain in the spring.
The pass/fail grading option and course withdrawal policies that have been in place for the 2020 spring, summer and fall semesters will also be offered in the spring 2021 semester.

Temporary COVID-19 policies are under review.
Temporary policies put in place during the pandemic regarding COVID-19 testing, university travel, study abroad, campus visitors, and in-person/virtual commencement and events are under review. Decisions for the spring semester will be announced as they are made.

Please read official UAB emails (including Greenmail for students, eReporter for employees and ONE for UAB Medicine) for important updates and information — including details about upcoming virtual town halls — as we continue to deliver on UAB’s vital mission and keep your health and safety our top priority.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Pam Benoit, Senior Vice President and Provost

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff (workgroups A, C and F),

The UAB family continues to show great resilience in the face of disruption and stress to deliver on our vital mission pillars. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.

On May 4, the university and UAB Medicine (UAB Hospital, UAHSF, UAB Health System, Callahan Eye Hospital) announced expense reduction strategies to address budget shortfalls due to COVID-19. These actions were necessary to protect the institution and our employees as we assessed the financial impacts of the pandemic.

In July, with the support of the University of Alabama System, we were able to end many of the reduction strategies based on improved financial outlooks. Today, we are pleased to announce more good news.

Medical, Vision and Dental Insurance Premiums
Premiums in 2021 for UAB, UAHSF, UABHS and Callahan health/vision/dental insurance plans will not increase. Upcoming editions of the eReporter, communications from Human Resources and the ONE website for UAB Medicine employees will provide details about open enrollment and the premium structure.

403(b) Retirement Plan Employer Match/Contribution
In May, the employer match/contribution for 403(b) retirement plans was suspended across the University of Alabama System as a necessary expense reduction strategy. Last week, the UA System Board of Trustees approved the employer match/contribution to resume in October. This applies to UAB and UAB Medicine entities.

Extra Holidays on Dec. 24 and 31
UAB and UAB Medicine employees will receive extra holidays Dec. 24 and 31, 2020. As with all UAB holidays, most operations will be suspended, although essential services will continue. Managers should provide employees advance notice of the holiday work schedule, and employees of Callahan Eye Hospital, UAB Hospital, UAB Police, UAB Call Center and units that receive personal holidays instead of designated ones should check with their supervisors regarding staffing. UAB’s holiday schedule is available online.

Vacation Rollover for UAB and UAHSF Employees
Because the pandemic has made it difficult for many employees to take time off during 2020 and caused many to cancel vacations, the maximum annual carryover of unused vacation days will be increased, and employees will have until the end of 2022 to use those days as vacation.

PTO/ETO for UAB Health System and Callahan Employees
Please see FAQs for details about how PTO/ETO plans will be impacted related to rollover of time.

Child Care Assistance Programs
The university and UAB Medicine will continue to offer child care assistance options for employees with school-age children. Access details online and follow eReporter and ONE for updates.

More details are available in this FAQ. In addition to these strategies, university and UAB Medicine leadership will continue looking for opportunities to recognize and reward employees as operational considerations and financial projections allow.

While we are unfortunately not in a position to provide an institution-wide merit pool for salary increases this fiscal year, we wanted to take these actions to thank and reward you for your dedication to UAB and those we serve.

We sincerely appreciate your commitment to excellence. Please remain vigilant regarding COVID safety so we do not take steps backward as an organization or community.

Together, we can continue to make a difference.

#UAB United,
Ray Watts, President
Reid Jones, UAB Medicine CEO

UAB Students,

It is critical that you follow safety protocols in our fight against COVID-19. Early compliance has been encouraging. In addition to masks and social distancing, we must be clear on specific Healthcheck, testing and quarantine protocols.

Delaying Healthchecks or receiving an off-campus COVID test in an attempt to avoid quarantine puts the campus community at risk and will be addressed by Student Conduct.

When you report true symptoms, exposure or a positive test, you are part of the solution. Delayed or inaccurate Healthchecks jeopardize our ability to stop the spread of the virus and protect our campus.

A negative test does not substitute for quarantine.

If you have a close contact to a positive COVID case or have a symptom, enter it into Healthcheck, work with Student Health, and follow all instructions for testing or quarantine. If you consider a negative test clearance to resume normal activities before the end of your quarantine period, you may put others at risk.

UAB Student Health is the best place to be tested:

• The test is a quick and easy nasal swab, not the more invasive nasopharyngeal test
• Results of tests done in Student Health are fast
• There is no cost to students or your insurance for a COVID-19 test through Student Health
• While it is not against policy to get an off-campus test, the accuracy and reliability of off-campus tests vary widely, while ours are extremely sensitive
• You can reach Student Health Services at 205-934-3580 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday or after hours through UAB Paging at 205-934-9411 (ask for the on-call provider)

Please report noncompliance.

Anonymously report noncompliance with health and safety protocols through the UAB Ethics Hotline.

Thank you for playing your important part. Please continue to SHOW your Blazer spirit by owning responsibility with your actions.

We can do this #UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
John Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs

Students:

In addition to the UAB Healthcheck and event passport technology, the GuideSafe exposure notification app is a powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19. The app, which was developed at UAB in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, protects the user’s privacy while anonymously alerting them if they have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Recently launched, the exposure notification app has already been downloaded by more than 40,000 people.

The app is available to anyone in Alabama, and all members of the UAB community are strongly encouraged to download it. You will need to quarantine if you have had a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 — defined as being within 6 feet of a COVID-positive individual for more than 15 minutes.

Only a direct close contact with the COVID-positive individual counts as an exposure requiring quarantine; if you have been around someone who is notified of a close contact (e.g., a classmate gets an exposure notification in the app), but you were not within 6 feet of the COVID-positive individual for more than 15 minutes — you do not have a confirmed close contact and do not need to quarantine. In other words, a close contact of a close contact (a secondary contact) does not count when it comes to quarantine requirements. Asymptomatic students who have had no close contact exposure to a COVID-19-positive person do not need to report a close contact exposure in Healthcheck and have no on-campus restrictions as a secondary contact.

Where can I confirm a “close contact” exposure notification?

Close contact exposures can be found in the top box in the app. The app may send a pop-up notification with different messages about proximity to someone who tested positive; but if you do not have a close contact logged in the top box in the app, the GuideSafe app has not logged you for a close contact. You do not need to quarantine, and please do not mark “Yes” to exposure in Healthcheck unless you have a close contact logged in the top box of the app.

What do I do if I am notified of an exposure in the top box of the app?

• DO NOT attend in-person class, clinical rotations or other activity until cleared by Student Health Services. If you are in class/clinical rotation/other activity, leave. Notify your course instructors or supervisor that you cannot be present.
• Please fill out your Healthcheck as soon as possible and check “yes” to exposure.
• You cannot fill out Healthcheck twice in a day. If you have already filled out Healthcheck for the day, call Student Health Services (205-934-3580 or 205-934-3411 after hours/weekends) as soon as possible for next steps.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have other urgent concerns, please contact Student Health Services (205-934-3580 or 205-934-3411 after hours/weekends).
• If you have symptoms and are going to visit Student Health Services or another medical facility, please call first to alert them that you are coming in. Wear your face covering.

How long will I quarantine if I have a close contact to someone positive for COVID-19?

• You will need to quarantine for 14 days after the time of the exposure.
• The Android/Google app does the math for you and will tell you how many days you have remaining to quarantine from the time of the close contact exposure.
• The Apple/iOS app does not do the math for you at this time; you will need to count 14 days from the date of the exposure listed in the top box of the app to determine the duration of your quarantine.

Will I get tested if I had a close contact exposure?

Not everyone who has a close contact exposure should receive a COVID-19 test. Medical professionals in Student Health will determine the need for a COVID-19 test based on individual circumstances and direction from public health (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Alabama Department of Public Health) guidance.

Faculty and staff,

In addition to the UAB Healthcheck and event passport technology, the GuideSafe exposure notification app is a powerful tool in the fight against COVID-19. The app, which was developed at UAB in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, protects the user’s privacy while anonymously alerting them if they have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Recently launched, the exposure notification app has already been downloaded by more than 40,000 people.

The app is available to anyone in Alabama, and all members of the UAB community are strongly encouraged to download it. Campus employees who are not health care workers will need to quarantine if they have had a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 — defined as being within 6 feet of a COVID-positive individual for more than 15 minutes. Employees who are health care workers will not necessarily need to quarantine after exposures at this time and should follow the instructions of Employee Health.

Only a direct close contact with the COVID-positive individual counts as an exposure requiring quarantine; if you have been around someone who is notified of a close contact (e.g., a colleague gets an exposure notification in the app), but you were not within 6 feet of the COVID-positive individual for more than 15 minutes — you do not have a confirmed close contact and do not need to quarantine. In other words, a close contact of a close contact (a secondary contact) does not count when it comes to quarantine requirements. Asymptomatic employees who have had no close contact exposure to a COVID-19-positive person do not need to report a close contact exposure in Healthcheck and have no work restrictions.

Where can I confirm a “close contact” exposure notification?

Close contact exposures can be found in the top box in the app. The app may send a pop-up notification with different messages about proximity to someone who tested positive; but if you do not have a close contact logged in the top box in the app, the GuideSafe app has not logged a close contact for you, and you do not need to quarantine.

What do I do if I am notified of an exposure in the top box of the app?

• DO NOT report to work until cleared by Employee Health; if you are at work, leave. Notify your supervisor that you cannot be present. Note: At this time, employees who are health care workers will not necessarily need to quarantine and will be allowed to continue to work. Health care workers should continue to report to work unless otherwise instructed through Healthcheck or by Employee Health.
• Please fill out your Healthcheck as soon as possible and check “yes” to exposure.
• You cannot fill out Healthcheck twice in a day. If you have already filled out Healthcheck for the day, fill out the Employee Health Symptom and Exposure form online.
• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have other urgent concerns, complete Healthcheck and notify your supervisor. Remain under home isolation until you are cleared to return to work by Employee Health.
• If you have symptoms and are going to a health care provider, please call first to alert them that you are coming in. Wear your face covering.

How long will I quarantine if I have a close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19?

• If you are NOT a health care worker and have had a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to quarantine for 14 days after the time of the exposure.
• If you ARE a health care worker and have had a close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you will not necessarily need to quarantine at this time and should follow the instructions of Employee Health.
• The Android/Google app does the math for you and will tell you how many days you have remaining to quarantine from the time of the close contact exposure.
• The Apple/iOS app does not do the math for you at this time; you will need to count 14 days from the date of the exposure listed in the top box of the app to determine the duration of your quarantine.

Will I get tested if I had a close contact exposure?

Not everyone who has a close contact exposure should receive a COVID-19 test. Medical professionals in Employee Health will determine the need for a COVID-19 test based on individual circumstances and direction from public health (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Alabama Department of Public Health) guidance.

At what time does a faculty member move a class to all remote/online?

• When a faculty member tests positive or has a confirmed close contact requiring quarantine, that faculty member should contact his/her department chair to discuss any necessary adjustments for teaching. In most cases, it will be possible for faculty teaching in-person or hybrid courses to continue teaching their course in a remote format for the isolation/quarantine period. In some unusual cases, the faculty member may need to work with his/her chair to temporarily assign the course to another instructor.
• People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department. The CDC offers guidance on quarantine.
• If you have a close contact (less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) to a COVID-positive person, please fill out your Healthcheck as soon as possible and check “yes” to exposure.
• You cannot fill out Healthcheck twice in a day. If you have already filled out Healthcheck for the day, complete the Employee Health Symptom and Exposure form online, and Employee Health will contact you as soon as possible for next steps.
• Communicate with your class to let them know how you will be temporarily adjusting the class to continue their instruction. Sample message:

Dear Students:

I am writing to let you know that this course will be moved to the fully remote format for the next ## days (insert the number of days since the COVID exposure occurred). This does not mean you had a close contact exposure to COVID-19 or that you need to quarantine. Anyone who may need to quarantine will be contacted through Student or Employee Health with guidance on next steps. All students should log in and access the course via UAB Canvas. Guidance for how the course will proceed can be found within the XXX-XXX course shell. Our next in person class meeting will be on xx day at xx time.

Sincerely,
Faculty Instructor

UAB Students,

COVID-19 cases spiked dramatically in Jefferson County and across Alabama after the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays.

A similar spike after Labor Day could be devastating to our fall semester.

It is not easy to make temporary sacrifices, but we must continue to do so while this public health crisis persists.

You can do this. #UABUnited, we can do this.

This holiday weekend, and always, remember to:

• Avoid crowds, especially where 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained
• Wear a face covering indoors and outside
• Minimize your in-person interactions to those who are in your close social circle
• Avoid areas where you may have an increased risk of exposure, such as where community spread is increasing; alter your travel plans to avoid those areas
• Know which local businesses have pledged to support your health and safety, and encourage others to do the same

To minimize risk and provide a safe environment on campus, we continue to enforce compliance with safety mandates through Student Conduct, and UAB and the UA System continue to increase safety requirements. Students should read official UAB emails and follow Student Affairs/Student Health instructions to remain in compliance with requirements. Recent updates and clarifications include:

• Student quarantine/isolation requirements: Students who receive a positive COVID test or have a close contact exposure to someone who is COVID-positive are required to report this information to Student Health. Students who live on-campus may be required to relocate from their residence hall to dedicated isolation/quarantine space. On-campus residents who are required to relocate for isolation/quarantine can choose to return home for the quarantine/isolation period. Ask Student Health for guidance.
• Student sentinel testing: Sentinel testing is voluntary for most students but is required for students who: live in on-campus residential housing; participate intramural club sports; participate in clinical activities, provided that student also has or will have a presence on- campus throughout the semester; and who are in registered student organizations permitted to hold in-person meetings with 10 or more people.
• Student “for-cause” testing: “For-cause” testing is required for certain groups. UAB will immediately respond to any suspected increase in COVID-19 exposures in a specific campus location or an identified group of individuals. Our healthcare professionals will determine the need to perform for-cause testing when, in their medical opinion, there has been a notable increase in reported positive tests or COVID-related symptoms in a common geographic area or group of people. Students required to participate in sentinel testing must also participate in for-cause testing. Those who refuse to participate in required for-cause testing will be referred to Student Conduct.

Thank you for making safety a priority and being a role model for our campus and community.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
John Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs

Faculty and Staff,

COVID-19 cases spiked dramatically in Jefferson County and across Alabama after the Memorial Day and July 4 holidays.

A similar spike after Labor Day could be devastating to our fall semester and strain our healthcare system.

More than 80% of all positive COVID cases among university and UAB Medicine employees have been acquired out in the community. Please be vigilant wherever you go. It is not easy to make temporary sacrifices, but we must continue to do so while this public health crisis persists.

You can do this. #UABUnited, we can do this.

This holiday weekend, and always, remember to:

• Avoid crowds, particularly where 6’ social distancing cannot be maintained
• Wear a face covering indoors and outside
• Minimize your in-person social circle
• Avoid areas where you have an increased risk of exposure, such as places where community spread is increasing; alter your travel plans to avoid them
• Know which local businesses have pledged to support the health and safety of our community and encourage others to do the same

Updates about requirements

We continue to enforce compliance with safety mandates through HR and Student Conduct. With the UA System, we continue to increase safety requirements.

• Quarantine/isolation requirements: Employees who test positive for COVID or have a close contact exposure to someone who is COVID-positive are required to report this information to Employee Health. Employees who are in isolation or under quarantine must be cleared by Employee Health before coming back to work.
• Sentinel testing: Sentinel testing is voluntary for most of the campus community but is required for specified groups of students. Unless subject to a specific testing protocol, such as athletic staff, employees are strongly encouraged, but not required to participate in sentinel testing.
• “For-cause” testing: UAB will immediately respond to any suspected increase in COVID-19 exposures in a specific campus location or an identified group of individuals. Our healthcare professionals will determine the need to perform for-cause testing when, in their medical opinion, there has been a notable increase in reported positive tests or COVID-related symptoms in a common geographic area or group of people.

Thank you for making safety a priority and being a role model for our campus and community.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President

UAB Students,

Your response to the COVID-19 pandemic is inspiring and encouraging. You can do this.

#UABUnited, we can do this.

We are proud to see widespread mask-wearing indoors and outside, social distancing and compliance with other requirements of our health and safety plan.

It will not be easy – especially in social settings outside of the classroom – to change habits and get used to college life in a pandemic. Keeping UAB open will require temporary sacrifices, and you will play a key part in our shared success.

Please stay vigilant and persist. Do not let up.

Universities across the country have closed after on- and off-campus gatherings infected hundreds of students in a matter of days.

Your actions over the next two weeks and weekends – including Labor Day – will be critical. SHOW your Blazer Spirit.

Please report non-compliance with safety requirements to Student Affairs, anonymously with this online form or call 866-362-9476, available 24/7. Student Affairs will pursue progressive discipline through the conduct process to address non-compliance.

We are asking area restaurants, bars and other businesses to pledge they will provide a safe environment in support of UAB students. Please spread the word.

Thank you for you making safety a priority. Together we will make history in showing the world UAB’s resilience and what it means to be a Blazer.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Jazmine Benjamin, Graduate Student Government Association President
Tyler Huang, Undergraduate Student Government Association President
John Jones, Vice President of Student Affairs

UAB students,

Much has been done to prepare for a safe return to in-person instruction for the fall 2020 semester beginning Aug. 24, and a lot has been communicated. We want to highlight key updates, information and resources that might be particularly helpful to you now.

Daily (7 days a week) UAB Healthcheck Requirement and Event Passport

Starting Aug. 24, Healthcheck (available online and in the UAB app) will be required daily. After completing Healthcheck, users can click “Get My Passport” to receive an Event Passport. A green passport screen will allow access to class, campus events and facilities. A red passport screen will require steps/guidance from Student Health to receive approval to resume campus activity. Do not go to class or use campus facilities if you have a red passport.

Possible Exposure, Close Contacts and COVID-19 Tests

UAB Student Health provides information about what to do if you have symptoms and how to get tested for COVID-19. Use UAB Healthcheck to alert Student Health to symptoms or a close contact that could put you at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, defined as being within 6 feet of an infected individual for more that 15 minutes. With proper social distancing and adherence to face covering/mask requirements, you would not necessarily be at an increased risk or need to quarantine because someone in your class, residence hall or building/floor tests positive.

Download the GuideSafe™ Exposure Notification App

Users of this app will be anonymously notified of potential close contact with someone who reports a positive COVID-19 test without sharing anyone’s identity. Please download it today to keep yourself and others safe.

Student Classroom Checklist

Sharing Data With the Campus Community

UAB and UA System leaders are making data-driven decisions in response to the pandemic and will keep the campus community updated. Please look to your eReporter for updates on UAB-specific and UA System aggregate numbers. These data will be in a dashboard that is being finalized now and planned to post the afternoon of Monday, August 24, after weekend testing results are tabulated.

Mandatory Compliance

Compliance with safety strategies is mandatory to be on campus, including COVID education, daily Healthcheck and passport, face covering/mask wearing, and social distancing. Student Affairs will monitor compliance and address issues with progressive discipline. For instance, if faculty, staff or students are not current/compliant with Healthcheck or are attempting to use an invalid Healthcheck passport, Student Affairs will receive an alert and follow up. Failure to comply will result in sanctions that can include a loss of access to campus. Please encourage fellow Blazers to comply. You can report non-compliance anonymously online.

Face Covering/Mask Requirement

Masks/face coverings are mandatory for everyone and should be worn anywhere on campus, inside and outside, unless you are alone in an enclosed space. Masks/face coverings can be temporarily and briefly pulled down to eat in appropriate settings where distancing is observed. Eating is not permitted in classrooms.

Thank you for the crucial role you play in supporting our safety plan and promoting a healthy environment. If we are to remain open and in-person this semester, it is critical that we all adhere to safety strategies both on- and off-campus. Please do your part to stop the spread of COVID.

Please read official emails from UAB (including Greenmail) and visit www.uab.edu/uabunited to learn more about our safety plan for campus entry.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Pam Benoit, Senior Vice President and Provost
John Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs

University Faculty and Staff,

Much has been done in partnership with the UA System to prepare UAB for a safe return to in-person instruction for the fall 2020 semester beginning Aug. 24. A lot has been communicated, so we want to highlight key updates, information and resources that might be particularly helpful to you now.

Access the University Faculty and Staff Entry Checklist

Daily (7 days a week) UAB Healthcheck Requirement and Event Passport

Starting Aug. 24, Healthcheck (available online, at my.uab.edu and in the UAB app) will be required daily. After completing Healthcheck, users can click “Get My Passport” to receive an Event Passport. A green passport screen will allow access to class, campus events and facilities. A red passport screen will require steps/guidance from Student or Employee Health to receive approval to resume campus activity.

Faculty Classroom Checklist

Classrooms will look and operate differently this semester. Classes have been measured and rearranged to allow for social distancing. Technology has been installed to support hybrid/remote instruction. Sanitary wipes have been placed in classrooms, and students will be asked to show their Healthcheck passport to attend class. Faculty, please refer to this checklist as you navigate your classroom.

Possible Exposure, Close Contacts and Positive COVID-19 Tests

UAB Employee Health provides information — informed by state and federal guidelines — to help students, faculty and staff know what defines close contact and what to do if they have one, as well as what to do if you or someone you know has symptoms or tests positive. Use UAB Healthcheck to alert Employee Health to a close contact that could put you at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19, defined as being within 6 feet of an infected individual for more than 15 minutes. With proper social distancing and adherence to face covering/mask requirements, you would not necessarily be at an increased risk or need to quarantine because someone in your class or building/floor tests positive.

Download the GuideSafe™ Exposure Notification App

Users of this app will be anonymously notified of potential close contact with someone who reports a positive COVID-19 test without sharing anyone’s identity. Please download it today to keep yourself and others safe.

Sharing Data With the Campus Community

UAB and UA System leaders are making data-driven decisions in response to the pandemic and will keep the campus community updated. Please look to your eReporter for updates on UAB-specific and UA System aggregate numbers. These data will be in a dashboard that is being finalized now and planned to post the afternoon of Monday, August 24, after weekend testing results are tabulated.

Mandatory Compliance

Compliance with safety strategies is mandatory to be on campus, including COVID education, daily Healthcheck and passport, face covering/mask wearing, and social distancing. Human Resources and Student Affairs will monitor compliance and address issues with progressive discipline. For instance, if faculty, staff or students are not current/compliant with Healthcheck or are attempting to use an invalid Healthcheck passport, HR/Student Affairs will receive an alert and follow up. Failure to comply will result in sanctions that can include a loss of access to campus. Please encourage fellow Blazers to comply. You can report non-compliance anonymously online.

Face Covering/Mask Requirement

Masks/face coverings are mandatory for everyone and should be worn anywhere on campus, inside and outside, unless you are alone in an enclosed space. Face coverings can be temporarily and briefly pulled down to eat in appropriate settings where distancing is observed. Eating is not permitted in classrooms.

Additional Resources

The UAB United website offers many additional resources:

• Health and safety resources and recommendations for on- and off-campus
• Human Resources to support employees
• Resources to resume research safely
• Pedagogy resources and workshops compiled by the Division of eLearning and Professional Studies and the Center for Teaching and Learning to support faculty in preparing for fall courses using the hybrid learning delivery model and other pedagogical techniques
• Technology resources and training on the UAB IT Remote Work Toolkit
• Special library resources described in a new library guide including Interlibrary Loan services to help obtain articles and/or book chapters
• FAQs on grading
• Hybrid Learning Best Practices
• FAQs on the one-year tenure clock extension
• Guidance on allowable travel and travel reimbursements, domestic or international, at the UAB travel website and at the UAB United website under “Travel”
• Testing
• Entry guidance (expectations and guidelines, guidance for specific campus scenarios, facility cleaning and access, entry training and requirements, entry checklist, and a schedule for entry)

Thank you for the crucial role you play in supporting our safety plan and promoting a healthy environment. If we are to remain open this semester, it is critical that we all adhere to safety strategies both on- and off-campus. Please do your part to stop the spread of COVID.

Please read official emails from UAB (including eReporter) and visit www.uab.edu/uabunited to learn more about our safety plan for campus entry.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Pam Benoit, Senior Vice President and Provost

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

This is a stressful, uncertain time, yet the UAB community’s resilience continues to sustain our mission while keeping health and safety our top priority. Thank you for all you do. Our gradual campus re-entry is going well, with clinical and research activity largely back to pre-COVID levels.

We have employed an extensive combination of safety protocols and resources that — together — minimize risk, and we continue to implement even more strategies to enhance safety, like expanded COVID-19 testing and the anonymous exposure notification app coming soon.

Safety requirements developed in partnership with the UA System will be strictly enforced, and with cooperation from our students, faculty and staff, we expect these strategies to continue to be effective. The ongoing #UABUnited campaign encourages proper behaviors for the greater good, and non-compliance with safety protocols can be anonymously reported.

The spread of COVID-19 in our community is of great concern, and we continue to work with our infectious disease and public health experts to assess the level of risk in on-site activity relative to our safety strategies. COVID-19 Incident Command teams are active for both the university and UAB Medicine, continually evaluating operational plans and monitoring relevant data — including local and big-picture COVID-19 trends, compliance with safety protocols, status of COVID-19 entry and sentinel testing results, and other key metrics.

This remains a fluid situation. While the university and UAB Medicine continue to move forward with current plans, we also have contingency plans. If at any point our current plans become unsustainable due to the status of the pandemic, the university and UAB Medicine will make data-driven decisions based on our capacity, pivot and communicate changes with as much prior notice as possible.

To review current plans and the extensive battery of safety protocols and resources in place and in development, university employees can access uab.edu/coronavirus and the entry plan web site (an update of this site to enhance user experience is in the works), as well as this quick-reference safety overview one-pager. UAB Medicine’s employees can access current COVID-19 information on ONE.

For answers to many frequently asked questions, access our July 8 Faculty Town Hall and the July 13 Employee Town Hall (including “More of Your Questions Answered” updated July 23). Additional town halls are upcoming:

• Faculty/Instructor Town Hall: August 7, 12-1 p.m.
• Students/Family Town Hall: August 12, 6-7 p.m.
• Employee Town Hall: August 14, 12-1 p.m.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Reid Jones, CEO UAB Medicine
Pam Benoit, Provost

UAB students,

This is a stressful, uncertain time, yet the UAB community’s resilience continues to sustain our mission while keeping health and safety our top priority. Our gradual campus re-entry is going well, with clinical and research activity largely back to pre-COVID levels.

We have employed an extensive combination of safety protocols and resources that — together — minimize risk, and we continue to implement even more strategies to enhance safety that will be in place before the start of the fall semester. For example, the anonymous exposure notification app we’ve been developing in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health, Apple and Google will be available for you to download soon.

Safety requirements developed in partnership with the UA System will be strictly enforced, and with cooperation from our students, faculty and staff, we expect these strategies to continue to be effective. The ongoing #UABUnited campaign encourages proper behaviors for the greater good, and non-compliance with safety protocols can be anonymously reported.

We are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in our communities relative to our plans for the fall, and we continue to work with our infectious disease and public health experts to assess the level of risk in on-site activity relative to our safety strategies. A COVID-19 Incident Command Committee has been established to continually monitor relevant data — including local and big-picture COVID-19 trends, on-campus compliance with safety protocols, status of COVID-19 entry and sentinel testing results, and other key metrics.

This remains a fluid situation. While the university continues to move forward with current plans, we also have contingency plans. If at any point our current plans become unsustainable due to the status of the pandemic, the university will make data-driven decisions based on our capacity, pivot and communicate changes with as much prior notice as possible.

To review current plans and the extensive battery of safety protocols and resources in place and in development, visit uab.edu/coronavirus and the entry plan web site (an update of this site to enhance user experience is in the works), as well as this quick-reference safety overview one-pager.

We will continue to provide regular updates. Please monitor your emails and read official university communications, including Greenmail every Wednesday.

You can attend our next virtual town hall for students and families on August 12, 6-7 p.m. Access the recent Incoming Undergraduate Student Town Hall, Returning Undergraduate Student Town Hall and Graduate Student Town Hall online.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Pam Benoit, Provost and Senior Vice President
John Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

We want to acknowledge that many of you are grappling with significant uncertainty related to your family’s childcare and school plans as we move into the fall. As Birmingham City Schools and other local K-12 districts announce plans for an all-remote start, we understand that parents and caregivers are faced with limited options and difficult decisions.

At UAB and UAB Medicine, our people are our greatest asset. We care about the wellbeing of you and your family, value your contributions, and recognize that flexibility is critical as we continue to deliver on our missions. We encourage leaders throughout the enterprise to engage with faculty and staff to understand their needs so we can work together in providing guidance in addressing them.

We are updating the list of community-based childcare resources and exploring what other options might be available. We need your help to better understand the scale and scope of this issue. Please complete the survey linked below if you are a primary caregiver for a child who will be enrolled in Kindergarten through 8th grade beginning this school year.

Access the Childcare and School Survey

Despite so many challenges, we know you will continue to provide exceptional patient care, educational opportunities, research breakthroughs, student and infrastructure support, and community service during this unprecedented time. We are grateful for the important work each one of you does, and we want to work with you to find solutions that support you personally as parents and professionally as employees of UAB and UAB Medicine.

Sincerely,

Ray Watts, President
Reid Jones, UAB Medicine CEO
Pam Benoit, Provost and Senior Vice President

To promote health and safety on campus as part of our comprehensive entry planning, all UAB students coming to campus after August 1 are required to be tested for COVID-19. Students who entered campus prior to that date do not have the same requirement, as they are regularly reporting any coronavirus symptoms via HealthCheck. Free tests will be available through GuideSafe, which is supported by CARES Act funding through the state of Alabama.

Within 14 days prior to coming to campus, students must undergo testing for the coronavirus. Those who test negative will be cleared for this requirement. Those who test positive must have additional medical clearance from a health care provider and UAB Student Health Services after completing required public health measures. (Note: Students with a positive result will be allowed to participate in remote learning if physically able.)

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 12 weeks, please do not re-test at this time. Instead, provide UAB Student Health Services a copy of your results and health care provider clearance documentation via the secure patient portal. You can access your portal on the Student Health Services website with you Blazer ID and password; select the “Messages” tab and then upload your documentation to “Coronavirus Lab Results.” Your information will be reviewed, and you will be notified via the portal once clearance is confirmed.

Students required to participate in entry testing will receive an email soon from “GuideSafe Entry Testing” This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about accessing your COVID-19 test. Please look for and promptly complete the instructions in the email. The test involves a nasal swap just inside the nostril, which is easy to self-administer and less invasive than the nasopharyngeal swap you may have seen as another sample collection method.

Our ability to test students entering campus this fall will go a long way in helping us maintain a safe environment. On our campus, testing will supplement other strategies including face coverings, physical distancing, daily symptom and exposure reporting and enhanced safety measures.

If you have questions about testing and any exemptions, more information is available here.

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

We continue building on our efforts to maintain a safe campus throughout our gradual campus entry plan in partnership with the UA System. Among other strategies, COVID-19 testing is being used in consultation with infectious disease and public health experts.

Sentinel Testing

UAB has begun COVID-19 sentinel testing — a process that tests a percentage of our population each week — for students, faculty and staff. Sentinel testing is voluntary but highly encouraged. If you receive an invitation, your participation is important to help us promote a safe environment. Sentinel testing is a self-administered nostril swab, not the invasive nasopharyngeal swab.

Campus Entry Testing

Campus entry testing varies from students and university and UAB Medicine employees:

Student Campus Entry Testing

Students returning to campus after August 1 will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter campus for the fall semester. Detailed instructions will be provided. Compliance with these instructions is mandatory to enter campus for the fall semester.

University Faculty and Staff Campus Entry Testing

COVID-19 campus entry testing will be offered to faculty and university staff returning to campus in August, but it is not required. Campus entry testing is a self-administered nostril swab, not the nasopharyngeal swab. Please read the following guidance:

• Any faculty or staff with or without COVID-19 symptoms are asked to complete UAB Healthcheck and follow instructions for next steps, including for testing (access Healthcheck on the entry website, my.uab.edu or the UAB app).
• University faculty and staff without COVID-19 symptoms who are returning to campus in August and would like to be tested (not required) will receive instructions at a later time on how to access this testing.
• University faculty and staff who are working remotely will not participate in this campus entry testing and are not included in the randomized list for sentinel testing.
• University faculty and staff who are already on campus (prior to August) and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are included in the sentinel testing process and will not participate in campus entry testing.

UAB Medicine Employees Entry Testing

Please review the following testing guidelines for UAB Medicine employees:

• UAB Medicine employees with or without COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to complete UAB Healthcheck and follow instructions for next steps, including for testing (access Healthcheck on the re-entry website).
• UAB Medicine employees who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must complete the mandatory Employee Health Symptom and Exposure form available here or on oneuabmedicine.org/coronavirus.
• UAB Medicine employees who are already working on campus and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are included in the sentinel testing process and will not participate in campus entry testing.
• UAB Medicine employees who are working remotely may be included in the randomized selection for sentinel testing. Participation is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.

We continue to monitor the pandemic and will communicate updates to plans, resources and guidance. Please read eReporter every Tuesday and Friday, and visit uab.edu/coronavirus, uab.edu/uabunited, and www.oneuabmedicine.org/coronavirus for updates and information. You can also access our July 8 Faculty Town Hall and the July 13 Employee Town Hall for answers to many frequently asked questions. Additional town halls are upcoming:

• Faculty/Instructor Town Hall: Friday, Aug. 7, 12-1 p.m.
• Students/Family Town Hall: Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6-7 p.m.
• Employee Town Hall: Friday, Aug. 14, 12-1 p.m.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Reid Jones, CEO UAB Medicine
Pam Benoit, Provost

Dear UAB students, faculty and staff:

As you may have heard, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) announced on Monday that F-1 international students who are enrolled in schools that switch exclusively to online risk violating their F-1 immigration status and need to leave the US or transfer to an institution that provides in-person instruction. This is an unexpected change to earlier guidance issued in the Spring, when SEVP allowed F-1 international students to take all spring and summer 2020 courses online while remaining in the United States during the pandemic.

We understand this news is concerning. Our international students are an invaluable part of the UAB community. We remain committed to supporting them in their educational and research contributions to our community.

UAB, like institutions all over the country, are seeking more clarification as they move forward with Fall 2020 planning. SEVP’s announcement also addressed the ability of F-1 students to attend schools that are adopting a hybrid model of instruction. We have evaluated these new regulations and believe at this time that UAB’s hybrid instructional model which provides for a combination of online and in-person instruction for Fall 2020 complies with SEVP’s July 7 guidance for F-1 students and allows these students to remain enrolled in the US. This, however, is a constantly evolving landscape, and we will provide updates as soon as possible if and when new guidance emerges.

For more information, please visit the ISSS website (found here) which contains additional guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Pam Benoit
Senior Vice President and Provost

Catherine Crowe
Director, International Student and Scholar Services

David Hoffman
Executive Director, INTO-UAB

UAB and UAB Medicine faculty and staff,

On May 4, the university and UAB Medicine/Health System announced expense reduction strategies to address budget shortfalls for their separate lines of business due to COVID 19. These actions were necessary to protect the institution and our employees as we assessed the financial impacts of the pandemic.

Throughout this extremely challenging time, the UAB family has shown great resilience in the face of disruption and stress to deliver on our vital mission pillars. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.

Please read the following important updates regarding changes to the expense reduction strategies implemented by UAB Medicine/Health System-managed entities and the university in conjunction with the University of Alabama System.

UAB Medicine Update

To protect jobs as much as possible during COVID-19 financial uncertainty, UAB Medicine announced tiered salary reductions in May for clinical faculty and staff in Workgroup C (check your workgroup) making more than $31,200/year. It was anticipated that these reductions would last through the remainder of 2020.

The financial outlook has improved. In addition to receiving federal and state support, UAB Medicine has also seen faster-than-expected returns to near pre-COVID patient volumes. This increase in volume has been driven by our dedicated faculty and staff. Our financial stability was recently bolstered by our strategic alliance with Ascension St. Vincent’s.

We promised that, if we were able, UAB Medicine would restore compensation and possibly return the lost wages.

• Retroactive to July 1, we will restore the compensation to pre-salary-reduction levels for UAB Medicine faculty and staff who received a reduction.
• We will reimburse faculty and staff for the salary reductions between May and July 1. The restoration is for all staff except the CEO and his direct reports and senior leaders (approximately 140 people). Because compensation plans are varied, faculty compensation restoration plans will be coordinated by the HSF Clinical Departments. The payment of this back compensation will occur sometime in late August due to the required time to process the payroll activity.
• At this time, the employer match/contribution to voluntary 403(b) retirement plans remains suspended. A decision on the retirement contribution reductions will not be made until the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30) and will be made in consultation with the UA System.

We appreciate the dedication of our health care heroes who have stepped up in the face of great challenges, and we are pleased to be able to reinstate their compensation.

University Update

The university projected a smaller budget shortfall in May than did the UAB Medicine/Health System. As a result, the university did not implement widespread faculty and staff salary reductions as did UAB Medicine/Health System-managed entities. University senior leadership took a voluntary pay cut, and those reductions will remain in place through the end of the ongoing furlough period.

At this time, roughly 300 university staff in Workgroup A (check your workgroup) remain on an unpaid leave furlough status. Based on current financial projections, the furlough period will go through July 31 and end as scheduled.

Furloughed employees set to resume work will receive instructions from their supervisors in the coming days. Furloughed employees will resume work in either an on-campus or remote capacity, depending on the details of their unit’s operational plan for re entry. Employees are expected to remain productive, and some may have typical job duties adjusted based on unit-specific needs.

We ask that supervisors make staffing plans that allow for flexibility as required as furloughed employees transition back to working. For instance, there may be child care or other considerations that require temporary special considerations relative to remote or on-campus work schedules.

If a supervisor has a business need to reinstate a furloughed employee before the end of the furlough period, they are encouraged to complete the Furloughed Employee Return to Work Form.

At this time, the employer match/contribution to voluntary 403(b) retirement plans remains suspended. A decision on the retirement contribution reductions will not be made until the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30) and will be made in consultation with the UA System.

We sincerely appreciate the dedication our faculty and staff have demonstrated to fulfilling our mission and to each other during this difficult time. The pandemic continues to pose challenges, and uncertainties remain. COVID-19 increases could jeopardize our operations and financial health. Please support our continued recovery by being an example to others and wearing a mask, social distancing and practicing good hand hygiene. We all need to do our part to avoid taking steps back.

Please utilize resources like the Benevolent Fund’s Employee Emergency Assistance program or Blazer Kitchen, if needed. Faculty and staff who want to support colleagues who are struggling financially are encouraged to please give to the UAB Benevolent Fund.

Sincerely,

Ray L. Watts
President, UAB

Reid Jones
CEO, UAB Medicine

UAB students, faculty and staff,

As we continue in partnership with the UA System to implement our phased approach to gradually unite on campus, UAB and UAB Medicine strive to be the safest campus in America and keep health and safety our top priority. Among many other strategies, we are adopting sentinel testing as an additional layer to minimize risk and support a continued re-entry.

The sentinel testing system collects information useful for monitoring trends in diseases and pathogens. We plan to test between 2.5% to 5% of the on-campus population weekly to detect how COVID-19 may be circulating among our asymptomatic population. The test will be a self-administered swab of the nostril. Click here for additional information and frequently asked questions about sentinel testing.

This random sentinel COVID-19 testing of those who have returned to campus will begin the week of July 6. Those selected for testing will receive an email on the Sunday of the week they are to be tested, with instructions on how and where to get tested.

Submitting to sentinel testing is voluntary. Your choice to participate or not will in no way impact your employment or your status as a student. Nevertheless, we hope that you will participate and help us in the fight against this virus. Sentinel testing will supplement mandatory COVID-19 testing for returning students through the Testing for Alabama program announced on June 29. Additional testing strategies for employees are being explored.

Students, please continue to read the Greenmail e-newsletter every Wednesday for important announcements and details about reentry. Faculty and staff, please continue to read eReporter, and UAB Medicine employees also read ONE. For more information on UAB’s re-entry to campus, visit uab.edu/reentry.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, UAB President
Will Ferniany, UAB Health System CEO

UAB students, faculty and staff,

To promote health and safety on campus as part of our comprehensive reentry planning, all UAB students returning for the fall semester will receive a free COVID-19 test, supported by CARES Act funding through the State of Alabama. Throughout the semester, random, voluntary sentinel testing will be provided to some students to help identify trends and potential problem areas.

In partnership with the University of Alabama System, UAB has led an effort with the State of Alabama to create the Testing for Alabama program. Through the program, all students of two- and four-year higher education institutions can receive a free COVID-19 reentry test. Read the announcement at UAB news online.

Protocols for how testing will be administered are being developed. We anticipate the test will likely be either a swab in the nostril — though not the more invasive nasopharyngeal swab — or an oral saline gargle test that we currently have under development.

Our ability to test every student returning to campus will go a long way in helping us maintain a safe environment. We are excited that, through our partnership with Governor Kay Ivey and the State Department of Health, we can have a broader impact in our state by helping make testing available to public colleges and universities throughout Alabama.

On our campus, testing will supplement other strategies to maintain a safe environment, like the GuideSafe™ platform that includes our COVID assessment healthcheck symptom monitoring tool. UAB is also developing a voluntary exposure notification app powered by Apple and Google that we look forward to rolling out in the coming weeks.

In addition to COVID-19 testing for students through Testing for Alabama, a sentinel testing system for on-campus faculty and staff was piloted in June and will be implemented broadly starting on July 8. Additional testing strategies for employees are being explored.

Updates will be communicated to students through the Greenmail newsletter, and to faculty and staff in eReporter.

#UABUnited,
Ray L. Watts, President
Pam Benoit, Senior VP and Provost

UAB students, faculty and staff,

As UAB continues our phased, gradual reentry to campus, we want to assure you that our COVID-19 safety protocols, based on the input of infectious disease and public health experts, will be enforced to help promote the health of our community and the continuity of our mission.

We know that creating and maintaining a culture of safety will require awareness, vigilance, monitoring, effective structures for reporting concerns and corrective action for non-compliance.

We need to be united for our common good, and each of us has a role to play.

UAB’s Reentry Expectations and Guidelines are posted online at uab.edu/reentry, as are Personal Safety Practices. Everyone who returns to campus is expected to comply fully with these safety protocols and any specialized guidance from their particular departments/units/schools. We also ask that — to protect the UAB family and our broader community — you practice safety guidelines when you are off campus.

If you observe that health and safety rules are not being observed or enforced on campus, discuss your concerns with your supervisor. If non-compliance persists, you may contact Human Resources or report it anonymously through the UAB Ethics Hotline. Anyone who reports non-compliance is protected against retaliation, and concerns of retaliation should be reported to Human Resources or the Office of Compliance and Risk Assurance.

Persistent failure or willful disregard for health and safety protocols by any employee or student will result in consequences consistent with UAB’s discipline policies for staff, faculty and students.

We are committed to preserving the health of the communities in which we live, learn and work, and the safety precautions we have adopted and will continue to adopt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic apply to everyone equally. By observing them, we are confident we can continue to teach and learn, research, support Alabama’s social and economic needs, and deliver vital patient care.

Students, please continue to read the Greenmail e-newsletter every Wednesday for important announcements and details about reentry. Faculty and staff, please continue to read eReporter, and UAB Medicine employees also read ONE. Employees or others who want to keep up with student communications, sign up to receive Greenmail and visit the student sections of uab.edu/uabunited and uab.edu/reentry.

#UABUnited,

Ray L. Watts
UAB President

Will Ferniany
UAB Health System CEO

UAB students, faculty and staff,

Our gradual re-entry to campus continues and is going well, as is our planning with the University of Alabama System for a safe return this fall with a hybrid model – a course delivery system which, because of social distancing precautions, requires a combination of both in-person instruction and remote instruction. To promote the health and safety of the campus community, adjustments have been made to the fall semester schedule:

• Fall semester hybrid classes will start Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.
• Fall semester hybrid classes will end Friday, Nov. 20, for the Thanksgiving break.
• Students will not return to campus after Thanksgiving break.
• Exceptions can be granted for students based on work, research or clinical responsibilities, and accommodations can be requested for international students or others who do not have alternate living arrangements.
• Classes during the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 4, as well as final exams during the week of Dec. 7-11, will be conducted remotely.
  Coursework engagement during these weeks is necessary to accommodate SACSCOC accrediting standard requirements for credit granted for coursework.

Additional information for our phased re-entry to campus (including details about on-campus housing, classroom protocols, personal protective equipment, and COVID-19 training and testing) continue to be worked out and will be communicated in the coming days and weeks. UAB’s e-newsletters are your source of official information. To stay informed of the latest news and updates, students are encouraged read Greenmail each Wednesday, and faculty and staff are encouraged to read eReporter each Tuesday and Friday. We will also continue to update uab.edu/uabunited and uab.edu/reentry.

In the meantime, please continue to be an example in our community by following important COVID-19 safety guidelines.

UAB faculty and staff,

Earlier this week, the university announced a gradual, phased approach to campus re-entry detailed at www.uab.edu/reentry.

Phase I, which is set for May 26 through June 15, includes the gradual re-entry of some individuals with clinical or research responsibilities. This time period is a window in which individuals approved to return in this phase will begin campus re-entry; not everyone in Phase I will return May 26.

Before individuals in Phase I (or any future phase) re-enter campus, several steps must be completed:

1. Supervisors will draft a unit-specific operational re-entry plan and submit it for approval.
2. Subsequently, you will receive an email from Campus Learning (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; emails from this address are not spam).
3. When you receive the email from the learning management system, follow the prompts and complete required training.
4. After you complete the COVID-19: Basic Safety and Awareness Course, you will be prompted to complete UAB HealthCheck, the UAB-specific COVID-19 Assessment Tool for self-reporting symptoms and exposure.
5. After you complete the required training and health check, your supervisor will be notified that you are approved to return to campus.

No one is permitted to return to campus until they have completed these steps and have clearance for re-entry from their supervisor. When you return, you must follow all safety guidelines. You should not initiate training modules until you receive prompts from Campus Learning by email. This is to verify that UAB personnel have completed their training.

Re-entry checklists are available to guide students, faculty and staff as they prepare for their return to campus and when they are on campus.

At this time, not everyone will know into which re-entry phase they fit and when they will be approved to return. Contact your supervisor with questions about your phase. We will continue to support units in the development of their required operational plans so updates can be provided.

Please be on the lookout for emails from Human Resources (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Campus Learning (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and follow prompts. Emails are sent from these addresses, but these are not email inboxes; please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with questions.

Sincerely,

Alesia Jones
Chief Human Resources Officer

On Tuesday, May 26, UAB will transition from the university’s Limited Business Model into Modified Business Operations. During Modified Business Operations, UAB will begin a gradual, phased approach with some groups/functions returning to campus before others.

It is important to gradually bring individuals back on campus to promote social distancing. This phased approach will also allow us to evaluate strategies for effectiveness and minimize risk.

Only *students, faculty and staff who are part of an approved unit operational plan will be permitted to return to campus during this phase and will be responsible for strictly following safety guidelines and requirements in place to minimize potential risk. Clinical and research personnel will be the first to return to campus following the approval of units’ operational plans.

*Students: Students in clinical areas must receive approval from their program to return to campus. Researchers at post-doctoral and graduate/pre-doctoral levels may continue or initiate studies on site following approved unit operational plans to ensure the safe return to campus. Other trainees engaged in research, such as undergraduate students and volunteers, must request approval through the Office of Research exception process.

UAB is fortunate to have extensive expertise in several disciplines that was utilized on UAB and University of Alabama System task forces to craft well-informed re-entry strategies guided by five principles:

1. Preserve the health of our university community and Birmingham.
2. Maintain and deliver on our education, research and community engagement by continuing to recruit and enroll students, teach those students, conduct research, and help stimulate the Alabama economy.
3. Preserve and maintain university operations necessary to support mission-critical activities, both now and into the future.
4. Treat students and employees fairly and equitably.
5. Remain fiscally solvent now and into the future so as to be able to deliver on mission-critical activities for the long term.

Detailed plans and guidance to minimize risk and promote quality outcomes across all mission pillars are available at uab.edu/reentry and cover many areas:

• Required web-based training (as soon as available; in development)
• Symptom and exposure tracking and contact tracing (as soon as available; in development)
• COVID-19 testing
• Guidance for high-risk individuals
• Phased staffing plans and staffing options
• Personal protective equipment (including masks/face coverings, gloves, etc.)
• Social distancing
• Hygiene (handwashing, hand sanitizers, cough/sneeze etiquette)
• Public transportation/Blazer Express
• Enhanced environmental health and cleaning procedures
• Protocols in offices, reception areas, elevators, labs, classrooms, outdoor areas, etc.
• Mental and emotional well-being
• Enter/Exit control

Guidance and requirements are subject to change and will be updated prior to future phases of re-entry, including a return to in-person instruction.

Anticipated Phased Approach Timeline

We anticipate restrictions and limitations in activities will be in place for the next 12 to 18 months. After evaluating several factors, including the trending numbers of new COVID-19 cases in our community, our testing capability and availability, our ability to monitor the spread of the virus in the campus community, the adequacy of community health care resources, current supply levels of personal protective equipment, and applicable federal, state and local directives, we developed the following color code system to coordinate and integrate operational procedures across UAB.

The active color code will be determined based upon state, local or UA System restrictions and conditions. Changes in the prevailing code will be announced by UAB leadership in response to the changing circumstances. Each level defines a different set of work criteria rules and regulations and operational plans.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve, and our response will inevitably evolve as well. We will therefore update these guidelines and the protocols outlined below as necessary to continue to ensure the health and safety of the campus community. As of mid-May, we are working toward implementing guidelines for the Yellow/Modified Business Operations level as research and clinical activities resume.

Productivity in Modified Business Operations

In March, UAB — in partnership with the University of Alabama System — announced a Limited Business Model to slow the spread of COVID-19. In the initial phase of Limited Business, staff in Workgroups A (academic staff) and C (clinical staff) were assigned to one of three sub-groups:

• Group 1: Needed to continue work in-person
• Group 2: Needed to continue work but can do so remotely
• Group 3: Not needed to work during a time of limited business

Note: Workgroup assignments (i.e., A, C, F) can be checked via the UAB Employee Workforce App online. Subgroup assignments (i.e., 1, 2, 3) are determined by an employee’s unit leadership/supervisor.

During the initial eight-week phase of Limited Business, employees — even those who could not work — continued to receive regular compensation while the financial and operational impact of COVID-19 was assessed. As Limited Business was prolonged, we could not continue to pay employees who could not work.

Effective May 10, all staff in Workgroup A Group 3 and a limited number of staff in Workgroup A Group 2 were placed on temporary furlough (May 10-July 31). Furloughed individuals are those who — by the nature of their work — could not do their jobs remotely or who serve in roles for which demand decreased or would decrease to a critical point during the furlough period. Some units exercised discretion and addressed unit-specific budget shortfalls by placing additional staff on furlough status who had worked effectively during the Limited Business model. No UAB Medicine staff in Workgroup C were placed on furlough due to the anticipated return to clinical operations as the hospital and clinics reopen.

As a result of furloughs effective May 10, remaining Workgroup A staff are those who can work effectively during Modified Business Operations according to their supervisor. As such, non-furloughed staff in Workgroup A are expected to maintain a state of full productivity in Modified Business Operations. Employees with questions are encouraged to ask their designated Human Resources representative.

Next Steps

Individuals who have responsibilities described within each of the phases and are anticipated to return to campus, and their supervisors, will be contacted with specific guidance as soon as possible, and updates and information will continue to be added to uab.edu/uabunited and uab.edu/reentry.

UAB faculty and staff,
UAB is experiencing the harsh financial realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, as are institutions of higher education and health care worldwide.

The Universities of Arizona, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin recently joined a growing number of universities and academic medical centers to announce some combination of salary reductions, furloughs or reduced hours, layoffs, and stopping employer contributions to retirement plans. Washington University in St. Louis furloughed 1,300 employees for 90 days. The Mayo Clinic announced it would furlough or reduce hours for 30,000 employees.

Many revenue streams have slowed or stopped due to the pandemic. Clinical revenue is substantially down for UAB Medicine. For the university, social distancing and other operational changes have negatively affected revenue. Without changes to our operations, the university will incur a budget shortfall of $40+ million in the remaining five months of the FY20 fiscal year ending Sept. 30, and UAB Medicine could have a $230 million budget shortfall by the end of September. Federal and state stimulus funding will address only a portion of our losses.

To protect our employees and the institution, beginning in March we took quick steps in partnership with the University of Alabama System to limit travel and restrict hiring and discretionary spending, among other strategies. To date, the university and UAB Medicine have been able to largely sustain uninterrupted payroll for more than seven weeks of limited business while we assessed the extent of the pandemic’s financial impact. Despite our best efforts, we must take additional actions we had hoped to avoid and delayed as long as possible.

University leadership explored many options with advisory panels across campus, including Faculty Senate and Staff Council leaders, the University’s Budget Advisory Committee, and others to determine what expense reduction options should be adopted. UAB Medicine gathered input from leaders across the organization and its governing bodies to determine expense-reduction strategies.

After thorough assessment and projections, we regret to announce additional university and UAB Medicine expense-reduction strategies.

University Leadership Salary Reductions

• Effective May 1, university leadership had their salaries reduced for at least the remainder of the fiscal year as follows: President 15%, Senior Vice Presidents 10%, Deans and Vice Presidents 7%

UAB Medicine Leadership Salary Reductions

• UAB Medicine Senior Leaders (Including Department Chairs): 10% reduction in annual compensation, effective May 10 through Dec. 31, 2020
• Health System Executive Cabinet: 15% reduction in annual compensation, effective May 10 through Dec. 31, 2020

In addition, the university and UAB Medicine/Health System-managed entities must implement different responses to address budget shortfalls for their separate lines of business.

USE THE EMPLOYEE WORKFORCE APP TO CHECK YOUR WORKGROUP

University Expense Reduction Strategies

• Temporary furloughs for approximately 325 university staff unable to work effectively in a remote setting, for a period effective May 10 through July 31, 2020:
• Temporary furloughs will affect Workgroup A Group 3 and a limited number of university staff in Workgroup A Group 2. Human Resources will work with supervisors to identify and alert affected Group 2 staff as soon as possible and no later than the end of business Friday, May 8.
• During furlough, employees retain benefits such as health insurance and are eligible for unemployment benefits and additional assistance through the CARES Act. UAB will cover the cost of both the employer and employee contributions to health plans (including employee premiums) for affected staff during the furlough period.
• Information for furloughed university employees is available online. Employees can also contact their designated HR representative.
• UAB HR will file claims for unemployment benefits with the Alabama Department of Labor on behalf of furloughed staff.
• The furlough period might be shorter or longer depending on the evolving impact of the pandemic.

Strategies for UAB Medicine/Health System-managed Entities

• Temporary salary reductions for many clinical faculty and Workgroup C staff in UAB Medicine and Health System-managed entities:
• Workgroup C salary reductions are effective May 10 through Dec. 31, 2020. Implementation dates for School of Medicine clinical department faculty may vary slightly and will be directly communicated to those affected.
• School of Medicine clinical department faculty salary reductions will average 7%. Specific salary reductions for Workgroup C will be implemented on the following sliding scale:
• Hourly wage employees making $15 or less per hour: 0% reduction in annual compensation
• $0 – $31,200: 0% reduction in annual compensation
• $31,201 – $50,000: 3% reduction in annual compensation
• $50,001 – $75,000: 4% reduction in annual compensation
• $75,001 – $125,000: 5% reduction in annual compensation
• $125,001 – $200,000: 6% reduction in annual compensation
• Greater than $200,000: 7% reduction in annual compensation
• Senior Leaders (Including Department Chairs): 10% reduction in annual compensation
• Health System Executive Cabinet: 15% reduction in annual compensation

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do for our mission during this time. These actions are a reflection only of the harsh economic realities of the COVID-19 crisis, not a reflection of the value of UAB faculty and staff or their job performance. We are disappointed that this action has become necessary.

We will continue to assess the crisis. Future decisions will be determined by the financial realities of the time as we work to reverse financial deficits and fight this COVID-19 pandemic.

Those of you who need to take advantage of resources like the Benevolent Fund’s Employee Emergency Assistance program or Blazer Kitchen, please do. Faculty and staff who want to support their colleagues are encouraged to please give to the UAB Benevolent Fund.

University Human Resources
UAB Medicine Human Resources

We are confident that we will get through this crisis and be a stronger and more resilient institution on the other side. We will keep you updated as events unfold.

Sincerely,

Ray L. Watts
President, UAB

Will Ferniany
CEO, UAB Health System

UAB Faculty and Staff,

As April comes to a close, questions remain about UAB’s plans to address the financial realities of the COVID-19 crisis and plans for the fall semester.

Our hope is to offer in-person instruction options in the fall – a goal we are working towards with the guidance of task forces at the UA System and UAB levels. While circumstances could ultimately limit our ability, we are working to determine the logistics that would facilitate a safe return to campus.

Financially, UAB is still working through the process shared with the campus community recently. In an April 16 virtual town hall for faculty and staff, Vice President Allen Bolton explained the initial estimated negative impact on our budget to be between $52 million and $77 million this fiscal year. UAB Medicine has projected a possible $230 million budget shortfall by the end of September.

UAB leaders have been exploring many expense reduction options with advisory panels across campus, including Faculty Senate and Staff Council leaders, the University’s Budget Advisory Committee and others to determine what options should be adopted to close that gap.

At this time, employer matches/contributions to voluntary 403(b) retirement plans will be temporarily suspended or reduced in accordance with the requirements of the plans. For university employees, this will start in May and last through September 2020. Because the health system has a larger budget shortfall than the university, it will also start this action in May but will extend it through December 2020. Details will be communicated directly with individuals who participate in these plans.

We continue to work on a comprehensive plan in coordination with UAB Medicine that should be final no later than next week. The good news is, due to new information and projections this week, our projected budget shortfall is several million dollars less than originally estimated. This is positive, allowing us to revisit the extent of expense reduction options needed in addition to our hiring and spending restrictions already in place.

It remains our goal to minimize the disruption to our valued faculty and staff, which is why we have taken the appropriate time to ensure that estimates are accurate and actions we ultimately take are absolutely necessary. As we assess strategies, we are thoughtfully considering the timing of any announcement.

Our work to finalize a comprehensive plan continues, and we will keep you informed as soon as we have new information. Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of our multifaceted mission.

Sincerely,
Ray L. Watts President, UAB

Finis St. John

Chancellor

The University of Alabama System

Our University of Alabama System Campuses will be the Safest in America

I want to thank President Ray Watts, Dr. Will Ferniany, Provost Pam Benoit, Dr. Selwyn Vickers and the faculty and the staff who are working tirelessly during these difficult times to provide meaningful support and uninterrupted teaching to students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The entire UA System – UA, UAB, UAH and the UAB Health System – is committed to using all possible resources to reopen our campuses and resume normal activities. It is not a matter of IF, but one of WHEN.

We are extremely fortunate that UAB, home to one of the world’s foremost academic medical centers, is part of our System. With knowledge and guidance from the scientists, doctors, researchers and numerous higher education experts on our campuses, we are developing comprehensive plans to make sure our three campuses are the safest in America when our students return.

We have established a System-wide Task Force to consider strategies of all kinds: testing measures, enhanced cleaning, classroom procedures, housing policies, security and wellness programs, and more. We will update you about timelines on our website (www.uasystem.edu) and through future email communication from the UAB leadership team. If you have suggestions you would like to share with the System Office, please email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The University of Alabama System will not only survive these difficult times, we will prevail. With your support, we will overcome these challenges. Thank you for your dedication to the University.

UAB students, faculty and staff,

Thank you all for your hard work and understanding in this time of change and uncertainty. Your Blazer spirit is essential to keeping our UAB community safe and to ensuring our ability to serve and educate effectively.

As part of the University of Alabama System Office’s 24/7 planning to safeguard our campus community, it has developed an Updated Interim Emergency Policy regarding summer classes. Given that the majority of our summer courses offered after June 22 have already transitioned to an online format, we will not offer in-person/on-site classes for summer 2020. All instruction will be delivered remotely using the most effective tools available.

Students, please work with your faculty members to access materials and utilize all the teaching and learning tools we have posted for you. Although classes are not being taught in person this spring or summer, our faculty is delivering a full array of courses through remote teaching. This page provides important details regarding laboratories, in-person research, residence halls and campus dining, in addition to grading methods and other important updates.

As we have previously announced, we will not hold in-person orientations or commencement ceremonies until further notice. We have online programming prepared for both. All of you who look forward to participating in a future graduation ceremony on campus will have that opportunity as soon as on-campus operations are restored and scheduled.

We remain committed to delivering on our mission, vision and shared values to create knowledge that will change the world.

UAB was notified this afternoon that a campus community member tested positive for COVID-19 today, March 31, 2020. The safety and well-being of the community is UAB's top priority, so we are providing this notification out of an abundance of caution. It is important to note that the vast majority of the campus community has been working and learning remotely.

State and local health departments have protocols for testing and advising cases – including contact tracing and notifying individuals who may have been exposed. Public health authorities determine what information is shared publicly in the interest of health and in accordance with privacy requirements.

The university is taking precautionary measures – including cleaning and disinfecting – and continues to encourage aggressive social distancing and other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Text alternative for "What is Social Distancing" infographic

UAB faculty and staff (including student/employee workers),

We often say UAB’s people are our most valuable resource, and we sincerely thank you for all you do for UAB and our community in this challenging time. We continue to monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and carefully plan in an attempt to minimize disruptions while maintaining critical functions in a safe environment.

As you know, UAB announced an initial 14-day limited business model in mid-March for Workgroups A and C. We are now extending the duration of the limited business model — as it is now — for Workgroups A and C until or unless notified otherwise by their supervisor.

All employees who are working remotely, or unable to perform their jobs remotely, will continue under the same conditions and circumstances as previously announced – including pay and benefits. We will continue to update and inform you of any changes to this policy, and your supervisor will notify you of any changes to your work group, taking into account the need to stagger campus visit times and maintain social distancing at all times.

As a reminder, the categories of employees in Limited Business Model Workgroup A and C are (employees are assigned to the appropriate group by their unit leadership/supervisor and should follow supervisor instructions):

1. Workgroup A and C, Group 1: Those who will continue work in-person and continue to be paid at the normal rate. Do not come to work if you are sick, and continue to practice social distancing and good hygiene.
• Supervisors should make every effort to not include student-employees in Workgroup A or C, Group 1 on-campus work. If a supervisor thinks a student’s role is essential, approval must be granted by HR before a student is assigned to Workgroup A or C, Group 1.
2. Workgroup A and C, Group 2: Those who will continue work but can do so from home and continue to be paid at the normal rate.
• Read UAB’s temporary telecommuting guidance and fill out and sign the telecommuting agreement if you have not already. If you completed a telecommuting agreement for the initial 14-day limited business phase, you do not need to fill it out a second time.
• Working from home can be challenging. For the short- and long-term health of our institution and our vital mission, managing those challenges to remain productive is imperative. Communicate with your supervisor and/or speak with your Human Resources representative for guidance.
• Your group assignment is subject to change if business needs arise.
3. Workgroup A and C, Group 3: Those who will not work during a time of limited business and will continue to receive normal pay and benefits until or unless notified otherwise by their supervisor.
• Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic makes it necessary to limit on-campus personnel to only those whose functions are imperative during limited business operations — and not all functions can be done remotely or are required under extreme circumstances.
• Workgroup A and C, Group 3, may be called upon to perform duties (on-site or remotely) within the employee’s skill set but outside of the employee’s job description.
• Workgroup A and C, Group 3 employees will continue to be paid during the limited business period until or unless notified otherwise by their supervisor. In the event of a prolonged disruption that requires this policy to change, leadership will work with all sources (federal, state, etc.) in an effort to continue financial support of our employees. UAB is raising funds to help those affected by COVID-19. Students in need of assistance can request a COVID-19 emergency grant. Employees in need of assistance can pursue the Employee Emergency Assistance Program.
• If you need to go to campus to get critical personal belongings, coordinate with your supervisor for approval and to stagger timing with others to minimize personal contact. Absolutely do not go to campus if you are sick.
• Your group assignment is subject to change if business needs arise.

Employment and pay for Federal Work Study students will be handled per current federal guidance.

UAB — working within the framework of the proactive COVID-19 planning led by The University of Alabama System — will maintain health and safety as our top priority. We are committed to making prudent decisions and communicating regularly.

Please take care of yourself and each other as much as possible.

UAB Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: Spring Semester Announcement

Students, faculty and staff,

Thank you for your efforts to minimize the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). In the midst of an extremely unsettling time, the Blazer community has come together to make sacrifices and support one another. Please continue to practice aggressive social distancing and good hygiene so we can “flatten the curve” and save lives.

When we announced the online/alternative instruction format March 12, it was unclear how long it would last. It is now clear that in-person instruction will not be possible for the remainder of the semester.

As part of the ongoing University of Alabama System Office planning to safeguard our campus community, UAB and our sister campuses are announcing today that there will be no more in-person/on-site classes for the duration of the spring semester. Instead of on-campus commencement ceremonies this spring, UAB will host virtual/alternative commencement ceremonies.

This is an unprecedented situation, but UAB remains committed to minimizing disruptions while keeping health and safety our top priority. Additional logistics will be communicated in the coming days, but here are details we know now:

Online and Alternative Teaching

The UAB spring semester will resume Wednesday, March 25, in an online/alternative format. All instruction will be delivered remotely using the most effective tools available. Students should work with their instructors to access materials and utilize resources, an additional details and guidance to help them succeed in this format. Faculty have been provided eLearning and IT resources, as well as peer guidance. Policies regarding clinical and research requirements, student-teacher programs and other specific professional programs will be formulated based on guidance from the state of Alabama and the appropriate academic departments and governing agencies.

Virtual/Alternative Commencement Ceremonies

We are deeply disappointed that our graduating Blazers will not experience a traditional commencement this spring, but we will do everything we can to recognize and celebrate your accomplishments. There are several commencement ceremonies each spring, and details of each virtual/alternative commencement will be communicated in the coming days and weeks. This announcement is being made now to best accommodate the logistics of graduating students and their families, as well as campus departments. Additional information about this and other opportunities will be provided.

Residence Halls

Now that we know on-campus instruction will not take place this semester, we can begin to make decisions and provide guidance to allow students to move out of their residence hall rooms. We are formulating a plan now to allow a systematic and safe way for students to retrieve their belongings and move out. This plan will be shared in a separate communication directly to residential students.

Students, please DO NOT RETURN TO CAMPUS at this time. It remains vitally important to aggressively promote social distancing and “flatten the curve.” Students should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if an extreme hardship or circumstance arises. Students are not authorized to return to campus outside of this plan, and any who show up without authorization will not be accommodated.

Now that on-campus classes will not resume this semester, a plan will be communicated in the near future regarding residential student housing fees and meal plans.

Transportation Services continues to discuss parking issues and will provide further guidance in the future.

Please stay safe and take your responsibility to “flatten the curve” seriously. Together, we can save lives.

UAB Coronavirus Update: Physician Tests Positive for COVID-19

UAB Community,

Mike Saag, M.D., a physician in the UAB Division of Infectious Disease, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). He wishes to make his case known as an example of the COVID-19 reality and the importance of practicing aggressive social distancing. As Dr. Saag will share, he was exposed on a family visit to New York City. Dr. Saag and UAB are taking precautionary measures to promote a safe environment, and we will diligently work with health department officials to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed.

Please follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UAB guidance to protect yourself and others, including social distancing and good hygiene. If you have symptoms, call your health care provider BEFORE going to the doctor, and if you feel sick STAY HOME.

• UAB Student Health Services: 205-934-3580
• UAB Employee Health: 205-934-3675 from 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday
• After hours/weekends, call 205-934-3411 and ask them to page the nurse on call

UAB is fully prepared to safely isolate and care for patients with infectious diseases, and we have taken aggressive action to slow the spread of coronavirus, including:

• a move to online/distance learning
• work-from-home for thousands of employees
• closing buildings and cancelling events

Please take care of yourself and each other.

THE FOLLOWING IS FOR WORKGROUP A

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKGROUP C

USE THE EMPLOYEE WORKFORCE APP TO CHECK YOUR WORKGROUP

• The following information about a limited business model applies ONLY to Workgroup A.
• Faculty (Workgroup F) are asked to work remotely IF POSSIBLE (e.g., if you are instructing online, do so from your home, not campus), and come to campus only if required (e.g., direct patient care or research responsibilities that require a physical presence on campus). If you have questions, consult your supervisor.
• Instructions and updates for employees in Workgroup C will be forthcoming from the UAB Health System and School of Medicine. These forthcoming updates will also address UAB employees at Children’s of Alabama.
• UAB Hospital never closes and continues to prepare to safely isolate and care for COVID-19 patients.

UAB faculty and staff (including student employees/workers),

Late Friday, a state of emergency was declared for Alabama and the nation to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This announcement — which includes the closing of K-12 schools statewide starting Wednesday at 5 p.m. and relaxing absentee policies in some schools for the beginning of the week — has prompted concerns and questions about UAB policies that address remote work, essential staffing and child care issues.

With guidance from Human Resources, leaders across the university have been working to assess resources and staffing needs, and will be moving to a limited business model. Based on the latest COVID-19 developments and the need to minimize in-person contact, UAB (university) will begin transitioning to a limited business model for employees in Workgroup A starting Monday, March 16, to be fully implemented by 5 p.m. The limited business model will be in place for at least 14 days starting March 17.

Again, the following information about a limited business model applies ONLY to Workgroup A. Faculty (Workgroup F) are asked to work remotely IF POSSIBLE (e.g., if you are instructing online, do so from your home, not campus), and come to campus only if required (e.g., direct patient care or research responsibilities that require a physical presence on campus). If you have questions, consult with your supervisor. Instructions and updates for employees in Workgroup C and those at Children’s of Alabama will be forthcoming from the UAB Health System and School of Medicine.

This limited business model identifies employees in Workgroup A who are:

• needed to continue work in-person (Limited Business Model Workgroup A, Group 1)
• needed to continue work but can do so from home (Limited Business Model Workgroup A, Group 2)
• not needed to work during a time of limited business (Limited Business Model Workgroup A, Group 3)

NOTE: Unit leaders/supervisors will assign and communicate group assignments within Workgroup A.

Early data suggests a limited business model may reduce the presence of on-site university employees by as much as 75 percent while maintaining functions critical to the UAB mission. It is important to remember that UAB Hospital never closes and continues to prepare to safely isolate and care for COVID-19 patients.

At this time, a limited business model is in the best interests of the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and is an important community service to minimize COVID-19 spread. During this time, it is vital that everyone in every group practices aggressive and meaningful social distancing, as well as proper hygiene to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19. If you experience symptoms, call before you go to the doctor. Please call Employee Health or call UAB Medicine 4YOU at 205-934-9999.

How will limited business operations work?

Employees are assigned to the appropriate group by their unit leadership/supervisor and should follow supervisor instructions.

Workgroup A, Group 1 will report to work as normal; Workgroup A, Group 2 will stay home and continue to work; and Workgroup A, Group 3 will not work. Supervisors determine which positions and employees are suitable for telecommuting, not the individual employees themselves.

• Workgroup A, Group 1 will report to work as normal (unless you are sick or have been in immediate contact with a person known to have COVID-19 — see employee coronavirus health resources).
• Maintain social distance and good hygiene. Utilize phone calls and virtual meetings as much as possible (even for small groups). Any gatherings of more than 25 people will require approval from a dean, vice president or AVP.
• Supervisors should make every effort to not include student-employees in Workgroup A, Group 1 for on-campus work. If a supervisor thinks a student’s role is essential, approval must be granted by HR before a student is assigned to Workgroup A, Group 1.
• Workgroup A, Group 2 will stay home and continue to work (as soon as possible but in effect no later than 5 p.m. Monday, March 16). If you do not need to return to campus, don’t. Also, do not return to campus if you are sick. See employee coronavirus health resources for guidance if you think you may have symptoms.
• If needed, Monday, March 16, can be used to prepare to effectively work from home. If you need to go to campus to get essential items (e.g., laptop or desktop computer, supplies) to make working from home possible, coordinate with your supervisor to stagger coming to campus with others to limit contact with others.
• Carefully read the UAB Temporary Telecommuting Guidance, sign the Temporary Telecommuting Agreement and send to your supervisor (scan or digital photo is OK), then forward to your HR representative.


The temporary telecommuting agreement and guidelines were established as part of UAB’s efforts to support business continuity across campus. They are temporary and should not be confused with UAB’s standard telecommuting agreement and guidelines. Highlights of the agreement include:
• Supervisors determine which positions and employees are suitable for telecommuting, not the individual employees themselves.
• The temporary telecommuting agreement can be modified or terminated at any time, especially if operational needs warrant the change.
• Employees should understand obligations regarding securing UAB records and transmitting information (e.g., sensitive information related to student records, patient privacy, intellectual property, etc.).
• Employees are responsible for establishing an appropriate work environment, meeting productivity and service goals required by management, keeping and reporting time worked, and communicating in the appropriate manner and frequency.


• Rather than forwarding your work phone to your cellphone, please change your outgoing voicemail message on your work phone to instruct callers to call your cellphone directly. This will alleviate capacity constraints we would face if too many work phones are forwarded.
• Utilize available resources to set up remote working capabilities.
• Academic Continuity Plan
• Remote Working Technology Toolkit
• Teaching Remotely at UAB
• Consult www.uab.edu/it/home/remote-work, or if you need additional help, contact AskIT online at 205-996-5555 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for IT needs.
• Your group assignment is subject to change if business needs arise.

• Workgroup A, Group 3 will not work (after being notified of your group assignment by your supervisor).
  • Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic makes it necessary to limit on-campus personnel to only those whose functions are imperative during limited business operations — and not all functions can be done remotely or are required under extreme circumstances.
  • Workgroup A, Group 3 employees will be paid during the initial 14-day limited business period. In the event of a prolonged disruption, leadership will work with all sources (federal, state, etc.) in an effort to continue financial support of our employees. Further, UAB Leadership is exploring opportunities — including possible use of the Benevolent Fund — to financially help employees who encounter hardships due to the suspension of work IF limited business lasts longer than two weeks.
  • If you need to go to campus to get critical personal belongings you must have during the next two weeks, coordinate with your supervisor for approval and to stagger timing with others to minimize personal contact.
  • Your group assignment is subject to change if business needs arise.

This unprecedented and fluid event will not be easy on anyone. As we adjust our work lives while managing concern for our loved ones and community, challenges will be significant. Employees across the United States and beyond are concerned about job security and financial stability. UAB — working within the framework of the proactive COVID-19 planning led by The University of Alabama System — will maintain health and safety as our top priority while we work to minimize disruptions for our most important asset, our people. We are committed to making prudent decisions and communicating regularly.

Please take care of yourself and each other as much as possible. Utilize Employee Health, as well as free services available through the Employee Assistance Counseling Center. If you would like to donate to help students, faculty and staff with COVID-19 related hardships, or if you need to inquire about help, please contact the Benevolent Fund.

The fast-moving and dynamic nature of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has led to many uncertainties and questions. This is not unique to UAB, universities or health systems. We are glad the University of Alabama System took decisive action as part of a proactive planning process to promote health and safety on our campus.

As we work to operationalize the change, we may not have all the answers immediately. But a very dedicated team is committed to reducing uncertainties as much and as quickly as possible. Ultimately, we want to minimize disruption to the lives of our campus community while keeping health and safety our top priority.

A great deal of planning has taken place, and many questions have been answered. Please take the time to review the information that is available – including resources, communications and frequently asked questions – at www.uab.edu/uabunited. Some resources found at this central hub include:

• Academic Continuity Plan
• Remote working technology toolkit
• Teaching Remotely at UAB

As you know, we are shifting to online and alternative learning after spring break. Additional preparations are underway as we monitor the outbreak. Business operations are being maintained at this time (i.e., faculty and staff are asked to report to work), but we may need to make additional adjustments in the interest of health and safety. At this time, student workers/employees/interns who remain on campus and want to continue working may be able to maintain their normal work schedule. Managers are asked to be understanding of student-employees’ circumstances. Ultimately, circumstances will vary, and student-employees should speak with their supervisor/coordinating instructor who can consult leadership on a case-by-case basis as necessary.

In the event normal business operations are altered, Human Resources is working with leaders across campus to explore – for example – job functions that can take place in a remote setting off campus to promote social distancing.

In the meantime, units on campus are encouraged to test remote working capabilities on a limited basis with some faculty and staff working from home to help identify challenges and opportunities, should a more comprehensive limited business plan be implemented. UAB Telecommuting Agreement

Logistical changes – including limiting access to some facilities and closing some university functions – are being considered and will be communicated as soon as details are clear. While student access will be limited, all academic buildings will remain open to faculty and staff.

Please continue to monitor your email for updates, as well as visit www.uab.edu/uabunited. In the meantime, please take care of yourself and each other, and utilize services of Employee Health and the Employee Assistance Counseling Center (Mental & Emotional Well-being at uab.edu/uabunited).

Based on recent developments, discussions with leadership on University of Alabama System campuses and with other institutions, and advice of the University of Alabama System Task Force, the UA System is making immediate preparations to transition to on-line or alternate instruction for all academic courses to protect the health and safety of our communities. This policy will be re-evaluated on or before Monday, April 6, 2020.

Each campus will keep faculty, staff and students updated electronically on individualized plans, timelines and specific changes as soon as possible.

• UAB is scheduled for Spring Break the week of March 16-20. UAB’s Spring Break will be extended through at least March 24. Each campus will notify students, faculty and staff when the semester will resume.
• Following Spring Break, UAB students should not return to campus and will continue their course work via distance learning subject to the following limited exceptions:
• international or other students who do not have alternative accommodations;
• students from areas without high-speed internet or other means of receiving remote instruction;
• students with exceptional hardships, or academic, employment, clinical or research requirements that should be reviewed by the respective campuses on a case-by-case basis.
• Arrangements will be made by the campuses to ensure any students remaining on campus have access to essential services (including Student Health Services/Counseling Services). Residence Hall and dining facilities will be open for students who remain on campus.
• The UA System’s restriction on ALL non-essential international and domestic travel remains in place. All non-essential University meetings, gatherings and events are cancelled. Faculty, staff and students abroad and in international affiliated programs sponsored by third parties should contact their program administrators for information and further guidance.
• These policies will be updated as circumstances require.

Students leaving for spring break, please take essential belongings with you (e.g., class materials, textbooks, medications, electronics, valuables, etc.). If you have already left and will need to return, please alert Student Housing at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This policy applies only to academic classes. At this time, regular business operations will continue until further notice. Additional guidance will be forthcoming. Until further notice, faculty and staff should report to work.

This is a quickly evolving situation, and we are committed to answering questions and supporting students, faculty and staff through this unprecedented event at UAB. There will be questions, and leaders across campus are working to answer them and make this transition as smooth as possible.

Please continue to follow your emails, as well as updates at www.uab.edu/uabunited.

Update to the UA System’s Interim Emergency Policy – Information Regarding Spring Break

As are colleges and universities throughout North America, the University of Alabama System is taking precautionary measures regarding the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

In preparation for the upcoming spring break March 16-20 at UA and UAB, with UAH’s break the following week (March 23-27), our current plans call for maintaining normal campus operations. Our guidance is based on the best information available to us at this time from local, state and federal agencies and health care professionals.

As you consider plans for spring break, please keep these important points in mind to protect yourself and our community from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

1. Our goal is to provide continuity and consistency for our students. If the situations in our communities change, we will transition to alternative modes of instruction (such as on-line classes) to protect the health and safety of System campuses. While current plans are to maintain regular schedules, it is possible that System campuses could move to alternative modes of instruction at some point this semester depending on the state of COVID-19 in Alabama. IF it becomes necessary to cancel in-person classes, plan ahead to have what you need. When you leave for spring break, take essential belongings with you (e.g., class materials, textbooks, medications, electronics, valuables, etc.), in the event a transition to alternative modes of instruction becomes necessary.


2. If you live on campus, are uncomfortable traveling, and prefer to stay on campus during spring break, we will provide you with accommodations. It is important that you notify us of your plans if you decide to remain on campus. At UAB, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


3. Everyone on our campuses should take extra care to follow personal hygiene instructions from the CDC:
• Wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Avoid sick people, avoid people if you are sick, and do not travel if you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces, and cover your cough or sneeze with a sleeve or tissue.
• Protect against the flu by getting the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, but the flu is still circulating in the community at this time.
• The CDC does not recommend the general public buy or wear masks in the United States.
• If you have symptoms, call your health care provider BEFORE going to the doctor.


4. Continue to be vigilant, plan ahead and protect against spreading viral illness. The following two maps are available to assist you with accurate information on affected areas:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Outbreak Map
CDC United States Outbreak Map


5. If you develop respiratory symptoms during spring break, or are exposed to an individual with or suspected of having COVID-19, then please DO NOT return to campus, and we will work with you to provide alternative arrangements for remote learning through the best available platforms. Students should contact their advisor or program head regarding academic concerns.


6. We are continuously monitoring the situation, which could change at any time. We will notify you of updated information and policy changes on the UA System’s dedicated webpage.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is evolving quickly, and the outbreak has required proactive leadership from the University of Alabama System to restrict international travel.

There are some decisions — based on the current status of the outbreak and recent guidance from the UA System — that UAB leadership should make based on specific potential risks and circumstances. Decisions must be made regarding university-sponsored domestic travel, events and visitors to campus.

Any faculty or staff member sponsoring, organizing or otherwise leading university-sponsored or university-hosted travel, events or visitors should alert your leadership as soon as possible. That leader will determine if the activity is essential or non-essential, and if it poses a risk to the health and safety of the campus community:

• Non-essential Domestic Travel (UA System Domestic Travel Advisory): Non-essential domestic travel is discouraged at this time. A decision must be made as to whether the university-sponsored domestic travel is essential or non-essential.
• Events/Visitor(s) to Campus: A decision must be made as to whether the event or visitor on campus (e.g., speakers, conferences, orientations, seminars, performances, competition) carries potential risks and whether the event/visit can take place.

• Deans will review activities in schools and colleges
• VPs and/or AVPs will review activities for administrative units (each VP will determine the appropriate starting point for his or her unit)
• Athletic administrators will review activities in Athletics

Decisions should be based on the relative risk of the travel or visitor(s), understanding that our top priority as an institution is the health and safety of our campus community. If the dean, AVP or athletic administrator is the event sponsor, the determination for that event should be made by his or her supervisor so the decision is not made by someone personally invested in the organization of the event.

Questions to ask when considering the necessity of the travel or visitor(s) include:

• Can you explain why the travel/visitor(s) is essential?
• Can the travel/visitor(s) be postponed?
• Can the purpose of the travel/visitor(s) be accomplished in another way (e.g., virtually)?
• Does the size of the event/number of attendees create too much risk?
• Do the attendees/visitor(s) create too much risk (e.g., coming from a domestic or international location with significant COVID-19 spread)?

UA System and UAB leaders will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide additional or revised guidance as the situation evolves. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

The University of Alabama System continues to closely monitor the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Today System officials issued guidance advising against any non-essential domestic travel at this time, particularly to large conferences with attendees from multiple states or locations that have declared a state of emergency due to the virus.

Faculty, staff and students on UA System campuses are encouraged to use good judgment when making travel decisions and work with campus administration to evaluate alternative methods of remote participation such as live-streaming of conference sessions and meetings.

The UA System advisory also states: “Students, faculty and staff who have concerns about being exposed to the virus while traveling should not be required to travel. Likewise, any student, faculty or staff member who elects not to attend a previously scheduled event due to those concerns should not be disciplined.” Read the full advisory here.

The UA System website will continue to be a centralized source for updated information on the virus outbreak, policies and other guidance (http://uasystem.edu/news/2020/02/ua-system-covid-19-updates/). Learn more about COVID-19 and UAB at www.uab.edu/uabunited. Access information about UAB coronavirus travel restriction reimbursements.

Email from President Ray L. Watts and Health System CEO Will Ferniany: Coronavirus Preparedness Updates and Resources as of March 4, 2020

*NOTE: The following email was sent March 4, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. as part of a collaborative communications effort led by the University of Alabama System in the interest of health and safety on the three System campuses. Last week Chancellor Finis St. John appointed a COVID-19 Communications and Policy Task Force to address the 2019 Corona virus. The task force, comprised of UA System medical researchers, faculty and staff, is continuously monitoring public health risks posed by the outbreak. Subsequently, a comprehensive University of Alabama System Interim Emergency Policy was developed regarding the 2019 Coronavirus. The policy will be updated as circumstances warrant.

UAB Community,

Today you received an email about new travel restrictions, including the CANCELATION of all university-sponsored international travel in March. Travel outside the United States after March is ON HOLD and will be addressed as soon as possible. Details can be found on the UAB Updates tab of www.uab.edu/uabunited, an online resource that provides important information, tips and resources as we safeguard our community and prepare for the likely appearance of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Alabama. If you have not read that communication, please do so in the interest of your health and safety, and that of our community.

While there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Alabama at the time of this communication, there are confirmed cases in Florida and Georgia, and it could be seen in Alabama soon. COVID-19 appears to cause mild illness in the majority of those infected but can be fatal. Learn more at www.uab.edu/uabunited.

The CDC predicts possible significant disruptions to daily life in the United States. While we cannot predict whether our community will be affected in a small or big way, we want to be prepared for even extreme outcomes.

UAB officials are and have been very active in monitoring the quickly evolving outbreak with infectious disease and public health experts and taking aggressive steps to prepare for possible scenarios. University and Health System emergency management professionals have convened broad and targeted groups to review the plans to address an infectious disease outbreak and apply it to the specific COVID-19 threat.

Units across campus have been taking steps to prepare for eventualities. For example:

• First and foremost, medical providers at the University and Health System are trained to properly care for patients with infectious diseases and have plans in place to safely care for COVID-19 patients.
• UAB launched www.uab.edu/uabunited as a resource to communicate news and updates, as well as tips to stay healthy and prepare. Information will be maintained there.
• UAB Facilities is increasing the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting areas like bathrooms, entryways, door handles, railings and elevator buttons.
• From Campus Housing and Dining to Environmental Health and Safety, to Hospital Supply Chain, procurement officials have assessed what supplies are needed now and what supplies would be needed if disruptions become extreme.
• Plans to manage and conserve supplies (e.g., plans to prioritize, limit and/or reuse certain supplies to avoid a shortage if the duration of disruptions become significant) are being reviewed and updated based on possible COVID-19 scenarios.
• Offices that support international travel for students, faculty and staff are supporting unexpected changes in travel plans and programs to minimize disruptions as much as possible while maintaining health and safety.
• Health care professionals in Student and Employee Health have enacted protocols to monitor, guide and report the status of those returning from international destinations in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health.
• Information Technology, the Office of the Provost, and school and college deans are taking steps to protect our ability to maintain our academic mission while employing social distancing techniques or quarantine measures. This planning includes addressing the technical and logistical infrastructure that would allow for classes to continue if they eventually need to move online in Canvas.
• Planning and preparations are also taking place to protect our vital research mission. Research Administration leadership is updating business continuity plans based on COVID-19 and will continue to monitor and prepare to protect research activities as much as possible if disruptions occur.
• Human Resources is consulting with leadership to provide guidance regarding the possible future need for work-from-home scenarios.
• Areas have been identified where facilities can be repurposed to safely manage patient flow should an influx of COVID-19 patients take place.
• We are encouraging patients with concerning symptoms to call their health care provider before going to the doctor, and our Emergency Department is screening incoming patients just outside the entrance to the Emergency Department to decrease possible exposure to others.

These are just a few examples of steps being taken. Units across campus will continue to update their specific plans to protect each other and our community and continue to deliver essential services. Disruptions — small or large — may be inevitable; but our goal is to minimize the effect on you — our students, faculty and staff — as well as the education, research, innovation and economic development, patient care, and community service pillars of our mission.

Please continue to look to your emails and www.uab.edu/uabunited for important updates. At UAB, we are fortunate to have many experts in epidemiology and the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases to guide us. Know that our top priority will remain the continued health and safety of our UAB community.

Please continue to be vigilant, plan ahead and protect against spreading viral illness:

• Wash hands frequently and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Avoid sick people, avoid people if you are sick, and do not travel if you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and cover your cough or sneeze with a sleeve or tissue.
• Protect against the flu by getting the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, but the flu is still circulating in the community at this time.
• The CDC does not recommend the general public buy or wear masks in the United States.
• If you have symptoms, call your health care provider BEFORE going to the doctor:
  • Students should call UAB Health Services at 205-934-3580.
  • UAB employees should call UAB Employee Health at 205-934-3675 from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends, call the UAB Call Center at 205-934-3411 and ask them to page the needlestick/exposure nurse on call.

More information and tips can be found at www.uab.edu/uabunited. UAB medicine employees can go to www.oneuabmedicine.org for Health System specific updates.

Sincerely,

Ray L. Watts
President

Will Ferniany
Health System CEO

Information about UAB coronavirus travel restriction reimbursements

NEW Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Restrictions and Updates

Effective immediately, UAB is canceling all university-sponsored international travel that is scheduled to depart in the month of March. Faculty, staff and students MAY NOT TRAVEL anywhere outside the United States for university business or academic purposes (“university-sponsored travel”), including but not limited to study abroad or other international academic work, research or grant activity, internships, conferences or presentations, teaching or training, performances, recruiting, or athletic competitions.

Additionally, university-sponsored travel outside of the United States that is scheduled to depart after the month of March is suspended effective immediately. Regarding future university-sponsored travel outside of the United States beyond March, this is a complex decision that is based on new and evolving information. Decisions on those future programs are ON HOLD and will be addressed as soon as possible. Please read the full updated interim policy issued by the University of Alabama System.

Due to the expanding global coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the significant risk of exposure during international travel, and guidance from experts in public health and infectious disease, we expect full cooperation and compliance with this Updated Interim Policy to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone. Faculty, staff, students, and visiting students and scholars who fail to comply with this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

We recognize the significance of these measures to members of our campus community and are committed to providing support. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our campus and community. Students with questions about travel should contact the Office of Education Abroad at 205-975-6611 (after hours 205-329-0019) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Faculty, staff and visiting research scholars should contact the Office of Sponsored International Programs at 205-975-2438 (after hours 205-789-5212) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. These offices are available to provide guidance and assistance to our travelers, in addition to providing resources through our System travel provider, International SOS.

While we cannot restrict individuals’ travel for personal business or affiliate programs (i.e., travel that is not university-sponsored but related to academic or business pursuits — e.g., travel through another institution or program), the UA System strongly encourages students, faculty and staff to follow CDC travel watches, alerts and warnings, and be aware of additional CDC and State Department updates. The global situation is rapidly evolving, and risk of acquiring COVID-19 may change abruptly. Please be mindful of potential associated risks of disruptions to reentry to the United States, including possible quarantine.

Any and all travelers returning to the United States or coming to the United States to participate in university-sponsored business or programs must comply with all U.S. re-entry, quarantine, self-isolation or self-monitoring requirements in place before returning to or engaging with the university community. Travelers must provide verification from the Alabama Department of Public Health or their health provider confirming they have completed the appropriate monitoring process. To the extent a traveler is monitored or otherwise reporting to the university during any monitoring period, the traveler must receive express approval from the university in order to return to the university community. Additional detail is available in the updated interim policy.

Returning travelers should follow guidance provided by the Alabama Department of Public Health for returning travelers on the ADPH website. Any traveler should be aware of CDC Travel Health Notices and observe CDC travel precautions for COVID-19.

We understand that many members of our community may have upcoming spring break travel, conferences or summer study abroad plans that this policy may affect. We further understand that the longer the travel restrictions remain in place, more questions will arise related to future plans for international travel. To assess the impact of the virus on faculty, staff and students, a dedicated team composed of members from throughout the UA System, including our clinical and infection prevention experts, is monitoring the outbreak and utilizing guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, and international governments and health agencies. Administrators at each campus are continuously evaluating and receiving advice on potential impacts and will provide future information and guidance.

While there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Alabama at the time of this communication, there are confirmed cases in Florida and Georgia, and it could be seen in Alabama soon.

Please continue to be vigilant, plan ahead and protect against spreading viral illness:

• Wash hands frequently, and avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Avoid sick people, avoid people if you are sick, and do not travel if you are sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces, and cover your cough or sneeze with a sleeve or tissue.
• Protect against the flu by getting the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, but the flu poses an active health threat in Alabama at this time.
• If you have symptoms, call your health care provider BEFORE going to the doctor:
  • Students should call UAB Student Health Services at 205-934-3580.
  • UAB employees should call UAB Employee Health at 205-934-3675 from 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. After hours and on weekends, call the UAB Call Center at 205-934-3411 and ask them to page the needlestick/exposure nurse on-call.