Today, May 26, UAH will transition from the university’s Limited Business Model resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic into Modified Business Operations. During Modified Business Operations, UAH 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 and minimize risk.

Only *students, faculty, staff, and other individuals 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. Research personnel will be the first to return to campus and clinical students will be at their clinical sites following the approval of units’ operational plans.

*Students: Students in clinical areas must receive approval from their program to return to their clinical sites. 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 college dean or the center director.

Utilizing the expertise of The University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Alabama System has established a System-Wide Health & Safety Task Force to develop plans to minimize risks and promote health and safety on the campuses. The System-wide Health & Safety Task Force will consider strategies of all kinds, including but not limited to: COVID-19 testing measures, enhanced cleaning, classroom procedures, housing policies, security, personal hygiene and wellness programs. The System-Wide Health & Safety Task Force, in collaboration with the UAH Return to Campus Task Force and its several UAH Working Groups, will craft well-informed re-entry strategies and detailed plans and guidance to minimize risk and promote quality outcomes across all mission pillars to cover many areas, such as:

  • Required training (web-based training available soon; 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; each division and the units/colleges within those divisions will have their planned and phased re-entry.
  • Personal protective equipment (including masks/face coverings, gloves, etc.)
  • Social distancing
  • Hygiene (handwashing, hand sanitizers, cough/sneeze etiquette)
  • 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 for buildings and area/rooms within buildings

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 months. After evaluating several factors, we will be utilizing the following color code system to coordinate and integrate operational procedures across UAH. The active color code will be determined based upon state, local or The University of Alabama System restrictions and conditions. Changes in the prevailing code will be announced by UAH leadership in response to the changing circumstances. Each level defines a different set of work criteria rules and regulations and operational plans. 

Operational plans are in development for the different divisions of the university. The vice president for each division and the deans and directors of the colleges and operational units will contact their employees to give guidance as to which phase of Modified Business Operation code yellow your college/unit will start returning to campus and during which phase you will be allowed to return on campus.  Individuals who are at risk, who live with individuals who are at risk, or who have children at home without the possibility of childcare need to contact their supervisor for guidance on the re-entry to campus. Targets for a re-entry timeline will be provided at a later date.

    RED – Access Severely Limited

  • Maintenance and security only
  • No research, athletic or academic activity
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/ disinfecting as indicated in the health and safety protocol

    ORANGE – Limited Business Operations

Target (0% - 25% Capacity)

  • Limited business operations with essential services only
  • Remote/online learning
  • Suspension of on-campus events and activities
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/disinfecting as indicated in the health and safety protocol
  • No non-essential travel.
  • All essential travel must be approved through a waiver process
  • Mark floors and elevators to provide guidance on proper social distancing
  • Food pick-up only
  • Childcare limited to essential employees only. Parents required to complete COVID-19 assessment tool for everyone in their household.
  • Campus transit operates with limited capacity. Disinfecting and social distancing protocol. Require use of separate doors for ingress/egress when available

    YELLOW – Modified Business Operations

    YELLOW: PHASE 1 – Modified Business Operations

Target (26% - 75% Capacity)

  • Continuation of essential services 
  • Research activities as operational plans are approved 
  • Student clinical experiences with operational plans and restricted personnel approved
  • Remote/online learning 
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/disinfecting as indicated in the health and safety protocol 
  • No non-essential travel. 
  • All essential travel must be approved through a waiver process. 
  • Recreation center/ gyms open with limited capacity. 
  • Social distancing enforced, cleaning supplies readily available for users to clean equipment after use, complemented by enhanced cleaning of equipment and all high-touch surfaces. 
  • Food pick-up only 
  • Water fountains off, with the exception of water bottle refill stations 
  • Limited expansion of campus transit with continued cleaning and social distancing protocols

For more information regarding the operational protocols for resuming research operations, see Operational Protocols at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) for Modified Limited Research Operations during COVID-19 Pandemic. Operational plans from other divisions are forthcoming and will be disseminated to division employees upon approval.

    YELLOW: PHASE 2 – Modified Business Operations

Target (26% - 75% Capacity)

  • Critical administrative, academic, student affairs, and business operations as communicated from university and college leadership based on approved operational plans 
  • Research activities as operational plans are approved 
  • Limited professional education activities 
  • Limited on-campus events and activities, including athletics, maintaining compliance with health and safety protocol 
  • Remote/online learning 
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/disinfecting as indicated in the health and safety protocol 
  • No international nonessential travel. 
  • All essential travel must be approved through a waiver process 
  • On campus dining with limited occupancy and tables arranged in accordance with social distancing guidelines 
  • Child care expanded provided centers can comply with CDC guidance and local ordinances. Parents required to complete Stay Safe TogetherTM Healthcheck for everyone in their household. 
  • Resumption of campus transit with continued cleaning and social distancing protocols.

For more information regarding the operational protocols for resuming research operations, see Operational Protocols at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) for Modified Limited Research Operations during COVID-19 Pandemic.  Operational plans from other divisions are forthcoming and will be disseminated to division employees upon approval.

    YELLOW: PHASE 3 – Modified Business Operations

Target (26% - 75% Capacity)

  • On-campus housing open 
  • Resumption of on-campus learning with hybrid remote/ in-person model 
  • On-campus events and activities, including athletics, maintaining compliance with health and safety protocol 
  • Expanded faculty, administrative, academic, student affairs, and business operations as communicated from the university and college leadership based on approved operational plans 
  • Research activities as operational plans are approved 
  • Some faculty, staff, and students working remotely 
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/disinfecting as indicated in the health and safety protocol 
  • All essential travel must be approved through a waiver process. 
  • On-campus dining with limited occupancy and tables arranged in accordance with social distancing guidelines 
  • Resumption of child care operations in compliance with CDC guidance and local ordinances. 
  • Campus transit with continued cleaning and social distancing protocols.

For more information regarding the operational protocols for resuming research operations, see Operational Protocols at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) for Modified Limited Research Operations during COVID-19 Pandemic.  Operational plans from other divisions are forthcoming and will be disseminated to division employees upon approval.

    GREEN – Full Access; Limited Public HEALTH RESTRICTIONS

Target (76% - 100 Capacity)

  • Modified normal operations for all faculty, staff and students
  • Face coverings, social distancing, and sanitizing/ disinfecting as required in the health and safety protocol based on the advice of the medical experts

The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve, and our response will inevitably evolve as well. We will, therefore, update the research plan and develop guidelines and the protocols 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 activities and student clinical experiences resume.