Frequently Asked Questions

An employee who tests positive for COVID-19 should not report to work and must immediately contact Human Resources at hr@uah.edu. UAH employees who test positive and who have been directed to isolate may be allowed to work remotely if the supervisor determines that a remote work arrangement is feasible and supports the operational needs of the department. Any remote work arrangement is expected to be temporary and based on the specific needs of the employee. If remote work is not feasible, the employee will be required to use the appropriate leave time to meet their isolation or quarantine requirement. As a reminder, all COVID-related accommodations have expired, including remote work as a result of COVID. For additional information on remote work, please review the UAH Remote Work Guidance page.

Any employee who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who is waiting for test results should not report to work and must notify the university immediately.

UAH employees who are required to isolate may be allowed to work remotely if the supervisor determines that a remote work arrangement is feasible and supports the operational needs of the department. Any remote work arrangement is expected to be temporary and based on the specific needs of the employee. If remote work is not feasible, the employee will be required to use the appropriate leave time to meet their isolation requirement. As a reminder, all COVID-related accommodations have expired, including remote work as a result of COVID. For additional information on remote work, please review the UAH Remote Work Guidance page.

Individuals who are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms but have been exposed to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to report exposure or quarantine in accordance with public health guidance.

If an employee is the primary caregiver for an immediate family member (parent, spouse, child) who has been directed to isolate by a medical professional, public health authority, or school or care facility, they may be allowed to work remotely if the supervisor determines that a remote work arrangement is feasible and supports the operational needs of the department. Any remote work arrangement is expected to be temporary and based on the specific needs of the employee. If remote work is not feasible, the employee will be required to use the appropriate leave time to meet the isolation requirement. As a reminder, all COVID-related accommodations have expired, including remote work as a result of COVID. For additional information on remote work, please review the UAH Remote Work Guidance page.

Not at this time. A federal court put the vaccine requirement on hold for further consideration. On December 7, 2021, a federal court issued a nationwide order to suspend the vaccine mandate for employees of federal contractors. As a result, UAH’s vaccine requirement is suspended. At this time, UAH 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.

On September 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14042 requiring federal contractors and subcontractors to implement COVID-19 safety protocols, including mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for employees (faculty, staff, and student employees). Further guidance was released several weeks later confirming that, as a federal contractor, UAH, like most other higher education institutions, was subject to the requirements of the Executive Order. However, on December 7, 2021, a federal court put the vaccine requirement on hold for further consideration. As a result, UAH’s vaccine requirement is suspended. Because the ultimate outcome of legal challenges to the Executive Order is not decided, we will continue to closely monitor legal developments and provide guidance to employees.

All UAH full-time and part-time faculty and staff, including all graduate and undergraduate student employees. Student employees include, but are not limited to, Graduate Research/Teaching Assistants or those in an on-call assignment.

This includes all employees working remotely if they work on or in connection with a federal contract. Otherwise, employees who do not work on or in connection with a federal contract and who work fully remotely (i.e. you never come to campus for any work-related reason) are not covered by this requirement.

A federal court put the vaccine requirement on hold for further consideration. As a result, UAH’s vaccine requirement is suspended. Because the ultimate outcome of legal challenges to the Executive Order is not decided, we will continue to closely monitor legal developments and provide guidance to employees.

Previously, all UAH faculty, staff, and student employees were required to receive their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or have requested an exemption by Jan. 4, 2022. A federal court put the vaccine requirement on hold for further consideration. As a result, UAH’s vaccine requirement is suspended.

Although not required at this time, UAH encourages all employees to complete a COVID-19 Vaccination Status Release survey regarding permission to share vaccination status with UAH Human Resources or Student Affairs. The survey consists of one yes or no question.

Those who were vaccinated on campus or at the UAH vaccine clinic need only provide permission for their COVID-19 vaccination information to be shared for this purpose.

Those who were vaccinated off campus can upload a copy of one of the following documents to uahportal.pointnclick.com, a secure electronic medical record portal:

• the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card;
• the record of immunization from a health care provider or pharmacy;
• medical records documenting the vaccination;
• immunization records from a public health or State immunization information system; or
• any other official documentation verifying vaccination with the vaccine name, administration date, and the name of health care professional or clinic site administering the vaccine.

If you have already submitted/uploaded your vaccine card, you do not need to submit again.

No. UAH currently has free Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines available, depending on supply. Appointments can be made through the UAH Health Portal or by calling 256.824.2400.

Employees who wish to have an exemption on record with UAH are encouraged to submit a request using the Medical Accommodation or the Religious Accommodation request form to Human Resources at hr@uah.edu.

Reasons for requesting exemption include the following:

• Medical Concerns or Disability: A request for an exemption due to medical contraindications to the vaccine or a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act must be supported, in writing, by the employee’s health care provider. The requesting employee must grant Human Resources permission to contact their health care provider to discuss the identified medical contraindication or disability. Employees who have previously received a medical exemption for the influenza vaccination are not automatically entitled to receive an exemption for the COVID-19 vaccination and must submit a separate request.
• Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs, Practices, or Observances: A request for a religious exemption based on a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance must specify the religious belief, practice, or observance that prevents the employee from receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. Employees may be asked to provide documentation from the employee’s religious/spiritual leader or religious scholar to support the request for an exemption.

Employees will be notified via e-mail of whether their request for an exemption is approved or denied. Employees may appeal the denial of an exemption requested in a UAH form in writing to hr@uah.edu (faculty and staff) or vpsa@uah.edu (student employees) within three (3) business days of the date of receiving the denial notification. All appeals will be reviewed, and the employee will be notified via e-mail of the decision.

Employees may appeal the denial of an exemption requested in a State of Alabama form to the Alabama Department of Labor within seven days of the date of receiving the denial notification.

All employees who receive an exemption must comply with all safety protocols and standards developed by the University.

No, an employee should not be required to use accrued leave time when they are scheduled for vaccination. An employee will be permitted up to 1-hour to leave and return from their scheduled vaccination. If an employee exceeds 1-hour, they will need to use accrued leave time unless there are extenuating circumstances. In those cases, the employee should communicate with their supervisor. Questions or concerns may be directed to Human Resources at hr@uah.edu.

Employees may submit their questions to covid19@uah.edu.