University students, faculty and staff:

We continue to monitor COVID-19 trends, projections and UAH-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, UAH plans to begin the spring semester on January 13 with a combination of traditional, hybrid and online instruction.

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

COVID testing of UAH students, faculty and staff, as indicated below, will help us identify and isolate positive cases. The testing will be free of charge for these individuals.

  • Students living on campus will be required to test within seven days of returning to campus.
  • Weekly sentinel testing, which targets a randomized sample of the general campus population (with a target of collecting no less than 2.5% of the sample) will be performed.
  • Symptomatic testing and Athletics 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.

To mitigate spread of the virus upon return to campus, there will be a two-week moratorium on student organization-sponsored social events to begin the spring semester. Access to campus will remain limited. Campus visitors must complete the online Visitor Healthcheck and display a green passport to visit campus. Faculty, staff and students must complete Charger Healthcheck at least every three days during spring semester. Green passports are required for students to attend class. Masking and social distancing requirements will remain in place throughout the spring semester.

Additional information, logistical details and specific guidance will be provided in the coming days. For important updates, please look to official UAH email and visit uah.edu/return-to-campus.

Stay safe, Chargers!

COVID safety protocols are subject to change.
We continue to closely monitor the status of COVID-19 on campus and in the broader community, tracking projections to make data-driven decisions. Safety protocols are subject to change. For important updates, please read official UAH emails and visit uah.edu/return-to-campus.

University of Alabama System Comprehensive COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

Aligned with our commitment to make UA, UAB and UAH among the safest campuses in the nation and in consultation with experts in our System, the University of Alabama System’s Comprehensive COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan is continually revised as circumstances change. Originally developed in Spring 2020, the UAS master plan gives each of our campuses the foundation to update individual safety protocols and timelines.

With a shared commitment to our guiding principles, UA, UAB and UAH have unique and distinctive characteristics. Campus-specific plans enable each campus to be responsive to emerging needs and challenges within the framework of the UAS plan. Approved by the UA System prior to implementation, campus plans will continue to be data-driven and implemented in strict consultation with the UA System Health and Safety Task Force.