Updates for the U of A community, week ending September 17

Posted: September 17, 4:30 p.m.

In-person classes resume on Monday, September 20

All in-person classes will resume as originally scheduled for the fall term, with previously announced requirements around masking, vaccination or rapid testing continuing. Classes originally scheduled for in-person will be in-person; classes originally scheduled to be online will remain online. Read more about how the new provincial measures will apply at the U of A »

Get your first vaccination dose by September 20 

To comply with the U of A’s November 1 mandatory vaccination requirement, September 20 is the last date you can receive a first dose to ensure that you meet that deadline. It takes two weeks for vaccinations to be considered effective and during that time you are required to undergo on-campus rapid testing every 72 hours. You also need four weeks between doses. Vaccinations are safe and available at no cost. They limit the spread and impact of COVID-19. Learn more about getting vaccinated »

Changes to the Rapid Testing Programing starts September 20 

Starting on September 20, Rapid testing will need to be conducted every 72 hours for anyone unvaccinated or those who have had a single vaccination but have not completed this within the last 14 days in order to satisfy the provincial Restriction Exemption Program. The U of A Rapid Testing Program on campus will continue through to October 29 and after this date only for those who have been approved for an exemption or accommodation.

If you don’t have your first dose by September 20

1. If you don’t qualify for an exemption for medical or other protected grounds, book your first vaccination as soon as possible.
2. Ensure that you book on-campus rapid testing every 72 hours.

Students with in-person classes or activities this fall who do not receive a first dose of vaccine before September 20 should contact dosdean@ualberta.ca.

Faculty or staff members with in-person work or activities this fall who do not receive a first dose of vaccine before September 20 should contact their HR Partner.

Proof of Vaccination Program starts October 4

When and how community members that are fully or partially vaccinated can provide their vaccine verification will be available by October 4.

New requirements for events start on September 20

Until further notice, if events can be delivered remotely they should be transitioned to a remote delivery format. In-person events must follow these general directives and may require approval by the Public Health Response Team.

Protect yourself. Protect our community. Stay home when you feel unwell.

Students, staff and faculty should complete the Alberta Health Daily Checklist before heading to campus. If you feel unwell, protect yourself and your community by staying home. If you start to feel unwell when you are on campus, return home immediately. 

In Alberta, you are legally required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days if you tested positive or have any core COVID-19 symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition. For more information, see the U of A COVID-19 Procedures for Sick Employees and Students. 

Mandatory masking continues on campus

Since the start of the semester, the university has required that all faculty, staff, students and visitors to all U of A campuses wear non-medical face masks (masks) in all university indoor common-use spaces including classrooms, labs, common areas in residences, libraries and meeting rooms. This safety measure has not changed on our campuses, and will continue even as the U of A Proof Vaccination Program is implemented. As of September 4, provincial health measures have also made masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces and workplaces in Alberta. 

General inquiries: U of A Public Health Response Team, phrtinfo@ualberta.ca