Sept. 2, 2021

Dear students,

It is great to see so many of you starting, continuing, or resuming your academic classes at UAF, either in-person or online or in a hybrid mode. Here, I am providing some guidance as it specifically pertains to your in-person classroom activities.

Face covering reminder:

As you know, UAFs  face-covering policy requires that, among other things, you wear face coverings at all times in the indoor classrooms. This is not just a suggestion, it is a mandate, and it is a step the university has taken for your safety and for the safety of others. Please be reminded that if you refuse to wear a face covering properly, there will be disciplinary consequences that can range from a warning up to expulsion for more extreme situations. If you have questions or concerns about this policy or guidance, please reach out to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities (CSRR). If you are concerned that your instructor or advisor is not following the face covering policy, please bring it to the attention of your dean. The face covering policy applies to everyone.

Reporting illness: 

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, please do not come to class. Please let your instructors, residence life director (if applicable) and your close contacts know of your situation. Please fill out and submit the student COVID-19 reporting form immediately. This will initiate the contact tracing protocol. A UAF contact tracer will reach out to you and provide guidance on what you need to do next. They will also ask you questions to determine who may constitute your close contact, and will reach out to close contacts providing them guidance on what they need to do. Your faculty, advisors, CSRR staff and Residence Life staff are all resources you can reach out to for help.

Contacting faculty, CSRR, Residence Life and advisors:

Should you need to quarantine, isolate, or be absent for any other reason, please inform your course instructor, and work one-on-one with the instructor to see how they can accommodate your needs, how you can make up lost work, and how you can continue to make progress in the class. Please recognize that each class is different, and not all faculty will be able to exercise the same level of flexibility. If you are unsure of what to do, please remember that CSRR, Residence Life staff and your academic advisors are there to assist you in navigating through the difficult times. Please work closely with them to ensure that you have a plan that sets you up for success. If you are not sure who your academic advisor is, you can look here. You can also contact the Academic Advising Center.

I wish you all the best for a successful fall 2021. Mask up and be safe!

— Anupma Prakash, provost and executive vice chancellor