Feb. 17, 2022

Dear students,

You may have noticed that COVID-19 cases are declining in Fairbanks and we are seeing a significant drop in reported UAF cases. While we are watching the case counts carefully and are making plans for how best to adjust University policies to the changing conditions, please take a moment to read Chancellor White’s recent message on the subject. It contains valuable information on the direction we hope to head with masking in the residence halls and with requirements for the duration of isolation. 

If you get sick and are unsure of what to do, please visit the UAF COVID-19 webpage. It is critically important that you let people know; please fill out the reporting form. This is important for several reasons. More accurate tracking will help us keep people safe and help us to understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in our community. In addition to keeping people safe, by reporting, you also will receive additional resources should you need them: extenuating circumstance letters for flexibility in your courses as you recover, recommendations for emergency funding if needed, just to name a few.  For more information on resources available, please contact the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities. The clearer understanding we have about COVID-19, the more responsive we can be with our policies as COVID-19’s grip weakens. 

If you have COVID-19 symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19:

• Don’t go to an in-person class. Don’t go to your place of work.
• Fill out the student reporting form.
• Get tested, if you haven’t already done so.
• Stay home until you are well or, if you tested positive for COVID-19 until 10 days have passed, whichever is longer.

If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19:

• Fill out the student reporting form.
• If you have questions about what close contact is, you can find more information about what you should do on the COVID-19 scenarios page.

If you are living in on-campus housing:

• Students living in campus housing are required to immediately call Residence Life at 907-474-7247 if they are symptomatic, under investigation for COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19.

COVID-19 testing continues to be available on the Troth Yeddha’ campus. The Beacon testing site is located in the Nenana parking lot and is open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Please note that testing stops approximately 30 minutes prior to closing.

Covid-testing and vaccination appointments can be made through the Student Health and Counseling Patient Portal. Clinic hours are: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Wednesday.

Thank you very much for taking care of yourself and other members of our Nanook community. Please continue to look for updates as the situation and our policies evolve. We are not yet at the end of the pandemic, but perhaps the end is finally in sight.

— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management