The University at Albany will go fully remote beginning Tuesday, President Havidán Rodríguez said in a statement released Monday afternoon.
The university on Friday had conducted "surge testing" of about 3,400 on-campus students, leading to a "presumed" positivity rate of 3.3%. While Rodriguez didn't specify a figure, that is roughly 112 cases, higher than the state's 100-case maximum that triggers a campus closure to in-person learning.
UAlbany will remain on fully remote learning for the remainder of the fall 2020 semester, and anticipate resuming classes in-person with the start of the spring semester on February 1, 2021.
Campus housing will remain open and operational, and students will be expected to remain on campus and in their rooms to the extent possible, Rodriguez said.
The restrictions include no campus events and suspension of all athletics.
"While we had hoped to finish the fall semester as we started, we were also prepared to move to fully remote learning, and the time has come. We are taking this step in an abundance of caution to further protect the health and safety of our campus community," Rodriguez said. "Given the unprecedented spread of COVID-19 across the country, and at UAlbany, it is now more critical than ever that students, faculty, and staff heed public health guidance: wear your mask, wash your hands, maintain physical distancing, and avoid all large gatherings."