Policy encourages UB students to comply with health, safety guidelines amid pandemic

In preparation for students’ return to campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic, UB Student Conduct and Advocacy has created a Student Compliance Policy designed to increase awareness of and compliance with UB’s new campus-wide health and safety guidelines.

“The University at Buffalo is a community, like your hometown, and as a community all members will need to adhere to public health guidance as it relates to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 infections,” the Student Compliance Policy for COVID-19 Public Health Behavior Expectations states. “If we all work together, we can build and sustain a culture that takes our health, public health and the safety of others seriously. As we return to our campuses in larger numbers in the midst of a pandemic, we must all follow a shared set of behavioral expectations to reduce risk.”

The creation and implementation of the compliance policy is one component of a larger initiative to revise health and safety protocols for all aspects of campus life. There are new guidelines pertaining to dining areas, shops, transportation, residence halls and athletics and recreation. There are also new policies for cleaning classrooms and office spaces.

The new guidelines were formulated using the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State Department of Health, SUNY and UB experts in infectious diseases, laboratory medicine and public health. Students are also encouraged to take the “Together, we are UB” pledge.

“Like all campuses, we needed to decide how to address non-compliance with the new public health requirements, such as mask-wearing, physical distancing and so on,” says Elizabeth Lidano, director, UB Student Conduct and Advocacy.

Lidano drafted the policy with input from her staff, as well as individuals in Academic Affairs; Campus Living; the University Police Department; Environment, Health and Safety; the Office of the Vice President for Student Life; SUNY Counsel; the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; and Health Promotion.

The compliance policy specifies that students must obtain and wear face coverings at all times in public spaces and outdoor spaces, maintain physical distancing of six feet in public spaces, and limit the number of people participating in a program or gathering to 50 people or the available capacity for that space, whichever is less.

Public spaces are defined as communal areas, lounges, meeting rooms, offices, classrooms, libraries and UB buses/shuttles.

Students also are required to stay home if they are sick; to abide by state, federal and CDC travel restrictions and precautionary quarantines; and follow campus and public health directives for isolation and quarantine.

Students who have to miss a class due to illness must contact their instructor and arrange to make up missed work. Those living on campus in residence halls and apartments are required to follow the rules outlined in the Campus Living Housing Agreement and Addendum, the Guide to Residence Hall Living and any posted signage. They are also are responsible for following additional directives in settings such as labs and clinical environments.

University faculty and instructional staff are being asked to clarify these standards as requirements of the class and are encouraged to include the Student Compliance Policy in course syllabi.

The goal of the policy is to help build a culture of shared responsibility for the well-being of everyone in the UB community. As such, the policy emphasizes the need to educate students rather than penalizing them for non-compliance.

Students who do not follow the guidelines will first be asked to adhere to the standards and warned about disciplinary action. If the non-compliant behavior continues, UB officials are authorized to ask the student to leave the public space or classroom.

Students who repeatedly fail to comply with the policy may also be referred to Health Promotion’s online public health behavior class to learn more about the significance of public health guidelines for the entire UB community.

A student who refuses to leave an area after being asked to do so may be removed by University Police and referred for student conduct action.

Lidano says she hopes the compliance policy is in line with what students are already used to in New York State and other states.

“If they have read the campus’ Health and Safety guidelines, they won’t be surprised, as it is in line with those policies,” she says.

The complete policy as well as tips for confronting noncompliance can be found online.