SPPS Forward
The School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is committed to protecting the health and safety of our SPPS community while remaining focused on our academic, research and community service mission.
The following university and school guidelines have been established to help ensure the health, success and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and guests. New information will be posted here when available, so please check back often.
Latest Updates from UB
Complete your Daily Health Check.
- Chatbot screening tool
- Evaluates COVID-19 symptoms and exposure
- Part of UB’s Health and Safety Guidelines
- Complete early in your day
Important: Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 Updates
Updated August 3, 2021.
Vaccinated Students: Students who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will now need to wear face coverings/masks inside all campus buildings, including classrooms, hallways, libraries and other common areas. Face coverings will not be needed inside personal residence hall rooms, while eating/drinking in UB dining areas or non public facing personal workstations. Face coverings will also be needed at large outdoor events or settings where large groups of people congregate. Face coverings will not be needed at other UB outdoor settings. Physical distancing is not required at this time.
Unvaccinated Students: These students are responsible for wearing a mask in all indoor and outdoor locations on UB’s campuses, with the exception of in their personal residence hall rooms, personal workstations or while eating in university dining areas. Physical distancing will not be required, but unvaccinated individuals must wear masks. Unvaccinated persons are encouraged to observe physical distancing wherever practical
Vaccinated Employees: Employees who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will now need to wear face coverings/masks inside all campus buildings, including classrooms, hallways, libraries and other common areas. Face coverings will not be needed inside personal offices, while eating/drinking in UB dining areas or non public facing personal workstations. Face coverings will also be needed at large outdoor events or settings where large groups of people congregate. Face coverings will not be needed at other UB outdoor settings. Physical distancing is not required at this time.
Unvaccinated Employees: Employees who are not vaccinated are responsible for wearing a mask indoors and outdoors on UB’s campuses, with the exception of their personal workstations or while eating in university dining areas. Physical distancing will not be required, but unvaccinated individuals must wear masks. Unvaccinated persons are encouraged to observe physical distancing wherever practical
Public Transportation
Masks are required on UB shuttles and buses for all vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Health Care and Health Science Settings
Masks are required within health care settings (e.g. Student Health Services, the Dental Clinic) and campus health science and clinical teaching laboratories. Campus health science and clinical teaching laboratories may continue to operate without six-foot distancing.
Visit UB's Return to Campus Summer & Fall 2021 website for detailed information.
UB Student Guidelines and Updates
Student Vaccination Requirement: August 23, 2021
All UB students are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 to attend classes in person and participate in on-campus activities in the fall, according to a SUNY mandate. Full approval of the vaccine was granted by the FDA on Monday, August 23.
Students who do not comply with this requirement by Aug. 30 will be dropped or resigned from all courses with an in-person component. Students should understand that being dropped or resigned from a course may impact financial aid, medical insurance eligibility, sequence of required courses and/or time to graduation.
Students are financially liable for all courses unless they have dropped or resigned by published deadlines. If you have not yet submitted proof of vaccination or are unvaccinated, please review Vaccine Non-Compliance Consequences.
Return To Campus: Fall 2021
Resources to help you be prepared as possible for the fall semester.
The latest information and service announcements
Current UB Protocols
- Exemption from COVID-19 testing
Students who are regularly on campus will no longer need to participate in mandatory weekly testing upon verifying that they have been fully vaccinated.
See How to provide proof of vaccination - Indoor masking and physical distancing
See above August 3, 2021 information - Continuity of daily health screening
All students regularly on campus must continue to submit a daily health screening. - Following state guidelines for special events
For performances or special events on campus, UB will adhere to current guidelines outlined by the New York State Department of Health. - No distancing in health science settings
Campus health science and clinical teaching laboratories may continue to operate without physical distancing. Masks, however, must be worn, regardless of whether individuals have been vaccinated or not. - Immunization Requirements for Academic Year 2021-22. See UB Student Guide for full immunization requirements. For COVID-19 immunization see HERE.
- Campus Resident Guide. Health and safety guidance for student's living on campus. See HERE.
- UB Help Options: Need help? Need assistance? Access UB's resource guide HERE.
Additional Resources
Everything you need to know to stay safe on campus.
Policy guidance for F-1 & J-1 students.
Consistent access to nutritious food is a necessary part of being a successful, healthy student. Should you experience an unanticipated hardship, we can help connect you to groceries.
There are many sources of support for students experiencing stress or anxiety, including counseling services and crisis resources.
SPPS Student Guidelines and Updates
Illness and COVID-19 Exposure Guidelines:
What to do if you feel sick
- Symptoms: If you are experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19 (feverish/fever, new cough/chronic cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste/smell) stay home and consult your health care provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please contact UB Student Health: 716-829-3316. Also refer to the UB Student Health COVID-19 Updates page.
- COVID-19 Testing: If you test positive for COVID-19, please follow steps outlined below 'What to do if you test positive for COVID-19'. If you test negative, you may report for classes. Do not report to classes until results of testing are known.
- Daily Health Check: Immediately complete UB’s Daily Health Check
- PharmD Students Need to Also Contact:
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
Email: kdf@buffalo.edu
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
- PHC Undergraduate and Graduate Students Need to Also Contact:
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: memorris@buffalo.edu
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
What to do if you have had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual (*NOT in a UB Classroom*)
- Close Contact:
- NYSDOH defines close contact as being within 6 feet of a COVID-19 postive individual for 10 minutes or more.
- Symptoms: Recent close contact with a person diagnosed as COVID-19 positive, monitor for symptoms. If you become symptomatic, consult your health care provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please contact UB Student Health: 716-829-3316. Also refer to the UB Student Health COVID-19 Updates page.
- Quarantine/No Vaccine: If not vaccinated,quarantine for 10 days from first date of close contact. Return to campus or rotations is not permitted unless you have tested negative for COVID-19.
- No Quarantine/Vaccine: If a person received the full vaccine series of an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccine and is exposed to an individual who tested COVID-19 positive and remains asymptomatic, that person will not need to quarantine. See ECDOH COVID-19 for more information. If you become symptomatic you must quarantine for 10 days; return to campus or rotations is not permitted, unless you have tested negative for COVID-19.
- Daily Health Check: Immediately complete UB’s Daily Health Check
- PharmD Students Need to Also Contact:
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
Email: kdf@buffalo.edu
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
- PHC Undergraduate and Graduate Students Need to Also Contact:
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: memorris@buffalo.edu
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
What to do if you have had close content with a COVID-19 positive individual (*in a UB classroom*)
- If a student or instructor tests positive:
Individuals who have been in close contact with that person in a classroom or other indoor learning environment do not need to quarantine or get tested — provided they were properly masked — unless they develop symptoms. This is based on classroom guidance from the CDC.
What to do if you test positive for COVID-19
- Isolate: Isolate for at least 10 days after the test specimen was collected. Do not return to campus or rotations.
- Quarantine: quarantine for 10 days from first date of postive test. Return to campus or rotations is not permitted during quarantine.
- UB COVID-19 Reporting Form: Positive tests results should be reported via UB's confidential COVID-19 reporting form. You also will receive health, housing and academic support guidance via this form.
- No Report: Do not report for ANY required school activities/classes/rotations
- PharmD Students Need to Also Contact:
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
Email: kdf@buffalo.edu
- Karl Fiebelkorn, Senior Associate Dean, Student, Professional, and Community Affairs
- PHC Undergraduate and Graduate Students Need to Also Contact:
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Email: memorris@buffalo.edu
- Marilyn Morris, Chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Additional Guidelines:
- Eating/Drinking Pharmacy Building
- No eating/drinking in lecture halls, classrooms, labs, student lounge, student organization suite, hallways, stairways
- If/when you are fully vaccinated, eating/drinking may occur while seated in the 1st floor cafe and 2nd floor atrium. You may also eat/drink in Room 183 between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Masks/face coverings may be removed when seated and actively eating/drinking only.
- Social distancing is strongly encouraged wile unmasked and eating/drinking.
- If you are not fully vaccinated, you are NOT permitted to remove your mask to eat and drink in the pharmacy building.