On March 12 2020, President Harris sent out a campus-wide email informing the Union Community that a Union staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The identity of the individual was not revealed due to privacy reasons.  The email also mentioned that classes will be cancelled Thursday, March 12, and tomorrow, March 13 to allow Schenectady County Department of Health officials to complete their work in order to minimize public health risk.

The campus community has also been asked to practice “elevated levels of social distancing” including cancelling all events and in-person meetings. The students and faculty who may have come in contact with the person will be notified by the Schenectady County Department of Health. A decision regarding final exams will be announced later on today.

Moreover, this comes after the announcement of a case of COVID-19 among a “member of the UAlbany community”, with all classes at UAlbany also being canceled beginning today, according to the UAlbany website.

Harris asked for “empathy and courage” during this time, and explained that there are “experts” working to “protect the health of our community.”