Throughout fall quarter, interim Vice Chancellor for Research John MacMillan and Student Health Center Medical Director Elizabeth Miller are providing regular updates about efforts to support the campus community’s health and well-being.
Dear Campus Community
The fall quarter has been off to a great start. We are so proud of how everyone has risen to the challenges of providing proof of vaccination, getting tested and wearing masks.
While this work helps keep us all healthy and well, with the return of in-person interactions we will see an increase in positive cases. We need to remain vigilant in carrying out our mitigation efforts to keep those numbers low. We have had a total of 14 positive cases between Sept 20-26 and 10 of those involve residential students who are now quarantining, either on campus or at their permanent residence.
In addition to requiring that vaccinated students take one more COVID-19 test by Sept. 30, we will continue providing free and easy tests to everyone in our campus community.
Summary of Updates
- Status update on campus and in Santa Cruz County
- Students: one last required test
- Flu clinics coming in October
Status Update
- Small number of positive COVID-19 tests among residential students: As mentioned above, ten students who are living in campus housing have tested positive for COVID-19 and are staying in our campus quarantine/isolation space or have returned home.
- High vaccination rate in our campus community: As of today, 94 percent of UC Santa Cruz students and 87 percent of employees have complied with our COVID vaccine policy. The campus is working to bring the remaining people into compliance.
- Slug Strong dashboard offers regular updates: Our COVID-19 dashboard is updated regularly and provides a breakdown of COVID-19 cases.
- Santa Cruz County dashboard shows decline in new cases: The county currently has 471 active cases, which is a 37 percent decline over the past 14 days.
- Mask up! Both the campus and county require face coverings in most indoor situations.
Students: one last required COVID test
Students have one last crucial step to take: getting tested by Thursday, Sept. 30. The following asymptomatic COVID-19 testing requirements must be met in order to access campus this quarter:
- Vaccinated students living on campus must get a COVID-19 test within five to seven days of moving to UC Santa Cruz.
- Vaccinated students who live off-campus must get a test by Sept. 30.
- Unvaccinated students with a pending or approved exemption must continue to be tested at least once every four days throughout the quarter, commencing with their arrival on campus.
Information about scheduling a COVID-19 test is online.
Flu Clinics Coming in October
Help UCSC fight the flu! Faculty and staff are eligible for free flu shots on campus on Oct. 5 and Oct. 13. Please register for one of the flu clinics here. Students can also get flu shots Oct. 27-28 at the Hay Barn. Registration details are coming soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Student Health Center immunizations page for more information.
