Home / 2021 / September / Asymptomatic Testing Requirements and Logistics

Asymptomatic Testing Requirements and Logistics

To: UCSC Community

From: Lori Kletzer Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor; Sarah Latham Vice Chancellor for Business and Administrative Services

September 15, 2021

As UC Santa Cruz approaches the start of fall quarter, we have updated the requirements for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing and remain focused on supporting the health and well-being of our community.

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 must continue to be tested at least once every four days throughout the quarter, commencing with their arrival on campus.

Testing is voluntary for vaccinated employees who live, work or come on-site for any reason. Unvaccinated staff and faculty who come on-site for any reason are also required to test at least every four days.

UC Santa Cruz will continue to provide free and easy voluntarily asymptomatic testing for employees as frequently as they desire. To help our Slug family understand testing requirements and availability, we are reaching out to provide more information on how and where to get tested.

The Highlights

Testing Requirements: Vaccinated

If you are fully vaccinated (two weeks past your final dose), you will need to provide the following:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students who live in University Housing: Pre-arrival test required for move-in AND a test five to seven days after arrival. After your mandatory tests are complete, you may take tests voluntarily as often as desired.

  • Off-campus undergraduate and graduate students who come on-site for any reason: Test required once by Sept. 30. After your mandatory test is complete, you may take tests voluntarily as often as desired.

  • UCSC employees and faculty who live, work, learn or come on-site for any reason: Testing is voluntary. You may take a test as often as desired.

  • UCSC undergraduate and graduate students, employees and faculty who are 100 percent remote: Testing is voluntary. You may take a test as often as desired.

Exception: Testing is not required for those who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past three months. You must upload your positive result to Health e-Messenger.

Testing Requirements: Unvaccinated

If you are unvaccinated with an approved medical or religious exception, you will need to provide the following:

  • Undergraduate and graduate students who live in University Housing: Pre-arrival test required for move-in, then at least every four days post-arrival to campus.

  • Off-campus undergraduate and graduate students, employees and faculty who come on-site for any reason: You are required to test at least every four days.

  • UCSC undergraduate and graduate students, employees and faculty who are 100 percent remote: Testing is voluntary. You may take a test as often as desired.

  • Any student who is symptomatic or has been exposed by a COVID-positive person: Must consult with the Student Health Center.

  • Any employee who is symptomatic or has been exposed by a COVID-positive person: Should contact your medical provider.

On-Campus Testing Locations

On-campus testing for both vaccinated and unvaccinated non-symptomatic individuals is available at two campus locations. Details for each location are below.

Merrill Cultural Center at Merrill College (through UCSC Kiosk, for vaccinated and unvaccinated populations with an exception).

  • Days/Hours: Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

    • NOTE: During move-in, Sept. 16-19, Merrill will be closed. Instead, testing will occur in the East Remote Parking Lot and outside the Recital Hall/Music Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins only.

  • Appointments: After Sept. 19, please make an appointment through Health e-Messenger.Walk-ins are available, but appointments are recommended.

  • Turn-Around Time: Averages 24 hours for results. You will receive an email, and if you are a student, an update to your badge color based on your result.

Quarry Plaza Express Store (through UCSC vendor Fulgent Genetics, for vaccinated populations only).

  • Days/Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21-Oct. 4 (includes two weekends)

  • Appointments: Walk-in only. First come, first served.

  • To Register: Campus affiliates will be pre-registered; please provide your name and date of birth.

  • Turn-Around Time: Averages 24 to 48 hours for results. You will receive an email, and if you are a student, an update to your badge color for positives only.

Off-Campus Mail-In Testing

If you cannot make it to campus before your testing deadline, you can request mail-in, at-home test kits through Fulgent Genetics.

To request a kit:

  • Check the website to see if you are eligible and order a kit.

  • Redeem the available gift code. A test kit will then be mailed to you.

  • Once you take the test, allow 24 to 48 for results.

  • If you are symptomatic, please contact the Student Health Center.

Yellow and Red Badges

If you are a student and don't comply by Sept. 30, your badge in Health e-Messenger will show as YELLOW (OVERDUE). You can come to campus/on-site, but you must take immediate action. Please note that access to campus services, such as dining, campus business services, advising, classes and labs, recreational facilities, libraries and transit, etc., may be impacted.

If your badge is RED (NOT CLEARED, IN QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION), you cannot be on campus/on-site except to access healthcare services at the Student Health Center.

And if your badge is GREEN (CLEARED), you can come to campus and be on-site.

Thank you all for taking this critical step in keeping our campus community healthy.