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COVID-19 campus messages

December 27, 2021
Instructions for students returning to campus
We realize that the pandemic has been unpredictable, and public health guidelines often change, so we are reaching out to provide you with the most up-to-date information for your return from Winter Break.
December 27, 2021
Instructions for employees returning to on-site work
We realize that the pandemic has been unpredictable, and public health guidelines often change, so we are reaching out to provide you with the most up-to-date information for your return from Winter Break to on-site work.
December 21, 2021
Update on winter quarter
With the rapid rise nationwide in the number of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant and the likelihood that holiday gatherings will only further increase infections, UC campuses are implementing additional mitigations.
December 06, 2021
Winter Break COVID-19 Testing Requirements
Our goal is to provide you with the most up-to-date information for reducing your risk of COVID infection while you are away from campus.
September 30, 2021
Campus indoor face coverings requirement continues
Face coverings, in addition to the vaccinations and our testing program, continue to be a key element of our campus mitigation plan.
September 28, 2021
Slug Strong update: small number of campus cases, flu shots available
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.
September 21, 2021
Slug Strong Update: Successful move-in; asymptomatic testing available
Each week, we will provide the campus with helpful updates and summaries of the measures underway to support the health and well-being of our UC Santa Cruz community.
September 15, 2021
Update on winter quarter instructional planning
As we return to operating as an in-person university, we will continue to follow public health requirements and guidance.
September 15, 2021
Asymptomatic Testing Requirements and Logistics
Vaccinated students living on campus must get a COVID-19 test within five to seven days of moving to UC Santa Cruz.
September 13, 2021
Important information regarding fall quarter 2021
We look forward to welcoming back our students, again offering in-person activities and sporting events, opening additional facilities for campus use, and feeling that energy that we’ve sorely missed and that makes our Slug community special.
September 10, 2021
Instructors with Household Members at High Risk for COVID
To align with other UC campuses and based on feedback from our own instructor community, I write today to inform you that we have established an additional process where instructors (including GSIs and TAs with instructional responsibilities) may request a modification to their work duties and responsibilities due to a member of their household being moderately to severely immunocompromised.
September 08, 2021
Mandatory COVID policy takes effect tomorrow, Sept. 9
The University of California’s systemwide mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy takes effect at UC Santa Cruz tomorrow, Sept. 9.
September 02, 2021
Critically important: UC Vaccine Policy compliance required by Sept. 9
We are writing today to describe the steps you can take to get your fall quarter off to a strong start.
August 27, 2021
Supporting community health through fall quarter
We are taking a multi-prong approach to support the health and well-being of our campus community. That includes creating a campus community with a high rate of vaccination; requiring face coverings for indoor situations; and continuing our highly successful testing program to rapidly identify cases.
August 27, 2021
Guidance to faculty and instructional staff on in-person instruction
With the fall quarter less than a month away, we have heard many questions and concerns about delivering in-person instruction in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the presence of the Delta variant. This message and a forthcoming webpage with frequently asked questions are intended to respond to many of the policy-related questions that have been raised to date.
August 24, 2021
Full approval for Pfizer vaccine good news in push for vaccinations
For the health and well-being of all of our community members, it’s important that everyone who can get vaccinated does so.
August 18, 2021
Revised approval process for essential research travel
The UC Office of the President has rescinded the prior travel directives and directs that all University travelers follow the CDC Guidance before, during and upon return from travel.
August 03, 2021
COVID-19 information forum set for Aug. 13
The next UC Santa Cruz COVID-19 Information Forum is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 13 from 9:30 a.m. — 11 a.m.
August 02, 2021
New guidance for wearing face coverings on campus
To advance the health and wellness of our campus community, we are now requiring that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings when they are in indoor settings at campus locations.
July 23, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Policy exception process
The UC Office of the President released the final COVID-19 vaccination policy.
July 02, 2021
Clarification on COVID-19 protocol changes for campus employees, spaces and program
In response to our campus operational update last week, we have received questions about the actions units can take regarding face covering requirements and vaccine verification. We are utilizing a consistent approach across campus, and units, unless required to do so because of state, county or other guidelines impacting their particular operation, should not add or implement department specific rules or protocols. As campus-wide protocols change, we will update you.
June 25, 2021
COVID-19 protocol changes for campus employees, spaces and program
As state and other agency COVID-19 restrictions have evolved, we have adjusted several campus protocols.
June 11, 2021
Office of the President finalizing COVID-19 vaccine policy
The University of California Office of the President has notified campus leaders that it is finalizing a policy to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC campus this fall.
June 11, 2021
Updated operational considerations for post-June 15 operations
On June 15 use of the color tiered system that has framed our state’s COVID-19 response and recovery will cease. Guidelines will move away from industry-based requirements to a general set of protocols.
May 24, 2021
Navigating the post-June 15 employee repopulation to on-site work and additional guidance on telecommuting
The pandemic has provided us an opportunity to implement flexible arrangements when they are productive and can meet the mission of the campus.
April 22, 2021
Office of the President details COVID-19 vaccine policy
The University of California Office of the President is proposing a policy that would make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff, academic appointees, and students accessing facilities at any UC campus beginning in fall quarter 2021.
April 15, 2021
Loosening of COVID-19 testing requirements
We are now requiring only one test a week instead of two for students living, working or taking classes on campus.
April 15, 2021
Ramping up operations in spring and summer
The update below provides guidance on the continued ramp-up of campus operations through summer as we head to fall quarter.
April 12, 2021
New Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL21) for COVID-19 relief available to all employees in 2021
This communication is to inform you of a recent update on the University of California’s (University) COVID-19 Related Leaves for policy-covered and represented academic and staff employees.
April 05, 2021
Supporting students with the latest Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), signed into law in late December, provided our campus with $28.8 million on March 17 to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic on the university and its students.
April 01, 2021
Planning for fall and staying connected through the spring
With spring in full bloom, I write with updates on what to expect this quarter for instruction and in campus housing, to make sure you're all aware of our still evolving plans for fall, and to highlight some of the creative ways that Banana Slugs are staying connected while we are still spread geographically far and wide.
March 23, 2021
Update on fall quarter instructional planning
We write today to provide an update on our instructional planning for the fall 2021 quarter.
March 12, 2021
COVID-19 campus update as Santa Cruz county moves to red tier and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) update guidance for fully vaccinated individuals
I write to provide several updates on campus planning and changes that are unfolding in the COVID-19 pandemic landscape.
March 09, 2021
Update on COVID-19 vaccination distribution
The COVID-19 vaccination distribution model continues to shift throughout the state as Blue Shield implements the new statewide framework
February 25, 2021
Detailed update on fall planning
We write to follow up last week’s message with more details on our planning process for fall quarter instruction.
February 18, 2021
Update on COVID-19 vaccination distribution
COVID-19 vaccine planning continues to be a concentrated focus for our campus. This message updates where we are with campus vaccinations and also provides the latest information we have on the rapidly changing framework and vaccine-distribution model that the state of California is implementing.
February 17, 2021
Preliminary update on fall planning
Last month the Office of the President shared a message that all UC campuses planned to return to primarily in-person instruction in the fall and that early decision-making has given us a long planning runway to prepare and incorporate feedback.
January 29, 2021
Pruebas de COVID-19 para toda la facultad y el personal
El programa de pruebas de COVID-19 en el campus amplió su capacidad a fin de continuar ofreciendo pruebas de COVID-19 a los empleados (personal y facultad), así Uds. trabajen dentro o fuera del campus principal o en sitios auxiliares.
January 29, 2021
COVID-19 testing for all faculty and staff
The campus COVID-19 testing program has expanded its capacity so that we can continue to offer COVID-19 tests to employees (staff and faculty), whether you work on or off the main campus or at ancillary locations.
January 28, 2021
Update on COVID-19 vaccine distribution
Last week, I shared an update on the COVID-19 vaccine that included information on the updated Interim COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees. As the UC system continues its vaccine roll-out and the state adapts its distribution approach, I provide the following updated information. Additional information is available on the Student Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine webpage.
January 26, 2021
California lifts Limited Stay at Home Order; Santa Cruz County remains in purple tier
The Limited Stay-at-Home Order announced in December has been lifted. The California Department of Public Health lifted the order Monday, stating that counties will now return to the guidelines and restrictions outlined in the color-coded tier system of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
January 22, 2021
Updated COVID-19 vaccine policy for personnel and certain trainees
In follow up to last week’s update, we write to share that the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) has released an UPDATED interim COVID-19 vaccination policy.
January 14, 2021
COVID-19 campus case rates and vaccination planning
This message includes some key updates about our current case rate and operating status, our asymptomatic testing program, and our vaccine rollout.
January 11, 2021
TestMe: Keeping our community healthy, one test at a time
The campus testing center has expanded its capacity so that it can now administer COVID-19 tests for the off-site student population, as well as for faculty and staff who live and/or work on campus or a UCSC facility.
January 11, 2021
Planning for fall quarter
Earlier today, University of California President Michael Drake announced that all 10 campuses are planning for a return to primarily in-person instruction for fall 2021. This information will be helpful to us all as we begin planning for the coming academic year.
November 20, 2020
Telecommuting workshop materials
Materials from a campus roundtable discussion on telecommuting
October 23, 2020
Information forum materials
The video, slide deck and Q-and-As from the October 2020 information forum.