OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR

December 11, 2020

ALL STUDENTS, ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (Including UC San Diego Health)

Return to Learn and Winter Operations Update

As we complete the finals week and prepare to head into the Winter Break, the world is experiencing a sustained, dramatic rise in SARS-CoV-2 infections. This week, Governor Gavin Newsom instituted a new stay-at-home order for all Californians, imploring them to stay home except to obtain essential needs, wear a mask if they must leave their homes, practice physical distancing, and regularly wash their hands.

While we have also seen a rise in cases in our on-campus and off-campus student body, we have been able to avoid outbreaks on our campus due to our comprehensive Return to Learn program. Faculty, students, campus leaders, and health leaders came together with one common goal: to return to in-person learning, continue our cutting-edge research, and provide quality service and patient care to our community.

Return to Learn has been tremendously successful, a model for universities and school systems across the nation. You (our faculty, students and staff) have been extraordinary in your efforts, adhering to protocols and remaining vigilant throughout the Fall Quarter. Daily monitoring, the adaptability of our plan, and frequent communication are key to its continued success.

In light of the significant increase in viral activity and in response to the state’s new guidance, we are updating our campus requirements and recommendations. This message also provides the context and information each of you needs to make your decisions about the Winter Quarter.

Winter Instruction Plan

Current public health orders restrict teaching to outdoor in-person or remote modalities; we anticipate that the county may not authorize indoor in-person teaching to resume before mid-January 2021 at the earliest. To accommodate additional outdoor teaching, we are building additional outdoor teaching spaces, and we will share details as construction proceeds.

As usual, each instructor may choose the teaching modality that is best for their class.

Arrangements for the full Winter quarter: If you have already requested to teach in an outdoor classroom (these are fully equipped and reconfigurable spaces), you will receive a response early next week. If you originally arranged to teach indoors in-person but would now like to request an outdoor classroom for the full quarter, please work with your department scheduler to submit a request. If you originally planned to teach in-person but prefer to make your class remote for the full quarter, please notify your department scheduler of your decision. If you originally arranged to offer your Winter classes remotely, you are all set.

Arrangements for the initial weeks of Winter quarter: If you still plan to teach indoors in-person, you will need to make alternative arrangements for the initial weeks of the quarter. We will have a variety of outdoor teaching spaces for use until indoor in-person teaching is authorized again; if you would like to use one, please work with your department chair to make a request. If you will conduct classes remotely during the initial weeks, please simply inform your students of this.

In-Person Events

To reduce opportunities for the spread of COVID-19, all in-person events taking place on campus through May 31, 2021, must be presented in virtual formats, rescheduled for a future date or cancelled. This includes any planned in-person gathering including but not limited to celebrations, dances, lectures, forums, performances, meetings, rallies, social gatherings, concerts, speaker presentations, conferences, contests, competitions or tournaments. In-person events do not include classes and curricular activities.

It is highly recommended that event organizers consider converting in-person events to virtual delivery wherever feasible to ensure that UC San Diego community members continue to have opportunities for healthy and meaningful engagement and connection. Please direct any questions regarding this temporary policy to VCSA@ucsd.edu.

Learn more about in-person event cancellation online >>

Student Testing and Protocols

Weekly testing requirement. Beginning January 2, students living on campus or coming to campus for in-person instruction, research, or any other activity will be required to test weekly.

Sequestration following unmasked off-campus activity. Any student who resides in campus-operated housing and who engages in any off-campus unmasked activity (sharing a meal, recreational activities, gatherings, etc.) is required to sequester for 14 days within their residential unit upon returning to campus. Sequestration requires the individual not only to be masked and distanced within the residential unit (with the exception of their personal bedroom and the shower) and to complete the daily screener, but also undergo additional COVID-19 testing on days 1, 5 and 10 after returning to campus. Students can use the online self-scheduler to select a convenient time. Students may continue to attend in-person classes and are encouraged to visit the Virtual Student Union for daily offerings of remote and virtual engagement opportunities to stay connected. Outside of the residential unit, students are required to mask at all times, with the exception of eating and exercising, and must maintain physical distance at all times. Sequestration ends when a day-10 COVID-19 test returns as negative.

Campus Housing

On-campus undergraduate housing will remain at single occupancy for Winter Quarter 2021. All decisions are led by consideration of the health and safety of students, employees and local communities.

All undergraduate and graduate students residing in campus-operated housing (HDH) must conduct daily symptom and exposure screening. They are also required to participate in free asymptomatic testing once a week.

Winter Quarter move-in process. Move-in for new undergraduate residents will be staggered over a three-day period (January 2-4, 2021). New undergraduate residents will receive an email with a link to sign up for their move-in date and time through the HDH Housing Portal. Students will be able to select a move-in date and time starting December 15.

All students (new and returning) will be tested when they arrive for winter quarter move-in. Returning students will test through self-administered testing kits. New students will participate in testing through a structured drive-through, similar to the fall undergraduate move-in process. All students will be tested again on days 5 and 10 after arrival. If a student tests positive, they will be moved to designated on-campus isolation housing, where basic needs will be met and food will be delivered to the unit. They will also receive care from Student Health and Well-Being Services.

In order to limit the number of non-residents inside the residential facilities, new residents can only bring two move-in assistants. Returning students will not be allowed to bring any move-in assistants or other visitors inside the residential buildings.

Students must maintain physical distancing and wear a face covering while in their residential units (except in their personal bedroom and shower). Guests in residential buildings or visiting between units are not allowed.

Graduate residents moving into campus-operated housing will need to self-schedule for a test within 24 hours of arriving on campus.

During the winter quarter, all dining will continue to offer a to-go model in accordance with the San Diego County Public Health order. Indoor dining will remain closed. To stay current on housing updates, please visit the HDH COVID FAQ webpage.

Research

Research is essential to the university’s mission. During the statewide stay-at-home order, on-site research that has already been approved via the Research Ramp Up process will continue at current levels. Students who wish to continue approved on-site activity advancing their education (e.g., thesis or dissertation research, 199, training rotations) may do so, but no student should be pressured. Researchers are reminded to follow all safety requirements, including completing their daily symptom/exposure screening.

Employees

Campus staff who are successfully working remotely should continue to do so at least through May 31, 2021, unless otherwise notified by your supervisor or vice chancellor.

Academic appointees should likewise continue working remotely except while teaching in-person in an assigned classroom, undertaking scholarship as part of an ORA-approved Return-to-Research plan, or working under a Return-to-Campus work plan approved by their vice chancellor.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

I wish to extend a special thank you to UC San Diego Health, Student Health and Well-Being Services, the Office of Operational Strategic Initiatives, the Emergency Operations Center, the Academic Senate, student leadership, the entire Return to Learn team of committees, and the dedicated staff throughout our organization for their expert insight, planning, and precise and meticulous execution throughout the pandemic. Hundreds of UC San Diego employees and students spent more than eight months—and counting—building, testing, and implementing new systems and protocols that have proven to be extremely effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on our campus.

I am very proud of our entire Triton community. Thank you for actively adhering to and participating in our detailed protocols. Because of you, UC San Diego is a model for repopulating university campuses and school systems.

Let’s keep up the good work. Keep your distance, wear your mask, clean work surfaces frequently, complete your daily screening, test every week, and activate CA Notify on your mobile phone.

I encourage you to stay safe as we all work to reduce the impact of COVID-19 around the world. Enjoy your Winter Break.

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor