Spring Campus Operations Update

Thanks to the full commitment of our Triton community to campus safety protocols, UC San Diego has been highly successful in allowing many Tritons to return to limited on-campus activities in a safe, measured way. The excellent outcomes that have resulted, along with a rise in vaccinations, new data modeling and continued vigilance, provide an opportunity to expand our campus activities this spring and augment a variety of interim campus policies.

Vaccinations and Continued Vigilance

Vaccinations are a key component of the health and safety of our campus community. We encourage everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible in order to continue building the safest learning and working environment possible.

We must continue the practices that we know help keep our campus community safe. Regardless of vaccination status, everyone on-site at UC San Diego or affiliated workspaces must continue to adhere to the CDC and UC San Diego standards for safety, including masking, physical distancing and sanitization. Review the campus face covering policy online for more details.

Weekly Asymptomatic Testing Requirement Lifted for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

Following the science from our faculty and researchers and under the guidance of federal and state agencies, our weekly asymptomatic testing requirement for those who have been fully vaccinated has been lifted. Students, faculty and staff coming to campus who have been fully vaccinated (two weeks after your final dose of vaccine) are no longer required to test weekly.

Symptomatic testing will remain available for students, faculty and staff. If you become symptomatic after vaccination, get tested. Our continued vigilance is important to the overall health of our campus community.

Daily screening requirements will remain in effect for the remainder of the academic year. Along with our continued wastewater testing, daily screening alerts the university to changes in the public health of our campus community.

In-Person Events

Opportunities for limited in-person events for our students, staff and faculty are now available and include graduation ceremonies and celebrations, dance practices, packaging and distribution (e.g., DIY kits), and speaker engagements. As we continue to limit the spread of COVID-19, in-person planned events must be held outdoors in accordance with county and campus guidelines.

Events are not to exceed the limited capacity set by each specific outdoor venue. Face masks are required while on campus, either indoors or outdoors. No food or beverages may be provided. Symptom screening for attendees may be required.

All events will require space reservations and campus approval via completion of a new event intake form. An Event Planning FAQ is available on the Return to Learn website. Details about the updated process and instructions to request approval and complete the new event intake form are available on the Campus Events and Activities Portal.

Business Meetings

Beginning Monday, April 19, 2021, faculty, staff and student employees may participate in on-site business or research meetings while maintaining at least six feet of physical distance between all individuals, with a maximum of 10 people per in-person meeting venue. There is no limit to the number of people attending the meeting remotely. We highly encourage all members of the in-person meeting to be fully vaccinated. Outdoor meetings are preferred if feasible.

The following guidelines apply to all business and research meetings:

No food or drinks are allowed at in-person meetings.
Face masks are required while on campus, either indoors or outdoors.
No person should be compelled to attend an in-person meeting. Zoom or other remote accommodations must continue to be provided for all business and research meetings.
These guidelines apply to all UC San Diego faculty, staff and student employees and for all academic, administrative and research units.

Athletic Events

To better support our dedicated scholar-athletes, a limited number of guest passes for select home outdoor intercollegiate athletic events will be issued to active team members only. Complimentary admission for a maximum of two guests per scholar-athlete under specific guidelines will be made available through ARMS and Paciolan, online systems managed by the athletic department. Spectators are to be fully vaccinated or to have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the event. Symptom screening will occur at the event.

On-Campus Student Engagement

Students living in campus-operated housing are now permitted to return to Phase II, which allows individuals to be unmasked in their residential suite. Students are to continue all safety protocols outside the suite, including masking and distancing. Individuals who leave campus for any unmasked activity, will be temporarily not allowed to participate in Phase II and will need to complete the sequestration protocol which includes masking and distancing in the residential suite (except personal bedroom and shower) and COVID-19 testing upon return and days five and 10.

Beginning Monday, April 19, 2021, the Three’s Company Program will be expanded from three students per group to 10 students per group for outdoor settings only. This includes outdoor study groups, outdoor student organization meetings and outdoor social visits. Students must maintain six feet of social distancing, ensure proper sanitization, and wear masks at all times. Groups are not permitted to meet indoors at this time. Details on the expanded program are available online.

Thank you

Your commitment to each other, to the health of our campus community, and to the health of the greater San Diego region has been exemplary. As vaccinations increase and the public health situation improves, we anticipate continuing our incremental return to regular campus activities. Please visit the Return to Learn website for the most recent updates to interim policies and procedures. And please continue the practices that keep our campus community safe. Thank you to our staff, to our faculty, and to our students for your continued partnership and commitment to safety.

Pradeep K. Khosla
Chancellor