ALL STUDENTS, ACADEMICS AND STAFF AT UC SAN DIEGO (Including UC San Diego Health)
Winter Quarter Update
The nation continues to experience a considerable spike in new COVID-19 cases. Simulation models that map real cases to predicted cases currently estimate the peak of infections will occur between now and the middle of January.
While the omicron variant generally produces less severe cases of COVID-19 in fully vaccinated and boosted individuals, its fast and extensive spread is resulting in widespread absenteeism throughout the nation’s workplace and schools. This has placed increased stress on staffing for hospitals, schools and everyday services such as groceries, restaurants and pharmacies.
The UC San Diego community is affected in two ways. First, we are experiencing staffing shortages similar to other employers. Second, a number of students are exposed to COVID, impacting their ability to attend classes in person.
In response, we are extending the mandatory remote instruction period until the end of January. In-person instruction is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 31. This decision allows UC San Diego to keep teaching modalities as simple as possible given that many students, faculty and staff may still be sick or recovering in the second half of the month or experiencing extra caregiving responsibilities. The decision also provides more time for students, faculty and staff who are eligible to schedule and receive a vaccine booster before returning to campus.
Campus Housing Campus housing and dining are open. Residential undergraduate students may choose their arrival date and are encouraged to stagger their return between now and Jan. 31. For those students who have flexibility with regard to their return date, we ask that you please consider arriving closer to Jan. 31.
In order to help UC San Diego plan for a gradual, incremental increase of students on campus, we ask that undergraduate students who have existing housing contracts indicate their planned date of arrival to Housing Dining Hospitality (HDH) as soon as possible via the Housing Portal.
In addition to rapid antigen testing prior to arrival, all residential students need to complete a PCR test upon arrival and no less than 24 hours after arrival. Returning residents may pick up a PCR test at the vending machines; new residents may schedule a PCR test at the Price Center.
Remote Operations We are grateful for the ongoing commitment of our critical functions staff and frontline personnel. Supervisors should encourage remote work until the end of January where operational needs permit. In-person meetings are strongly discouraged and in-person events must be moved to remote modalities or rescheduled once in-person instruction resumes.
Protect Yourself and Others Public health orders across the nation are encouraging people to STAY HOME as much as possible. If you need to go out, wear a N-95 or KN-95 mask at all times. Change your mask at least every five days and whenever soiled or wet.
Current vaccines combined with a booster dose help protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death due to infection with the omicron variant. GET A BOOSTER SHOT as soon as possible and before Jan. 31 to remain compliant with the UC COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate.
For those living in the region, vaccination and booster shot appointments remain available at the Price Center and at the Hillcrest and La Jolla drive-up testing and vaccination sites. To review eligibility requirements and to schedule COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine booster appointments, students and campus employees should refer to the Return to Learn vaccine booster page.
Thank You Your health and safety are paramount. UC San Diego will continue to monitor, evaluate and make operations decisions with the most up-to-date data and predictive modeling available. Thank you for your continued patience and resilience.
Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor
University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093
