Slug Strong Actions

Students who Live in University Housing

• Testing 24 hours before you come to campus is required with an at-home rapid antigen test. Please do not come to campus if you test positive or are symptomatic. Instead, please contact your Housing Coordinator to reschedule your move-in date and follow these instructions from Student Health Services.

• After you arrive, you will need to take a PCR test within a week. It’s super easy, and no appointment is necessary! You will be given a PCR test kit when you receive your keys during move-in.

Students who Live Off Campus

• Testing 24 hours before you come to campus is required with an at-home rapid antigen test. Please do not come to campus if you test positive. Please follow these instructions from Student Health Services.

• After you arrive, you will also be required to take a PCR test within a week. When you arrive on campus, please pick up a PCR test kit. Kits will be available after Sept. 17 at the College Housing Offices, Bay Tree Campus Store, McHenry Library, or the Science and Engineering Library.

Faculty and Staff

• Faculty and staff are not required to test. However, if you have attended a crowded event without a mask or have had possible exposure, testing is strongly recommended before you return to campus to support the health of our campus community. After Sept. 17, you can pick up a free PCR test kit at the Bay Tree Campus Store, McHenry Library, or the Science and Engineering Library, or check with your medical provider for alternative testing resources. You can also sign up to receive eight free at-home tests through USPS to a non-campus address delivered right to your door.

Ongoing Testing

• Ongoing (surveillance) testing is no longer required for students, faculty, or staff, regardless of vaccination status, However, free asymptomatic testing will continue to be available at the on campus testing site. Rapid antigen tests can be requested at the College Housing Offices and the on campus testing location. 

Mask Requirements

• Masks will still be required in clinical settings, such as Student Health Services and indoor COVID-19 testing sites. Wearing masks in other indoor spaces, such as classrooms, dining facilities, and on Campus Transit vehicles / METRO buses, is strongly recommended. The university continues to provide free masks to the campus community. They can be picked up at the following locations.

• California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA guidelines both state that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must mask for 10 days following a positive test. Asymptomatic exposed individuals must mask for 10 days following an identified close contact to someone with COVID-19.

Vaccination Requirements

• The UC Vaccination Policy for COVID-19 remains in effect. If you are new to campus, you must enter your vaccination dates and upload your COVID-19 vaccination card. If you do not upload proof of vaccination or show proof of filing a request for an exception, you will not be in compliance with the Policy . All students (both undergraduate and graduate) are required to adhere to the UC Vaccination Policy. Students may be referred to student conduct (or to Staff HR as an employee) for non-compliance with university policy.

Isolation Update

• Most of our campus community is up-to-date on their vaccinations, and there are more therapeutics available now to reduce the severity of COVID. Students living in university housing who test positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate in place. For any roommates with underlying medical conditions, we have temporary accommodations available for the period their roommate is in isolation.

Last update: February 6, 2023

Fall 2022 Campus update

• From Biju Kamaleswaran Interim Vice Chancellor, Division of Finance, Operations, and Administration - 8.29.2022 (link)

Effective Aug. 1: Daily symptom check guidance for employees

• From Biju Kamaleswaran Interim Vice Chancellor, Division of Finance, Operations, and Administration - 7.21.2022 (link)

COVID-19: Community Update

• From Gary Dunn, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Health and Wellness and Elizabeth Miller, Medical Director, Student Health Services - 4.25.2022 (link)

Indoor mask guidance for staff

• From Biju Kamaleswaran, Interim Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services - 4.5.2022 (link)

Suggested language about indoor masking

• From Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, David Brundage, Chair, Academic Senate and Jody Greene, Special Advisor to the CP/EVC for Educational Equity and Academic Success Associate Vice Provost, Teaching and Learning - 3.24.2022 (link)

Update to indoor masking policy

• From Cynthia Larive, Chancellor and Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor - 3.15.2022 (link)

Spring Break COVID Updates

• From Biju Kamaleswaran, Interim Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services - 3.3.2022 (link)

Spring break COVID testing protocol and travel guidelines

• From Gary Dunn, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Health and Wellness and Dr. Elizabeth Miller, Medical Director, Student Health Services - 3.2.2022 (link)

Indoor masking still in effect on campus

• From Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor - 2.14.2022 (link)

COVID-19 testing options, updated cadence, daily symptom checker and more

• From Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor - 2.2.2022 (link)

Action Required: Instructions for Return to On-Site Work 

• From Biju Kamaleswaran, Interim Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services - 12.27.2021(link)

Winter Break COVID-19 Testing Requirements

• From Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business Administrative Services - 12.6.2021 (link)

Campus indoor face coverings requirement continues

• From Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor and Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business Administrative Services - 9.30.2021 (link)

New guidance for wearing face coverings on campus

• From Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor - 8.2.2021 (link)

Revised mask recommendations from Santa Cruz County

• From Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business Administrative Services - 7.21.2021 (link)

COVID-19 protocol changes for campus employees, spaces and programs

• From Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business Administrative Services - 6.25.2021 (link)

Changes in Access to Engineering Buildings

• From Anne Criss, Assistant Dean, Baskin School of Engineering - 6.21.2021 (link)

Opening Up Offices & Lab/Studio Spaces for Research Purposes

• From Scott Brandt, Vice Chancellor for Research - 3.30.2021 (link)

Vaccination Information

• From Sarah Latham, Vice Chancellor, Business Administrative Services - 2.18.2021 (link)