Research Continuity Update for Chairs - June 9, 2021

June 9, 2021

Dear Chairs and Directors,

As always, you are welcome and encouraged to share these updates and reminders with faculty, staff members, postdocs, and graduate students who may find the information and links helpful.

Anticipated changes to health and safety protocols

We’ve received a number of questions about when we will be able to loosen health and safety protocols in our research spaces. We know you’re eager to bring these processes and protocols closer to normal -- we are, too! Cal/OSHA is meeting this evening for further discussions about what regulations will be in place for workplaces when the economy fully reopens on June 15. We expect to be able to update our guidance for researchers once we have this further regulatory clarification. In the meantime, we are actively planning our next steps, with changes anticipated in areas like allowable density in lab spaces. Thank you for your continued patience and adherence to health and safety guidelines.

Travel for enhanced learning opportunities

The university has clarified that Stanford-sponsored summer travel for undergraduate enhanced learning opportunities (ELOs) will not be permitted this summer. Stanford-sponsored undergraduate travel is not permitted in the university’s current “limited travel” phase.  For more information on current travel policies, you can view the university’s travel matrix, or email globalrisk@stanford.edu with any questions.

Sunset ORMS

As the university moves into the pilot phase of returning to on-site work in summer, it will no longer use On-site Role Management System (ORMS) to authorize on-site work for faculty, staff, and postdocs. Effective June 16, data entry in ORMS will no longer be required. More information on ORMS sunsetting can be found here.

Stay safe and be well,

Kam, Stacey, Tim, Russell, Serena, Susan

Kam Moler, Vice Provost and Dean of Research; Professor of Applied Physics and of Physics

Stacey Bent, Vice Provost of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs; Jagdeep and Roshni Singh Professor of Engineering

Tim Stearns, Senior Associate Vice Provost of Research; Frank Lee and Carol Hall Professor of Biology and Professor of Genetics

Russell Furr, Associate Vice Provost for Environmental Health and Safety

Serena Rao, Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, Vice Provost and Dean of Research

Susan Vleck, Assistant Director, Laboratory Chemical and Physical Safety, Environmental Health and Safety