Research Continuity Update for Chairs - May 21, 2021
May 21, 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.
Undergraduate research policies for summer quarter
For summer quarter, undergraduates not living in residence but living in the local area (within 150 miles) may apply for an exception to come to campus to work on a research project that requires access to special facilities. Seniors that graduated in Spring Quarter 2021 are not eligible. Undergraduates applying for this research exception should first discuss it with their faculty research mentor/advisor, and then fill out the Research Exception application. The full summer quarter undergraduate research policy can be found in the Research Recovery handbook.
As of last week, undergraduate student research groups may also resume their work on campus. Group members must be eligible to come to campus and perform research under the broader undergraduate research policy. Student groups must seek approval from their group’s faculty advisor and the staff lead of any space they plan to use, who will be responsible for the students’ compliance with COVID safety protocols and with enforcing COVID requirements within the space, respectively. The student groups must also prepare a safety Standard Operating Procedure to address general research requirements for lab spaces, which must be reviewed and approved by the faculty advisor, facility leadership, and the relevant department leadership.
All students with approved access to campus research facilities must abide by all campus policies, including participating in the surveillance testing program, adhering to guidance for gatherings and in-person meetings, and other health and safety measures.
Vaccination policy for temporary community members
Beginning June 21, all temporary community members with a regular presence on campus will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes visiting scholars and researchers, visiting adjunct faculty and teaching staff, and non-degree or non-matriculated students, among others. Temporary community members with SUNet IDs should enter their vaccination status into Health Check. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated, do not disclose their vaccination status, or are otherwise unable to obtain vaccinations prior to their arrival at Stanford will be required to participate in regular COVID-19 testing, may be restricted from certain on-campus activities, and may be asked to comply with other measures aimed at keeping our community safe. The full policy may be viewed here.
New travel guidance
The university recently updated its guidance for university-sponsored travel. Domestic travel is now permitted for faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students, with approval required only for travel related to human subject research. Prior approval for international travel is still required. Undergraduate travel is still not permitted. Guidance for academic recruitment visits to campus has also been updated: visits requiring domestic travel are permitted, while visits requiring international travel still need approval. For more information, you can view the university’s travel matrix, or email globalrisk@stanford.edu with any questions. For additional support related to field safety, researchers should visit fieldsafety.stanford.edu, or contact ehs_field_safety_support@lists.stanford.edu.
In progress
We continue to monitor distancing and masking guidelines as both the public health situation and the relevant regulations evolve.
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