Research Continuity Update for Chairs - May 7, 2021
May 7, 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.
Testing program changes
The university recently announced changes to the COVID-19 testing program for those living on or coming to campus. Beginning May 2, routine surveillance testing for graduate and professional students, as well as for postdocs who live on campus, has been reduced from twice per week to once per week. Required testing for undergraduates will continue to be twice per week, due to the congregate nature of residential living for undergrads. Testing for faculty, staff, and postdocs who live off-campus is now voluntary, though we recommend that members of this population continue to test weekly until you are fully vaccinated.
The low prevalence of COVID-19 in our local area, as well as our very low positivity rates on campus, have allowed the university to begin loosening some of these requirements. We’re very grateful for researchers’ adherence to our testing program over the last many months, and we appreciate your commitment to continuing to follow the other health and safety guidelines that have kept our community safe.
Human subject research community participant expansion
IRB-approved clinical and non-clinical longitudinal and cross-sectional in-person Human Subjects Research on campus with community participants over the age of 65 years is now allowed if they have been fully vaccinated for over two weeks and can provide proof of their vaccination to the researcher prior to study participation. Please note that requesting proof vaccination status may require an IRB modification. All safety and health guidelines must be followed, and all approvals must be obtained prior to restart.
Vaccination on campus
On May 5th, the university announced that all faculty, staff, and postdocs coming to campus this fall must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The university had previously announced this requirement for all on-campus undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Those who choose not to obtain vaccines for medical, religious, or other reasons will be required to continue regular COVID-19 testing, and may be subject to additional requirements aimed at keeping our community safe. Health Check has been updated, so that you are able to provide your vaccination status through Health Check.
The university’s travel policy is also being adjusted. Fully vaccinated individuals who have traveled more than 150 miles beyond Santa Clara or San Mateo counties will no longer be required to receive a negative COVID-19 test or undergo a waiting period before returning to campus.
Fall quarter planning
The Research Continuity team has engaged our working groups to work on ideas for what fall quarter research should look like. We’re thinking about what policy changes may be desirable in light of the changing public health situation, and what guidelines will be important to continue to maintain the health and safety of our community. All changes will need to be approved by the Policy Group before they go into effect. If you have ideas for Fall Quarter research, please contact the chair of our working groups.
Undergraduate research policy clarification
We’d like to clarify the undergraduate on-campus research policy information that was shared in the April 14th chairs memo. Please see the information below about the policy, including the eligibility and exception procedure:
Undergraduate juniors and seniors 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. Undergraduate juniors and seniors applying for this research exception should first discuss it with their faculty research mentor/advisor, and then fill out the Research Exception application. This exception applies only to juniors and seniors living in the local area.
All undergraduates living in residence on campus may come to campus for research that requires access to special facilities. They are not required to apply for an exception, rather they can work directly with the relevant PI/faculty member.
Students with approved access to campus research facilities must abide by all campus policies, including participating in the surveillance testing program, signing the undergraduate campus compact, and adhering to guidance for gatherings and in-person meetings.
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