Dear Student:

We are looking forward to resuming in-person instruction on Monday, January 31. We realize that you have received a lot of detailed information over the last several weeks. The purpose of this message is to put at your fingertips the information shared with the campus community about COVID-19 mitigation strategies and the return to in-person instruction. We understand that the changing nature of the pandemic may leave you with some questions, and we want to make sure you are aware of how to access information and resources.

Welcome back!

Data-Driven Decision Making

As shared in recent messages from the Chancellor and our campus medical experts on the COVID-19 Response Team, the decision to return to in-person instruction was made following extensive campus, community and UC systemwide consultation, taking into consideration all California and Santa Barbara County public health guidance as well as UC policies and protocols. Our campus medical experts, in their communication, highlighted key factors allowing us to resume more campus activities, including the campus’s high vaccination rate, mandatory masking policies, and our robust testing program (providing fast results at no charge to staff, faculty, and students).

More information on rationale and COVID-19 mitigation strategies is available here and data on COVID-19 case counts can be found here.

Getting Academic Support

In-person instruction resumes Monday, January 31 with the expectation that classes are in-person. There are some reasons why an instructor might continue with approved remote instruction or provide hybrid attendance options, not limited to: the instructor's illness, medical accommodation, or care for a child under 5 years.

As we return to in-person instruction, your instructors will be in touch with you regarding course meetings and requirements. If you are unable to attend in-person class due to illness or a required COVID-related isolation, your instructors are expected to work with you to discuss how you can keep up with the class.

If you have questions about any of your courses, you are encouraged to contact your instructor directly.

If you have concerns, including non-compliance with COVID-19-related guidance and flexibility, after consulting with your instructor, you are encouraged to contact your College Advising Office:

Creative Studies

Engineering

Letters & Science

Next Steps: Preparing to Attend In-Person Classes

The January 13th message to students provided information on the requirements for returning to in-person instruction. As a reminder these include:

A) Getting a COVID-19 test as soon as possible upon return to the UCSB area;

B) Getting a COVID-19 booster by January 31, 2022

C) Continued indoor masking and daily screening through the Student Health Patient Portal

Tested Positive for COVID-19 in the Past 90 Days?
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 through a provider other than UCSB, there are instructions for how to upload your test results. Reporting your outside COVID-19 positive test results will result in a 90-day exemption from any required campus COVID-19 testing requirements, and a 90-day delay in your deadline for a COVID-19 booster vaccine dose.

Note: Due to the sensitivity of the test, people who test positive are advised to avoid taking a PCR (NAAT) test for 90 days because the test might result in a false positive result, though reinfection is unlikely during this timeframe.

Health and Wellbeing Information

Extensive information is available to help you navigate COVID-19 prevention, address possible COVID-19 symptoms, and get care in case of a positive COVID-19 test result. Visit the UCSB COVID-19 Information site. Please familiarize yourself with this information.

Note: Healthcare is available at Student Health Service to students who have COVID-like symptoms or who have tested positive for COVID-19. Schedule an appointment through the Patient Portal Gateway or Join a "Virtual Line" (Qless).

UC Santa Barbara Success Stories

Video: Modeling COVID Risk In Classrooms

UCSB Professors Model COVID Risk in Classrooms

UCSB Graduate Student Develops Rapid Omicron Test

COVID-19 Call Center

The campus’s COVID-19 Call Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at (805) 893-3113 to assist students, faculty and staff with questions related to the campus’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Questions also can be emailed to ucsb-covid19@ucsb.edu.

Mental Wellbeing

Please remember that there are a number of resources available to you. In fact, CAPS is not the only resource that can provide support for your mental wellbeing. To access a comprehensive list of all wellbeing resources, visit wellbeing.ucsb.edu.

CAPS continues to offer a variety of engagement options including Let’s Talk (a more informal consultation service) and Single Session Therapy (a single, goal-oriented, therapy session that provides you with strategies to help improve a particular situation or goal). Let’s Talk appointments are released 48 hours in advance.

In addition, CAPS has contracted with Uwill. This is a service which will greatly bolster students’ ability to connect with a community provider for tele-therapy/counseling. Uwill offers availability every day of the week, including evenings and weekends. The best way to access this service is by completing a CAPS Brief Assessment.

Learn more about what's new at CAPS in their Winter 2022 Updates.

Looking Ahead: Spring Break

As you consider whether to travel during the spring break, we hope that you will make these decisions taking your and your community’s wellbeing into consideration. Current travel advisories are available on the UCSB COVID-19 Information site and we will provide more guidance on spring break in the next few weeks.

Visit UCSB COVID-19 Information Site

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Student Life | 2260 SRB | University of California
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