September 8, 2021

The fall quarter is fast approaching, with college orientations and welcome events in progress and move-in commencing this weekend. Students, faculty and staff can learn about what to expect as they resume in-person learning, teaching and working, including safety guidelines and resources for further information.

Fall Plan webpage: Learn more about fall quarter move-in, resumption of in-person instruction, return to work plans, and campus safety.

Keeping campus safe: Find out about campus safety preparations and updated masking recommendations.

Course modality guidance: Instructors can locate resources as they plan their classes, including when it is appropriate to shift a course to remote delivery.

As part of UC San Diego’s efforts to ensure compliance with the University of California COVID-19 Policy, campus supervisors now have access to the COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Compliance Dashboard that allows them to view compliance with the mandate among employees (including academic appointees), volunteers, and others they directly supervise (as documented in UCPath). Campus supervisors should begin accessing and familiarizing themselves with the dashboard.

Audrey Geisel University Librarian Erik Mitchell highlights new library services available this fall, including becoming a digital-first library and re-envisioning how they provide services like research support, answer student questions and support classes through instruction. Many services will be continuing, such as curbside pick-up and previewing real-time building availability via the Waitz app.

Answer: Masking is required at all times, regardless of vaccination status. No eating or drinking is allowed in classes, regardless of whether they are indoor or outdoor. The only exception from this rule is short hydration breaks for faculty while lecturing. Social distancing restrictions have been lifted, but physical contact should be limited where possible. See more Academic Affairs FAQs.

Answer: No. Instructors are welcome to accommodate remote learners by using Zoom and other tools, but no one is required to teach to two audiences at once. This decision is one the faculty member should make as it is strongly affected by the nature of the class.

We encourage instructors to design their courses with pandemic resilience in mind. UC San Diego continues to follow the pandemic data very closely and will do everything possible to help ensure that instruction is as safe as possible. Having a flexible syllabus that can allow instructors to pivot quickly will save a lot of last-minute activity should the shift need to be made. The Teaching + Learning Commons is available as a resource to help explore further ways to flexibly structure your class.

Answer: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the goal is for people to start receiving a COVID-19 booster shot beginning in the fall, with individuals being eligible starting eight months after they received their second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). This is subject to authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and recommendation by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). FDA is conducting an independent evaluation to determine the safety and effectiveness of a booster dose of the mRNA vaccines. ACIP will decide whether to issue a booster dose recommendation based on a thorough review of the evidence.

If the FDA authorizes and ACIP recommends a booster dose, people who were first to receive a COVID-19 vaccination when they became available in early 2021 (e.g., those who are most at risk) are likely to be the first people eligible for a booster. This includes healthcare providers, residents of long-term care facilities, and other older adults.