View this email in your browser.
January 4, 2022
Happy new year, Tritons! We hope your winter break was restful. As we begin to incrementally return to the campus, please review the following important updates. These guidelines have been established through careful daily monitoring of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with campus safety as the top priority. Thank you for your patience and resilience as we continue to navigate the ongoing pandemic. 

In Case You Missed It

Winter Instruction

The first two weeks of winter quarter will be held remotely, with a target of Jan. 18 as the start of in-person instruction. Any extension of the remote period would be determined in partnership with the Academic Senate. From Jan. 3 to 17, faculty and TAs may teach remotely from home or from campus. Instructors, please see pandemic resilient teaching methods from the Teaching + Learning Commons.

Required for All: Test on the Day You Return to Campus

All students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, are required to complete a PCR test on the day of their return to campus (unless they have been COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days). We also strongly recommend testing no more than 48 hours before your arrival. Tests are available on campus via self-administered test kit vending machines or by appointment at the Price Center clinic. Employees conducting their first-ever COVID-19 test must make an appointment at the Price Center clinic or a drive thru testing site. You do not need to wait for a result before arriving on campus. See all COVID-19 testing options.

COVID-19 Boosters Required by Jan. 31 (or Two Weeks After Becoming Eligible)

All students, faculty, staff and academic appointees accessing facilities at any UC campus are required to receive a COVID-19 booster by Jan. 31, per an updated UC vaccination policy. Those who are not yet eligible for a booster will need to receive a booster no later than two weeks after they become eligible. Booster shot appointments remain available at the Price Center as well as through drive-up appointments at Hillcrest and La Jolla vaccination sites. Review eligibility and schedule a booster appointment.
For those who have received a COVID-19 booster shot outside of UC San Diego Health, please see these instructions on how to submit your documentation to be compliant.

Move-In and Housing Safety

On-campus housing communities are open as previously planned. Campus residents are welcome on campus during the remote-only instruction period but are encouraged to stagger their arrival. Students should test within 48 hours of arrival on campus; advance rapid antigen tests are available by mail to those entering campus-owned housing after Jan. 7. In addition to rapid testing prior to arrival, all residential students will need to complete a PCR test upon arrival. Please see full instructions on what you need to know before and after arrival to your campus residence

Important Reminders

  • Those who are not vaccinated and those who are vaccinated but have not received a booster are required to test for SARS-CoV-2 two times per week, between three and five days apart. See all testing options here.
  • All individuals are required to mask indoors at UC San Diego. The campus policy for face coverings will remain in effect, unchanged, until further notice.
  • In-person gatherings must be moved to remote modalities or rescheduled for the first two weeks of the quarter. 

Upcoming Town Halls

Faculty & Research Town Hall

Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 
10:30 a.m.
Join us as campus leaders share updates on the Return to Learn program and address your questions related to campus operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Vaccines for Ages 5-11; Doctor Answers Your Questions

Your Questions Answered

Question: Do I need to complete a COVID-19 test before coming back to campus? 
Answer: Residential undergraduate students moving in or returning to campus after Jan. 7 will need to conduct a rapid antigen test before arrival, as well as a PCR test when they move in no less than 24 hours after arrival. Detailed instructions can be found on the Student Housing Safety webpage.
If you are not a residential student, you do not need to complete a COVID-19 test before coming to campus. Instead, all students and employees, regardless of vaccination status, are required to complete a PCR test on the day of their return to campus (unless they have been COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days). We also strongly recommend testing 24 to 48 hours prior to your arrival if possible. Tests are available on campus via self-administered test kit vending machines or by appointment at the Price Center clinic. Employees conducting their first-ever COVID-19 test must make an appointment at the Price Center clinic or a drive thru testing site. You do not need to wait for a result before arriving on campus.  
Question: How do I submit documentation of a COVID-19 vaccination or booster received outside of UC San Diego Health?
Answer: To document proof of COVID-19 vaccination or booster shot received outside UC San Diego Health (such as your personal healthcare provider or a local pharmacy), please follow the steps listed on the COVID-19 Vaccination Compliance page on the Return to Learn website. 
Question: How long does protection from a COVID-19 booster last?
Answer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that it is not certain yet how long COVID-19 vaccine protection lasts. Recent studies show that protection against the virus may decrease over time. This reduction in protection has led CDC to recommend that everyone ages 18 years and older get a booster shot after completing their primary vaccination series. At this time, only one COVID-19 booster shot is recommended. The CDC continues to review evidence and will update guidance as more information becomes available. See more frequently asked questions from the CDC.
If you have specific questions or would like to submit feedback about the Return to Learn program, please email rtl@ucsd.edu.
Subscribe to our email list.