Anonymous
Source: UC Santa Barbara
In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within our community and to assist our students, faculty and staff in managing the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the University has taken a number of actions and adopted a range of practices and protocols. They are outlined in the following campus communications:
Fall Planning Update
- With flexibility in mind, and contingent upon public health guidelines and recommendations from campus medical experts, a resumption of as much in-person instruction as possible is being considered for fall quarter, as well opening student housing to as full or near-full capacity as is allowed. In addition, the gradual return of staff members to their on-site offices is expected to begin this summer, following applicable public health guidance, with the goal of a fuller return for fall. Discussions are underway nationally and at the UC Office of the President, and a working group has been established on campus to consider policies, logistics and potential for flexible work arrangements in the future. Details about fall plans can be found in the Chancellor’s Fall Planning Update: In-Person Instruction and Housing.
Vaccination Update
- COVID-19 vaccines appointments continue to be available through the MyTurn portal and at pharmacy sites. In addition, Cottage Health’s Drive-Up Vaccination Clinic at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital has appointments. The drive-up clinic can accommodate walk-ins and bicyclists. Appointments can be made at cottagehealth.org/vaccine.
Return to Campus Requirements
- All members of the university community who will be on campus or in campus-owned housing must complete the daily COVID-19 screening survey. Additionally, undergraduate students who live in campus-owned housing or who work, attend classes or conduct research on campus or want to access campus facilities must obtain a weekly COVID-19 test. Weekly testing is strongly recommended — though not required — for graduate students and for faculty and staff members coming to campus. Details regarding the daily screening survey and weekly testing can be found in the Return to Campus Requirements.
In addition, employees working on-site must complete the “COVID-19 Returning to Work Training” course required by Cal/OSHA and the California Department of Public Health, which is available through the UC Learning Center.
Library and Recreation Center Reopen on a Limited Basis
- Beginning March 29, the UC Santa Barbara Library will open to students and to faculty and staff members on a reduced-capacity basis. The library will reopen a portion of the main library for reservation-only study space. Reservations can be made online. Guidelines and expectations for students regarding use of the space can be found on the library’s website. More information about the library’s reopening process is highlighted in an article on The Current. Beginning April 12, the Recreation Center will resume outdoor activities for students and for faculty and staff members, including reservation-only use of the aquatic complex, the outdoor fitness area and the outdoor climbing tower. Details and reservation information can be found on the Recreation Center’s website.
Chancellor’s COVID-19 Update: Vaccines, Spring Quarter Instruction, Commencement, Enhanced Summer Program, Fall Quarter, and Remote Work Through June
- Information regarding the University’s continuing COVID-19 vaccination effort as well as plans for spring quarter remote instruction, housing and reduced-occupancy openings of the Library and the Recreation Center are highlighted in the Chancellor’s COVID-19 Update. Also included is preliminary information about this year’s Commencement celebration, an enhanced summer quarter and possibilities for fall quarter instruction. In addition, guidance provided to staff members asks that those who have been working remotely continue doing so through June 30, 2021.
Regional Travel Guidance
- Highlighting the travel advisory issued by the California Department of Public Health, campus medical experts and Santa Barbara County Public Health officials strongly urge community members to avoid non-essential travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who must travel, medical experts and the UC Office of the President recommend following all Centers for Disease Control guidelines, which outline the pre- and post-travel testing requirements the campus applies to the Daily COVID-19 Screening survey. More details can be found in the Travel Advisories section of the Health & Wellbeing page. If documentation of campus COVID-19 testing is needed for travel, please see Student Health’s student instructions. Faculty and staff members should email their requests to UCSB-COVID19@ucsb.edu.
Temporary Change to Absence From Work Policy Extended Through June 30, 2021
- UC President Michael Drake, M.D., has approved an extension through June 30, 2021, of the temporary change to the Absence from Work Policy for policy-covered staff employees, intended to offer relief to parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy-covered staff employees may use all of their accrued sick leave if they are unable to work or telework because they are caring for children who cannot be physically present at school or at their place of care (or with their child care provider) due to the pandemic. Subject to collective bargaining, a similar expansion of the use of sick leave is available to represented staff employees who have accrued sick leave. Also extended through June 30, 2021, is the time period during which paid administrative leave may be used for COVID-19-related reasons. More information can be found here and here.
Influenza Vaccination Mandate
- Beginning Nov. 1, 2020, the UC Office of the President is making influenza vaccinations mandatory for all faculty, staff and students who will be working, living or learning on a UC campus anytime during the 2020-21 flu season. Faculty and staff members in need of a flu vaccination should contact their primary care providers or visit their local pharmacy. Students in need of a flu vaccination should contact Student Health. Appointments may be made through the Student Portal. Details about the influenza vaccination mandate as well as instructions for verifying a flu vaccination has been received can be found on the flu vaccination information page.
COVID-19 Budget Impacts
- The COVID-19 crisis and its accompanying uncertainties have profoundly impacted the financial health of universities across the country, including UC Santa Barbara. The Chancellor’s Committee on Budget Strategies is working to preserve the campus’s fiscal health. Details may be found in the Chancellor’s Campus COVID-19 Update: Addressing Budget Impacts.
Additional notices from the Chancellor and others may be found in Messages to Campus.
Trenchant point, coastwatch. Your logic and reasoning are impeccable and irrefutable… Perhaps you should have attended a UC.
I think you’re absolutely right coastwatch. There are countless skilled trades and professions that pay a strong six figure salary. A young person can get paid to learn these trades on the job, and/or go to a trade school for minimal cost. Most UC graduates have crippling debt, and make less than they would have if they had taken up a trade. Now, the “college experience” is gone. Who wants to deal with covid authoritarianism and and PC nonsense for four years? I would strongly encourage any young person considering college to stay out of debt and pursue a trade instead. It’s more fun now, and it will secure a more satisfying career and a more prosperous future.
Politically derived poor health policies? You mean like forcing everyone inside their homes, closing gyms and outdoor activities (beaches, playgrounds, campgrounds, etc.) when exercise and Vitamin-D have shown to be the best NPI at preventing covid hospitalizations? Like sending covid positive geriatrics into nursing homes? Like closing schools for a year? Like cannabis being “essential” medicine?
Total B.S. Welcome to UnAmerica- (the U.C. System in particular)
Why are they worried about the flu after all these years? It is interesting to note they are not mandating the covid vaccines. No vaccine on an EUA has been mandated before and it is a legally controversial issue. The manufacturers of the covid vaccines are exempt from liability, but employers and the UC are not. It is questionable whether they can legally mandate an EUA vaccine, and if they did they could be held liable for damages if a student or employee who was forced/pressured into getting vaccinated claimed they were harmed by the vaccine and sued. Having said all that, I don’t understand why anyone would pay tens of thousands of dollars per year and/or go into debt to attend the UC if it’s going to be such an austere experience. Might as well just start a career instead at this point.
It’s California, the state where the government knows what’s best for you. Trust them, they’re here to help us.
@ CHIP- Good points- If a H.S. graduate wants to be successful, self reliant and a financially secure individual, making $100k guaranteed after two years of training, GO TO A TRADE SCHOOL- We need Welders, Plumbers, High end Mechanics and HVAC workers…