[Physics-grads-announce] Fwd: [Ucrfacultyandstaff] Update on Beginning of Winter Quarter

[Vivek Aji]

Dear Graduate Students,

Please take note of the attached email regarding campus operations for the
first two weeks of the winter quarter. I got the information just like all
of you this morning and we all will have to adapt to this new schedule. The
department and I will do all we can to help navigate through these
uncertain times. At the moment I do not have any specific details to share
but as we near the start of the quarter I hope all advisors and
instructors will have formulated and communicated their plans for the first
two weeks.

Sincerely,
Vivek Aji
Professor & Graduate Advisor
Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of California Riverside

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Chancellor <chancellor at ucr.edu>
Date: Tue, Dec 21, 2021 at 11:48 AM
Subject: [Ucrfacultyandstaff] Update on Beginning of Winter Quarter
To: ucrfacultyandstaff at scotmail.ucr.edu <ucrfacultyandstaff at scotmail.ucr.edu>,
students at scotmail.ucr.edu <students at scotmail.ucr.edu>


Dear Campus Community,



I am writing to provide you with an update about the beginning of winter
quarter.


With the emergence of the Omicron variant and our winter quarter starting
so close to the New Year’s holiday, with many holiday gatherings likely
taking place, we are taking several preventative measures to reduce the
likelihood of COVID-19 transmission on campus.



*Remote Instruction*

On-campus classes at UC Riverside will be delivered remotely for the first
two weeks of the winter quarter, with exceptions for off-campus field
courses and internships that may continue to meet in-person. The quarter
will begin on Jan. 3 with remote instruction, and we expect to return to
our planned winter quarter modes of instruction the week of Jan. 17.



*Events*

Also, no large in-person indoor events will take place on campus during the
first two weeks of winter quarter.



*Testing*

In addition to a shift to remote instruction for two weeks, we are also
implementing a more aggressive approach to COVID-19 testing for students
and employees, regardless of vaccination status, returning to campus
following the winter break.



All students must take a COVID-19 test before returning to campus, or
immediately upon their arrival, then sequester and test again five days
after arriving on campus. If you test positive before returning to campus,
do not come to campus until you have completed your home isolation period
and your symptoms have improved.



Employees who return to work on campus are also advised to test before Jan.
3 at any off-campus location or at our employee testing site at the
Pentland Hills Bear Cave Meeting Room starting on Jan. 2.



Testing options are available both on and off campus, and information about
testing locations and times is available on our Campus Return website
<https://campusreturn.ucr.edu/testing-requirements>.



*Campus is Open*

The campus will be open and other operations on campus will continue as
planned; employees should continue with their existing plans and work
schedules unless otherwise indicated by their supervisor.



Students who are not symptomatic are welcome to return to on-campus housing
as planned for winter quarter. If you live in an on-campus residence,
please fill out this brief survey
<https://ucriverside.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bemePgyXBljvC4K> about
when you plan to return to campus.



Campus venues such as the Library, Student Recreation Center, and
Highlander Union Building will remain open, but with limited occupancy the
weeks of Jan. 3 and Jan. 10.



*Boosters*

If you are eligible, I strongly encourage you to get your vaccine booster
over the winter break. All UC health care workers and UCR medical students
are required to receive a booster shot no later than Jan. 31.



Since the outset of the pandemic, UCR has adhered to guiding principles
that have always resulted in a more cautious approach to managing on-campus
activities. These principles – individual health, community health, and
incremental decision making – strongly influenced the decisions I am
announcing today.



I will you all the best for a safe and restful winter break.



Stay healthy,



Kim A. Wilcox
Chancellor



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Ucrfacultyandstaff mailing list
Ucrfacultyandstaff at scotmail.ucr.edu
https://scotmail.ucr.edu/mailman/listinfo/ucrfacultyandstaff
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