Stop the Surge: Lifting Student Restrictions

Dear Students:

We want to thank you for your cooperation with our “Stop the Surge” campaign. It worked! COVID-19 positive cases recorded on campus are down significantly. Our Student Health Center staff, in particular, has done an amazing job and was recently recognized with the highest accreditation for health and safety excellence.

It remains critical that we continue to be diligent in following the health and safety initiatives outlined in the student guide for the spring semester. Let’s continue to hold each other accountable by encouraging those around us to follow these guidelines so that we do not experience a similar surge in the future.

Student Directives Lifted

Effective immediately, the temporary directives for students living on campus that restricted off-campus non-essential activities are no longer in effect. Students are now permitted to go off campus at their discretion provided those activities align with county health and safety mandates and our student code of conduct.

Student COVID-19 Testing

All students coming to campus, either daily or infrequently, are required to participate in the Rady Children’s Hospital weekly COVID-19 testing on campus. The testing sessions are held Sunday through Tuesday. You must register in advance to be tested. If you are not receiving the weekly emails to register, please contact the COVID-19 Support Team at covidsupport@sandiego.edu, with your full name, email address and USD ID number from your Torero card and request to receive the testing emails.

Limited In-Person Instruction

All of the labs, studios, performance-based courses and undergraduate and graduate student on-campus research that were previously in session before the “stop the surge” effort will now transition back to that mode.

All co-curricular student organizations and activities must continue to function only in a virtual or remote setting, consistent with student organization guidelines.

Outdoor Dining

Outdoor dining on campus will resume on Monday, March 1.

Post Spring Break

As a reminder, even if State recommendations and County orders permit in-person classes, all instruction will be delivered remotely following spring break from Tuesday, April 6, to Friday, April 9. This will enable us to implement our mandatory COVID-19 testing and better manage the risk of COVID-19 transmission following spring break.

For additional details, I encourage you to visit the Onward USD website.

Please continue to do your part to keep our campus community healthy and safe!

Sincerely,
Donald R. Godwin, Ed.D.
Asst. Vice President and Dean of Students