USD Updated Health and Safety Measures

Updated: March 2022

(Note: check back regularly for updates as these rules and expectations are subject to change based off CDC, State and County guidelines)

Listed below are current health and safety rules and expectations at the University of San Diego for Spring 2022:

• All students, faculty, staff and administrators are required to be vaccinated and have received a booster shot, unless they are approved for a waiver for medical or religious reasons. Faculty, staff and administrators may upload a photo of their vaccine/booster card at this link https://usd.tfaforms.net/218998. Students may upload a photo of their vaccine/booster card through their MyWellness Portal.
• Those who are ineligible (i.e., there has not been adequate time from their last dose) will be required to submit documentation of a booster dose when they become eligible.
• Students can apply for a medical or religious exemption from the booster. Employees can also apply for a medical or religious exemption.
• Students, faculty, staff and administrators who receive a waiver from the vaccination or booster must participate in regular campus COVID-19 testing. A step-by-step guide for those who are required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing on campus is available here.
• USD requires face coverings in indoor spaces and on trams for everyone until further notice.
• Random COVID-19 testing will begin for the entire campus community on Feb. 7 through March 23.
• The university will not host external non-academic events on campus during the spring semester, and will re-evaluate this decision in March.
• Students studying abroad in spring 2022 are required to be vaccinated.
• Non-USD groups will not be allowed to rent or use space on campus during the spring unless through summer conferences or camps.
• For academic-related events during the spring semester, guests (lecturers and panelists) will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of coming to campus. Proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test will be managed at the individual school and college level. Those unable to provide the required information may not present in person but may present via Zoom. These guests will also be required to follow our face covering protocols while inside buildings. Other visitors who come to campus during the spring are informed about vaccination requirements and campus protocols.
• Unvaccinated students and employees who receive a waiver will be able to participate in on- and off-campus activities as long as they are current in the COVID-19 testing regimen.
• Any employee who needs a N95 face covering on campus may go to Facilities Management and one will be provided.
• Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people should still get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and stay home until medically cleared by your health professional.

Health and Safety Initiatives

CAMPUS EVENTS

For academic-related events during the spring semester, guest lecturers and panelists will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of coming to campus. Proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test will be managed at the individual school and college level. Those unable to provide the required information may not present in person but may present via Zoom. These guests will also be required to follow our face covering protocols while inside buildings.

VENTILATION UPGRADES

Facilities Management has consulted with an independent third-party engineering firm (MA Engineers) to implement industry best practices with regard to our building ventilation systems. Across the campus, we have extended HVAC operating hours and maximized the introduction of fresh, outside air into the HVAC systems. More significantly, all university buildings with mechanical ventilation systems have been upgraded with MERV-13 filtration, in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). As result of these upgrades, 98 percent of classrooms across the entire campus have MERV-13 filtration. There are only two classrooms on the entire campus that do not have MERV-13 filtration; however, those rooms do have windows that open to the outside and, as an additional precaution, we’ve also installed portable air purifiers with HEPA filters in both those classrooms.

Common areas without mechanical ventilation systems have been equipped with portable, stand-alone air purifiers with HEPA filtration. While there are no independent studies completed at this time on impacts of the COVID-19 Delta variant, our recent classroom indoor air quality test results exceeded OSHA and ASHRAE air-quality standards.

CLEANING PROTOCOLS

We continue to use CDC-recommended and EPA-registered disinfectants in all of our cleaning protocols across campus. Our primary cleaning products are the same as those used in many hospitals, nursing homes, and medical offices, and are effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Custodial "Strike Teams" have methodically deep-cleaned all campus buildings and residence halls, all of which have continued to receive ongoing cleaning without interruption. Cleaning frequency has been increased across campus, specifically in classrooms, restrooms, and other high-traffic areas. Frequently touched surfaces (door handles, push bars, elevator buttons, etc.,) are also cleaned and disinfected with much greater frequency.

COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING PROTOCOLS FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER

Our contact tracing protocols can be reviewed here. These protocols are based on current CDC, state and county guidelines. As the pandemic prevalence changes in our community, these guidelines may change.

DAILY SELF SCREENING

If you are feeling ill or are symptomatic, stay home and consult your healthcare provider. Do not report to work if you are sick. If you begin to feel ill at work, advise your supervisor, go home and consult your healthcare provider.

It remains a best practice to wash your hands vigorously with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and often throughout the day.

As a reminder, face coverings are required to be worn while inside all university buildings and while riding on USD trams.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 should notify covidsupport@sandiego.edu.

SIGNAGE

We have COVID-19-related health and safety signage available for downloading and printing for use in areas that may not be covered by traditional print and electronic health and safety signage. You can access the signage here.

We will continue to provide updates as we near the beginning of the semester or as health and safety measures evolve. Additional health and safety details are available on the Onward USD website. We ask that you remain flexible as you have over the past months.