Dear Santa Clara University Community,

Welcome to the Week 8 edition of the Prepared SCU Weekly Roundup. In this Friday digest, we share key information related to SCU’s response to COVID-19.

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COVID-19 Dashboard Update 

This past week, total positive tests through Color fell by over 80% from the previous week to 4. The University’s 7-day test positivity rate is 0.2%, compared to Santa Clara County‘s 3.5% positivity rate and California’s 3.8%. Track our progress on our COVID-19 Dashboard.

Mask Update

With cases falling quickly, we expect Santa Clara County to relax the indoor masking requirements on March 2. SCU will continue to require masks be worn indoors through March 18, following the SCU booster deadline. After March 18, SCU will align with Santa Clara County and Cal/OSHA guidelines regarding masks on campus, and shift from “masks required” to “masks recommended” in most locations for those who are fully vaccinated. Masks will continue to be required in certain places including Kids On Campus, classrooms and the Cowell Health Center. Anyone with a vaccine exemption (faculty, staff, or student) must continue to wear masks on campus per State requirements.  California has not published a date when unvaccinated individuals will no longer be required to wear masks. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Clinic

March 17 is the deadline for SCU faculty, staff, and students to upload their booster vaccine information. SCU will host the last booster clinic on March 11 at the Locatelli Center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and students will be able to upload the information to Cowell Center | My Student Health Portal after receiving the booster. The booster clinic is only for SCU students, faculty, and staff. Faculty and staff should upload their booster information to Workday.

Consequences of not getting a booster by March 17 

Students who fail to obtain their booster and upload the required documentation by March 17 will have their spring courses dropped. The booster is appropriate for everyone five months after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination or two months following the Johnson & Johnson vaccination. Faculty and staff also need to comply with the booster requirement by March 17.

Additional Resources

Current information about boosters, testing, isolation and quarantine protocols, and FAQs for students, faculty, and staff is available at Prepared SCU. View the Ask Professor Kat Video Series for additional information. For COVID-related questions or concerns, email us at covid19@scu.edu.

Stay safe and well,
SCU COVID-19 Operations Team