Dear Santa Clara University Community, 

Welcome to the Week 4 edition of the Prepared SCU Weekly Roundup. In this Friday digest, we share key information related to SCU’s response to COVID-19.

---

COVID-19 Dashboard Update

This past week, total positive tests through Color fell by 40% from the previous week to 108. The University’s 7-day test positivity rate is 4.7%, compared to Santa Clara County‘s 15.5% positivity rate and California’s 18.8%. Track our progress on our COVID-19 Dashboard. 

In-person Classes 

Santa Clara University’s intention has always been to provide an in-person educational experience for our undergraduates. While COVID-19 disrupted those plans, we are now able to return to campus, and most classes will be offered fully in-person, starting January 31. Students are expected to participate in-person. 

New Videos from Professor Kat Saxton

In her latest episodes, Professor Kat explains why booster shots are important, and why masks are important and where to find them on campus. View the entire Ask Professor Kat video series. 

Testing

Students returning to campus should test twice through the Color system during the first week, unless they have previously tested positive in the last 90 days. All undergraduate and graduate students living on campus, regardless of vaccination status, are required to continue self-testing through Color every week throughout the term. A negative test result from a rapid antigen test does not exempt students from self-administering a weekly Color test. Compliance with weekly testing requirements will be monitored.  

Employees who have not yet returned to campus should be sure to test prior to the first day back or no later than on the day of return. Do not return if you are experiencing symptoms or are waiting for a test result.

Upcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Booster Clinics and Booster Verification Reminder

SCU will host two additional booster clinics on Friday, February 14 and Friday, March 11 at the Locatelli Center from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The booster is appropriate for everyone five months after receiving the Pfizer or Moderna vaccination or two months following the Johnson & Johnson vaccination. The booster clinic is only for SCU students, faculty, and staff. SCU IDs will be required to enter the booster clinic.The deadline for submitting the booster vaccine information for SCU faculty, staff and students is March 17.

Please register for the booster clinic directly with our partner, Carbon Health, who will be running the clinic for the University. There is no cost, and no insurance is needed. If you have problems registering, contact scu-support@carbonhealth.com.

Dining and Recreation

As we return to in-person instruction on Monday, January 31, all dining stations in Benson Memorial Center and Sobrato Campus for Discovery and Innovation will be open with full service, menus and hours. Meals will continue to be served to-go with plenty of outdoor seating available. As the current COVID-19 surge passes, we hope to open for indoor dining and late night service by mid-February. A new game room with video games, a foosball table and billiards table opened for students to use in the lower level of the Benson Memorial Center. Masks will be required for all students using the game room.

Athletics

Beginning Monday, January 31, SCU Athletics will return to full capacity for indoor events. Spectators attending men's and women's basketball games at the Leavey Center will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test. Please review our detailed entry requirements. Guests and essential game staff will be required to wear a mask at all times while at the event. N95, KN95, or KF94 masks are recommended. Concessions and bistro will be closed and no outside food or drink will be permitted. Patrons not complying with the mask requirement will be removed from the event. 

Keep Masking Up

All community members are required to wear masks indoors. N95 or KN95 masks are recommended instead of cloth or surgical masks. Students can pick up a KN95 mask at the Health Ambassador table in front of the Learning Commons, Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or at their residence halls. Read our Face Covering FAQs for more information.

Beginning Monday, January 31, KN95 masks will also be available at:

• Charney Hall
• Lucas Hall
• Campus Safety Office
• Malley Center
• Guadalupe Hall
• Provost’s Office (Walsh Administration building)
• The front desk of the main building at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley 

Meeting and Event Guidelines

Updated meeting and event guidelines are available at Prepared SCU. Indoor event capacity limitations have been removed. Hosts and organizers are still encouraged to hold events remotely or outdoors when possible. Visitors are required to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Indoor food/drink service at hosted events is still prohibited. A COVID-19 safety plan is required to address mask enforcement, food/drink service, vaccine/testing verification protocols, etc. Details are found in the Winter 2022 Event Requirements Matrix.  

Additional Resources

Current information about boosters, testing, isolation and quarantine protocols, and FAQs for students, faculty and staff is available at Prepared SCU. For COVID-related questions or concerns, email us at covid19@scu.edu or call 408-551-1000.

Stay safe and well,
SCU COVID-19 Operations Team