Dear Santa Clara University Community, 

Welcome to the first spring edition of the Prepared SCU Weekly Roundup. In this Friday digest, we share key information related to SCU’s spring quarter requirements. 

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Spring Quarter COVID-19 Testing

For additional information, please visit our Testing Protocol page.

Before returning to campus

Students in quarter programs who leave campus for spring break - get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus. If you test positive, report your positive test result and observe all isolation protocols and precautions.

Week 1 requirements

All students in quarter programs must test twice during week 1 of spring quarter! 

• Students must take a Color test once at the beginning of the week, and once at the end of the week (e.g., Monday/Thursday, or Tuesday/Friday). 
• Students who have tested positive in the last 90 days should stop by the Health Ambassadors table to take a rapid test.
• Health Ambassadors are located outside of the Learning Commons, with extended hours during week 1: 3pm-6pm Sunday 3/27, and 10am-4pm Monday 3/28 - Friday 4/1.

After April 1, 2022

For students who are fully vaccinated and boosted, SCU will suspend the requirement of weekly asymptomatic surveillance testing. Rapid antigen tests and Color (PCR) tests will be available to all students, faculty, and staff throughout the spring.

Students, faculty, and staff with approved COVID-19 exemptions or extensions

Weekly testing, via Color, will continue to be required for students, faculty, and staff that have approved COVID-19 vaccine exemptions or extensions. 

New hires with vaccination or booster in progress

Mandatory weekly testing via Color will be required for newly hired faculty and staff whose vaccinations or boosters are in progress. 

Mask Update

Masks are strongly recommended but not required in most indoor settings. KN95 masks are still available at several locations across campus.

Masks will continue to be required in classrooms and the Cowell Health Center. Students and faculty are required to wear a mask in the classroom at all times unless a pedagogical exception is granted by the dean of the college or school.

Students, faculty and staff who are not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations (those with exemptions or extensions) will be required to continue to wear masks in all indoor settings. SCU defines up to date as having received all recommended doses in their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines and their booster dose when eligible.  

To prevent a patchwork of rules across campus, individual units cannot create masking requirements separate from the ones outlined above. The mask policy will be re-evaluated on a regular basis, and may be revised if conditions change. 

Stay safe and well,
SCU COVID-19 Operations Team