Dear Santa Clara University Students:  

As many of you are aware, the Bay Area is currently experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases and other respiratory illnesses including RSV and influenza. We want to remind you of campus COVID-19 policies and protocols in place for the start of the Winter term.  

Testing

With new variants circulating, infections and hospitalizations are back on the rise, testing plays a critical role. COVID-19 rapid antigen tests are available from the Test Forms and More vending machine on the first floor of the Learning Commons. These tests will be available to SCU students, staff, and faculty only, during the Learning Commons hours of operations. 

Returning to campus for winter term: 

• Before coming to campus, please test for COVID-19 using an at-home rapid antigen test. If you test positive, please report your test result and observe all isolation protocols and precautions. Do not come to campus if you have tested positive.
• We strongly recommend you test three to five days after arriving on campus. 

Testing during winter term: 

• Please take a test if you experience  symptoms, 3-5 days after you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, when you return from traveling, or before interacting  with vulnerable or high-risk individuals.

Isolation and Quarantine

If you test positive, you must report your positive test result, isolate for at least 5 days and wear a mask through Day 10.  

Isolation during your infectious period means you may not go to class, work, lab, or other activities. Please notify your professors, supervisors, and close contacts. Faculty have been encouraged to accommodate students who need to isolate.  Students living in on-campus housing will be contacted by the SCU COVID Support Team with instructions for isolating in place or returning home for isolation. Students who test positive should wear a high-quality mask to pick up meals at the Benson Memorial Center or other dining locations, and then eat outdoors or in your room. 

If exposed to COVID-19, you do not need to quarantine. Test 3-5 days after your last exposure and wear a mask. If you test negative, consider testing again 48 hours later to confirm a negative result; if experiencing symptoms, test again 48 hours after the second negative test.

If you test positive for the flu, RSV, or if you are ill with another respiratory virus, please stay home to help with your recovery and to limit transmission to others. 

Face Coverings

Masks are  a simple and effective way to reduce exposure to COVID-19 and other airborne viruses. Although not required in indoor campus locations, masks are highly recommended. In addition, faculty members have the option to require masks in classrooms.

Surgical masks are available in all general purpose classrooms. Additionally, KN95 masks are available at multiple locations across campus including the Benson Memorial Center, Cowell Center, the Learning Commons and at the JST front desk.

Vaccinations

All students, faculty, and staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19. SCU requires the original primary series and one booster or an updated single dose. Questions regarding immunization requirements should be submitted to the Cowell Center. 

Flu vaccines are recommended and students can call the Cowell Center at 408-554-4501 to schedule an appointment. 

COVID-19 Dashboard

SCU monitors positive cases, virus levels in wastewater, and workplace exposures on campus. Results are shared on our COVID-19 Dashboard.

For questions or additional information on  COVID-19, please visit Prepared SCU or email us at covid19@scu.edu.

Stay safe and well,
SCU COVID-19 Operations Team