Greetings,

Thank you for your participation in the efforts to get us Back to Campus safely and efficiently. You will find an archive of past digests at our website.

King County and Pierce County are in Phase 3 of Governor Inslee’s Healthy Washington plan. All UW locations are in Phase 3. Face coverings are required indoors and telework is strongly encouraged. Governor Inslee has announced his intention to lift most health restrictions on June 30, or sooner if at least 70% of Washington residents age 16 and over have initiated their vaccination. Learn more about the UW’s plan. 

Returning to Campus

• On 6/9/2021, Governor Inslee announced a number of actions the state will be taking on July 1
  • 100% capacity for the majority of public spaces
  • No requirements for physical distancing
  • Face masks are no longer required for fully vaccinated people in most settings. 
     
• On 6/3/2021, President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Mark Richards sent a message detailing the vaccination requirements for UW faculty and staff. This includes all academic personnel, staff, student employees and trainees and is consistent with the student vaccination requirement shared in early May.
  • More guidance and information to follow this summer.
• UW Facilities is planning to release a revised Building Coordinator checklist in July. 
• The Husky Coronavirus Testing program is expected to shut down its Odegaard location at the end of June. The UW Club and South Lake Union locations are planned to remain open through the fall. 
• The WA Notify COVID-19 exposure notification app is live, enabling participants to utilize smartphone technology to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 
• EH&S has launched a dedicated phone hotline for UW students, faculty and staff to call with questions or to report on positive test results: 206-616-3344. All messages are logged and retrieved daily with appropriate follow-up provided by EH&S staff.

We have received reports of employees not being aware of the required online training or attestations prior to returning to campus. Please ensure this information is shared with all supervisors across your unit to inform relevant staff. 

• EH&S requires this online training for all persons on campus (faculty, staff, and students), even if they have already been working onsite as a critical employee, prior to returning to campus.
• Daily attestations are required for all staff and academic personnel coming to campus. 
  • For staff and student employees/supervisors
  • For academic personnel, including faculty, librarians, medical residents and fellows, postdoctoral scholars, and academic staff

Returning to Work

• After a brief hiatus, the Back to the Workplace Task Force has reconvened to review DoH requirements, update attestation, develop verification process and review mask guidance. 
• Unit/site-specific COVID-19 Prevention Plans are required for University workplaces.

Returning to Research

• The Office of Research is finalizing updates to “Guidelines for In-Person Research After June 30” with information on changing requirements and safe work practices.
• Office of Research’s Guidance for Returning to In-Person Research.

Returning to School

• The Office of Student Life released a student-focused COVID-19 awareness video, which is also included in the Stay Healthy, Huskies toolkit. 
• The Office of Student Life has announced My SSP, which provides students access to real-time, confidential mental health and crisis intervention support, available 24/7 and in multiple languages. Available at: 1.866.743.7732, online chat, via the My SSP app as well as on the mental health landing page on the Husky Health and Well-Being website. 
• The UW has convened a Back to School Task Force reviewing and updating University protocols for campus spaces including residences, classrooms, labs and libraries.

 

Visit uw.edu/coronavirus for the most up-to-date communications and information for our UW community.