Environmental Health & Safety

What to Expect – Students and Parents

A Safe Return to Campus

The safety and well-being of our students remains a top priority. UC Riverside has returned to mostly in-person instruction.

UCR is committed to delivering in-person instruction, research opportunities, and student support services wherever possible. As a nationally ranked residential public research university, an on-campus presence is essential to successfully advance our mission of instruction, research, and public service. 

 Campus gathering and student support venues, including libraries, Student Recreation Center, Highlander Union Building, bookstore, dining spaces, and residence halls, are open.

All members of the campus community – including students, staff, and faculty – must adhere to public health and safety guidelines upon their return to the UCR campus.

Guidelines include completing the screening check when symptomatic, positive, or exposed.

If you are an employee report positive cases below:

screeningcheck.ucr.edu 

 Students will be reporting into Point and Click (PnC) Please navigate to Point and Click.

Patient Portal 

PnC SOP Reporting COVID-19 Case

If you are a student report:

The circumstances around COVID-19 are rapidly changing, and campus guidelines will continue to evolve as guidance from local, state, and national health authorities are updated. Please continue to visit the COVID-19 site for updated information with specifics about operations on campus.

FAQs

Am I required to get the COVID-19 booster?
Yes, UC’s vaccination policy requires all faculty, academic personnel, staff, trainees, students, and others accessing university facilities and programs to receive a full vaccine series, including boosters. The UC Office of the President (UCOP) is presently in the process of reviewing the UC vaccination policy, with plans to implement updates in August 2023.  As soon as the revised policy is approved, we will swiftly update the information and provide the latest details.

• Each year, students and employees will be required to either receive the COVID-19 vaccination or officially decline it.
• Documentation of receiving a COVID-19 primary vaccine series will no longer be necessary for students and employees. Consequently, there will be no need for submitting approved medical or religious exceptions, or disability deferrals to access campus facilities.
• Look out for future communications from the campus regarding the process of attesting or declining the COVID-19 vaccine similarly to the flu vaccine.

What if I or one of my roommates test positive after returning to Riverside? 
For students residents who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be placed in isolation housing. Rather, they will isolate in their campus housing room, or they can choose to return home for the necessary quarantine period. For any questions, please email housinginfo@ucr.edu and visit housing website for COVID-19 protocols. Students who are exposed do not need to isolation but must test within 3-5 days after last exposure, and continue to follow any additional campus testing protocols. These students must monitor for symptoms and strictly adhere to COVID-19 precautions for 10 days from their last exposure.

RETURN GUIDELINES

• Strict adherence to health and safety standards. Personal and institutional health and safety standards for all on-campus activities will be in place, consistent with applicable public health guidelines. This will include correct use of face coverings, use of the COVID Screening Check, adherence to testing protocols, and mandatory vaccinations. All on-campus activities, and anyone participating in these activities, will be required to strictly adhere to these standards. 
• Planning to offer most courses in-person. 

VACCINATIONS

The UC Office of the President (UCOP) is presently in the process of reviewing the UC vaccination policy, with plans to implement updates in August 2023.  As soon as the revised policy is approved, we will swiftly update the information and provide the latest details. The following key points have been highlighted:

• Each year, students and employees will be required to either receive the COVID-19 vaccination or officially decline it.
• Documentation of receiving a COVID-19 primary vaccine series will no longer be necessary for students and employees. Consequently, there will be no need for submitting approved medical or religious exceptions, or disability deferrals to access campus facilities.
• Look out for future communications from the campus regarding the process of attesting or declining the COVID-19 vaccine similarly to the flu vaccine.

COVID-19 TESTING

Effective May 11, 2023, the federal Public Health Emergency has ended, and the University of California (UC) has implemented a systemwide COVID-19 vaccination opt-out program for UC students and employees. Consequently, weekly COVID-19 testing is no longer mandatory for students and employees on campus. Instead, UCR students and employees are strongly encouraged to regularly conduct COVID-19 testing using at-home test kits.

• Faculty and staff can request COVID-19 kit  
• (the kits will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last) 

• Students are able to request a COVID-19 kit. (To ensure equitable distribution, the kits will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.)

• These COVID-19 tests are only for students that are currently uninsured and/or have limited access to healthcare resources.

• If you have symptoms, please stay home, use an at-home antigen test and contact your doctor or Student Health.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• All students will need to acknowledge and uphold the Keep Highlanders Healthy pledge.
• Student Health Services will be open for both in-person and telehealth appointments.  
• CAPS will provide TeleMental Health and in-person appointments.
• COVID-19 Wellness Kits available to students from The Well. 
• Face coverings available to students and employees.

QUICK GUIDES
 

Campus Housing

• All campus housing communities and services are open as scheduled. Students returning to housing should test before their arrival on campus. 
• Please contact housing as soon as possible to confirm your housing arrival plans and if you have questions about COVID move-in requirements.
• For students residents who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be placed in isolation housing. Rather, they will isolate in their campus housing room, or they can choose to return home for the necessary quarantine period. For any questions, please email housinginfo@ucr.edu and visit housing website for COVID-19 protocols. 

Dining

• On-campus indoor and outdoor dining venues are open. Hours of operation can be found on the dining website.
• Contactless cashier and other enhanced health and safety measures will be in place.

Student Services

• All major student resources and services – including Ethnic and Gender Centers, Student Life, Dean of Students, Associated Students, Graduate Students Association, Student Health Services, Student Disability Resource Center, and more – are currently available virtually and will be available in-person. 
• Student Recreation Center is currently open.
• Basic needs assistance, including grocery support, economic crisis response, and housing insecurity assistance, is available through the Basic Needs Department.
• Undergraduate Education providing academic support, experiential learning, tutoring, and more.
• Library curbside delivery and “ask a librarian/ask a student” is now available, and on-campus libraries are open.

Technology

• Laptops and mobile hotspots available through the Loan2Learn program.
• Free software and virtual computer labs available to students.
• Assistance with remote learning and online assignments and exams provided by Undergraduate Education.

Research

• Labs and research facilities are allowed to function at 100% capacity, with health and safety precautions in place. Undergraduate and graduate students, with approval, may conduct research on campus. 

Parking

• Updated parking permit options are available. Details available here. 

What to Expect - International Students

A Safe Return to Campus

UC Riverside is excited to continue welcome our new and returning international students to campus. 

The safety and well-being of our students remains a top priority. 

UCR is committed to delivering in-person instruction, research opportunities, and student support services wherever possible. As a nationally-ranked residential public research university, an on-campus presence is essential to successfully advance our mission of instruction, research, and public service. 

Please remember that all the student support services on campus are here to assist you when you arrive. 

Campus guidelines will continue to evolve as guidance from local, state, and national health authorities are updated. Please continue to the COVID-19 site for updated information with specifics about operations on campus. 

Here is information about issues that are of particular interest to our international students.

• Immigration

  Immigration

  • The International Students & Scholars (ISS) Office is your first point of contact as you prepare to arrive in Riverside. ISS is ready to help you and answer any questions you may have about immigration matters, such as visas, I-20s (F-1) or DS-2019s (J-1), as well as any questions you may have about travel restrictions. In addition, ISS can serve to help connect you with other student support units. So, if you don’t know where to start, then start with ISS. You can browse our website, which is full of important information. 
  • If you have questions, you can contact ISS by sending an email to internationalstudents@ucr.edu and one of our advisors will respond. We can also schedule Zoom and phone appointments to discuss your concerns. 
  • ISS will continue to provide current information to our international students by means of email, online orientations, the International Weekly newsletter, and town halls, so please make sure to check your UCR email.
  • Student who will be attending UCR University Extension programs should contact the UCR University Extension directly
• Travel and Testing

  Travel and Testing
  Tips for international students traveling to the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Check with the embassy or consulate of the country that you plan to visit to learn about any travel restrictions or requirements.
  • Be aware of any travel restrictions you may face upon your return/entry to the United States.

  • Check the CDC website and this DHS fact sheet for updated guidance on travel to the United State by air and at land ports of entry. 
    • Proof of approved vaccinations are required for all travelers to the United States at air, land and ferry ports of entry (with limited exceptions).
    • Testing is required no more than 1 day before air travel to the United States

  • F-1 students with Form I-20 are permitted to travel with an I-20 that has been signed electronically by a Designated School Official (DSO). UCR is signing all I-20's electronically.
  • J students with Form DS-2019 are required to travel with a DS-2019 that has an original wet signature by an authorized Alternate/Responsible Officer (ARO). Electronically signed DS-2019's are not accepted. 
  • For coronavirus testing information, please visit the testing page.
• Vaccinations

  Vaccinations

  COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots are required for University of California students, and you should upload your proof of vaccination to the patient portal . If you have questions about how to do that, please watch the video tutorial on "How to Upload."

  • Students may request and submit a medical exemption, disability exception, pregnancy deferment, or religious exception by visiting the patient portal and submitting the correct forms. Please watch the COVID-19 Exemption Form video on the Student Health Services website to learn about where to find the forms and how they should be uploaded.
  • UCR is only accepting International COVID-19 vaccines that are accepted by the CDC. If you have further questions, you can email the Occupational Health Coordinator  at covid19@ucr.edu for assistance. 
• Campus Protocols

  Accessing the COVID Screening Check 

  If reporting a positive COVID-19 test result; COVID-19 symptoms (symptoms from a known or chronic condition such as allergies, asthma, etc. are not considered COVID-19 symptoms for this report); exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 (exposure is defined as close contact with a known positive person for more than 15 minutes in a 24 hour period).

  Employee report positive cases below:

  SCREENINGCHECK.UCR.EDU 

   Students will be reporting into Point and Click (PnC) Please navigate to Point and Click.

  PATIENT PORTAL 

  PNC SOP REPORTING COVID-19 CASE

  Once the survey is completed, individuals will receive an email with further instructions through either the employee health portal or the student patient portal. 

  POSITIVE CASE PROCEDURES

  INSTRUCTIONS FOR COVID-19 CLOSE CONTACT

  Questions 

  If you have questions, please send a message to COVID19@ucr.edu please allow 24 to 48 hours for a response, the COVID-19 Management Center is no longer providing support to UCR.

• Housing

  Housing
  Please visit the Housing website to see the latest requirements. For students residents who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be placed in isolation housing. Rather, they will isolate in their campus housing room, or they can choose to return home for the necessary quarantine period. For any questions, please email housinginfo@ucr.edu and visit housing website for COVID-19 protocols.