Santa Clara University is committed to keeping our faculty members healthy, safe, and informed as they return to the classrooms. Below you will find answers to many of the frequently asked questions about classroom safety, masking requirements, testing protocols, and classroom transmission.
Are masks still required in classrooms?
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Effective on Monday, October 24, 2022:
- Masks will no longer be required in classrooms, unless required by a faculty member. Students are expected to adhere to masking guidelines set forth by their faculty. Failure to comply with a faculty members’ mask requirement will be seen as a violation of the Student Conduct Code.
- Masks continue to be strongly recommended in all indoor locations.
- Should the University experience a significant resurgence of COVID-19 infections or the County moves to a higher COVID-19 community level, the mask requirement for classrooms may be reinstated.
How can I support a student who has tested positive?
- Faculty must accommodate students who are in isolation after testing positive. Please work with the student to arrange for them to stay engaged and meet all class requirements while in isolation for 5-10 days.
- For additional support, please contact your dean’s office or the COVID ops team at covid19@scu.edu.
Does everyone in the class need to get tested?
- Faculty, staff, and students should take a test (rapid antigen test or PCR,Color, ) 3-5 days after notification of an exposure to a positive case.
- Faculty, staff, and students with symptoms should get tested, either with a rapid antigen test or PCR, Color.
Do I need to move my class online when a student tests positive?
- Classes do not need to move online when a student tests positive.
- Please remember that faculty have the flexibility to offer up to 30% of course contact hours online.
Should I tell students in my class that someone has tested positive?
- Faculty are not obligated to share that a student has tested positive. There are many factors that may come into play, including a faculty member’s comfort level, the size of the class, and the format of student interactions.
- A faculty member may choose to make a general announcement that someone in the class has tested positive, and students may have been exposed.
- Please do not share the student’s name without their explicit permission. Covid test results are personal health information and should not be shared .
- If you do choose to make an announcement to the class, please limit your message to something such as: “A student in this class has recently tested positive for COVID-19, and I encourage you to get tested. Please make sure to stay home and get tested if you experience any symptoms."
Has there been transmission in the classroom?
- It is hard to determine if transmission occurs in the classroom, but cases are tracked and monitored carefully. We have not identified any major outbreaks in classrooms.
- We continually examine the data to identify potential clusters.
What should I do if I think I’ve been exposed?
- Get tested 3-5 days after your last exposure, even if you do not have symptoms.
- Get tested if you start to experience symptoms. Stay home until you get the test results.
- Wear a well-fitting mask indoors for at least 5 days (recommended 10 days) after exposure.
Where can I get a COVID test on campus?
For more information about getting a COVID test on campus, please visit our COVID-19 Testing Protocol page.