Dear Colleagues,
As we begin the fourth week of the fall quarter (week nine for Law and six for JST), we are pleased to report that COVID-19 conditions have greatly improved from what they were in late summer. We have achieved a vaccination rate of 99% for undergraduates and 98% for graduate students, faculty, and staff. Mandatory COVID-19 testing for all students who returned to campus in August and September, ongoing testing of on-campus residents and our unvaccinated population, and high compliance with the University’s indoor mask requirement have combined to keep our positive COVID-19 case rates on campus to less than .07% with 14 cases out of more than 20,000 tests. Booster vaccines are available, case and hospitalization rates in the counties of Alameda and Santa Clara continue to decrease, and vaccination for children ages 5-11 is likely to roll out in the next few months.
Given these factors, we anticipate a return to the classroom for nearly all faculty in winter quarter (spring semester for Law and JST). Although online programs will continue, we re-commit to a robust in-person education for resident students. Our University vision calls us to “integrate academic reflection and direct experience in the classroom and the community.” Moreover, student demand during the fall term underscores the need for in-person engagement and community building.
Accordingly, faculty who requested an exemption from teaching in person in fall 2022 must reapply for the winter 2022 and spring 2022 terms, and the policies for exemptions have changed. Details are provided below.
Requests for Faculty Exemption to In-Person Instruction, Winter and Spring 2022
We will continue to support faculty requests to teach online due to a documented underlying medical condition that places them at risk for severe COVID-19. The process by which faculty must submit such requests has changed, however, to better conform with existing University policy on leaves. There are two options:
- Request a Medical Exemption to In-Person Instruction: Faculty with an underlying medical condition associated with high risk for severe COVID-19 can seek formal accommodation to teach online through the reasonable accommodation process managed by the Department of Human Resources. This process requires a note detailing the online teaching accommodation from a medical professional. To express interest in this option, submit a request using this form by Friday, October 29. Human Resources will then contact you to discuss the accommodation process and the required documentation. Please note that this accommodation is available only to a faculty member with an underlying medical condition to self, not to a household member.
- Request a Leave of Absence: Faculty may request a leave of absence, utilizing the standard procedures for Faculty Leaves. Depending on the circumstances, this leave may be paid or unpaid.
Flexible Pedagogies, Winter and Spring 2022
As described in the 2021-22 Course Administration Expectations, all faculty members may design their courses to deliver as much as 30% of the course content in an online or hybrid format.
Open Forum
We plan to host an open forum on Thursday, October 21 at 12:00 pm to discuss plans for Winter 2022 and Spring 2022, and to answer questions. You can participate in the forum via Zoom, and the session will be recorded.
https://scu.zoom.us/j/97626053391?pwd=UFl4dHdpeHJRUVEwaWJBUlN6Tk1JZz09
Meeting ID: 976 2605 3391; Password: 765088
COVID-19 Staff and Faculty Special Assistance Fund
We want to remind you of the COVID-19 Staff and Faculty Special Assistance Fund. This fund was created and is administered by the Faculty Senate Council and the Staff Senate. This program is intended to help Santa Clara University employees recover from "reasonable and necessary" expenses directly attributable to the coronavirus pandemic. Details about the program as well as the application link can be found here.
Finally, please know that we will continue to follow the best information from the county and state Departments of Public Health and our own public health experts. We are deeply grateful for all of your efforts to support our students and one another.
Best wishes on a successful fall term,
Kate Morris and Ed Ryan
Acting Provosts