As we prepare to return to more widespread on-campus work and instruction, it’s heartening to note our campus compliance rate (vaccination or approved exception/accommodation) is 80% and climbing. That includes all students, faculty and staff. As soon as possible, we will begin updating our campus dashboard with compliance information.
 
Remember that we now require everyone, vaccinated or not, to wear a face covering inside any UC Merced property.
 
We appreciate the questions and comments folks have shared over the last several days during our open “office hours,” and are using them already to inform planning discussions. Those videos and chat dialogues will be posted here. We know — and are often as frustrated as you — that there are no firm answers to many of the most pressing questions. We are committed to transparency, however; when we have answers, we will share them. In the meantime, as Chancellor Muñoz noted last week, we must be prepared for flexibility.
 
We are kicking off the fall semester with a focus on how to best fulfill our primary mission of teaching and research.  While prioritizing student experience through student events, all other events will be paused until Friday, October 1. Events will be evaluated after this date based on current conditions.
 
Meetings are still permitted, of course. “Meetings” are gatherings with a business intent and usually include an agenda and a simple setup including room reservation, parking reservation, audiovisual needs, and catering orders.Events” are socially driven occasions. Usually, their setup is complex and utilizes multiple campus services and requires a higher-level approval process. See this guidance document for details. 
 
Thank you for doing your part as we come back together on campus this fall.
This is an important message from UC Merced. Please share with colleagues who may not have already access to email.