Resources for Staff
Important requirements and guidelines for employees returning to campus
Widespread vaccination is key to an engaging academic year. All staff and faculty are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before physically accessing the university’s locations and programs.
Browse our FAQs to get answers to your questions about campus operations and COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccine Policy
In addition to getting vaccinated, a booster is an effective strategy for reducing the severity of COVID-19 — and is required by UC’s vaccination policy (PDF).
This policy requires all students, staff and faculty to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before physically accessing the university’s locations and programs. Compliance is required no later than two weeks before faculty, staff and students are expected to be on campus.
Employee FAQs Employee Record Upload
UC COVID-19 Vaccination Policy
Information such as how to get vaccinated, how to request a medical exemption, and how to upload records is available on the vaccinations and boosters page.
Flu Vaccine Requirement
The University of California requires all students, staff and faculty to get vaccinated against influenza or submit a declination form.
Testing, Screening and Reporting
Daily Symptom Check
Reporting on the Daily Symptom Check will only be required when a yes response is indicated on the symptom checker.
The check-in is available via email and mobile app. If an employee is unable to use either of these methods, he or she should call the UCI Employee Experience Center (EEC) each workday at 949-824-9918 to complete the assessment by phone with an EEC customer service representative.
All employees returning to on-site work must be activated in the app the week before they are scheduled to return to campus. To make this happen, managers/supervisors should send a list with the names and UCInetIDs of all employees returning to on-site work to Stephen Whelan at swhelan2@uci.edu at least three business days before the return date. Please allow 72 hours for activation. Once an employee is activated, he or she will receive an email directly from the EEC explaining how to access the symptom check app.
Daily Symptom Check Application Instructions Working Well™ Program Overview
Testing
Regular, weekly testing is required for all unvaccinated students, faculty and staff.
Students, faculty and staff may schedule a test from the campus testing site by making an appointment on the Student Health Center portal.
Individuals who indicate symptoms on the Daily Symptom Check should follow the guidance on how to isolate or quarantine.
COVID-19 testing is currently completed via a supervised self-administered nasal swab or saliva test that takes about 7-10 minutes, is cost-free to eligible groups on campus, and results are available within 24 - 48 hours.
Face Coverings / Masks
Face coverings will be recommended indoors, but not required, regardless of vaccination status. Therefore, individuals should feel free to continue to wear face coverings if they desire. Face coverings are optional outdoors.
Student Health Center, Counseling Center and UCI Health properties will continue to adhere to face covering guidance for healthcare settings. Face coverings continue to be required on the Anteater Express and other forms of public transportation.
Face coverings may also be required consistent with public health guidance for a limited duration for those who are COVID-19 positive and returning from isolation, and for those recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Staff
Staff including student employees should contact their building facility manager to obtain a face covering supply for their unit or for themselves. Face coverings (KN95s and surgical masks) are available at face covering distribution locations. In addition, staff that would like a voluntary-use N95 respirator can go to these locations:
- Environmental Health & Safety - front desk
- Med Sci C Stack
- Parking Structure Kiosk across from Student Center
- Physical Sciences stores (Monday through Friday, 10 - 11 a.m.)
- University Research Park - 100 Theory, Suite 110
Building Facility Managers
For bulk supplies BFMIs should contact the logistical support team at logisticalsupportteam@uci.edu and request face coverings (KN95, surgical masks and voluntary-use N95 respirators) or cleaning supplies.
Face Covering Distribution Locations
Face coverings (KN95s, surgical masks) for students, faculty, and staff are available at the following locations around campus:
- Anteater Learning Pavilion
- Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Friday: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Anteater Recreation Center (ARC)
- Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
- Saturday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. - 12 a.m.
- Anteatery Dining Commons
- Monday - Thursday: 7:15 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Friday: 7:15 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Brandywine Dining Commons
- Monday - Thursday: 7:15 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Friday: 7:15 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Saturday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Environmental Health & Safety (EHS)
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- FRESH Hub
- Tuesday & Thursday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Wednesday: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Med Sci C Stack loading dock
- Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Natural Sciences 1, Room 2112
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Student Center Information Desk
- Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
- Student Center Parking Structure Kiosk
- Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Student Housing Communities (including American Campus Communities (ACC))
- Main housing office front desk
Executive Directive: Face Coverings Face Coverings and Voluntary Use Respirators (N95s)
Required training
All employees are required to view a training video titled “COVID-19 Employee Training,” which explains what COVID-19 is, how it is transmitted, the steps we’re taking to reduce potential exposure, and how you can protect yourself and others. This training is required by Cal/OSHA and the California Department of Public Health. Even if you will continue to work remotely, but may need to come to campus occasionally, you must complete this training. Additionally, completing the training is only one step of the process to being approved to return to on-site work. The training module is available through the UC Learning Center and can be searched by title using the Find a Course function.
COVID-19 Employee Training View Executive Directives
Remote work resources
Resources for the return to working on campus and the hybrid work environment.
HR: Future of Work TechpPrep: Keep Working Zoom Help Center UCI Worklife & Wellness
Reporting COVID-19 Leave
The Time Reporting System was recently updated to allow employees to report paid leave hours related to COVID-19.
Employees who use TRS can report COVID-19 paid leave in the same way they report their normal work hours and leave usage. When you’re in a timesheet, simply select the "Paid Leave (COVID19)" code from the "Add" drop-down menu for the appropriate day and enter in your leave hours as normal. The same code is used for both hourly and salary employees. Paid administrative leave may be used in hourly increments for non-exempt staff and 8-hour increments for exempt staff. For changes to the Benefit Programs for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief, please review the message from Ramona Agrela, Associate Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Executive. and HR's COVID-19 Employee Leave Information page.
For more details, refer to the UCI Accounting & Fiscal Services website.
More resources
COVID-19 Information for Staff
COVID-19 leave and pay status information
If you have any questions about returning to campus, contact CRIT at CRIT@uci.edu.