July 15, 2021

Dear Members of Our Campus Community,

The UC Office of the President today announced UC’s final policy regarding mandated COVID-19 vaccinations. The systemwide policy was developed in consultation with UC infectious disease experts and through ongoing review of evidence from medical studies concerning the danger posed by COVID-19 and emerging variants of concern, as well as the safety and efficacy of the vaccines in preventing infection, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19, and in reducing the spread of this deadly disease.

The policy and FAQs for employees and students are posted at the following links:
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Policy
Employee FAQs
Student FAQs

The following is a summary of the policy:

• All covered individuals defined by the policy, which includes UC employees, students, and staff, must be vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus or receive an approved exemption before they will be allowed to participate in any University programs or allowed in any UC facility or office. The policy also applies to those participating in person in UC programs that may occur off campus, such as UC athletics and education abroad.

• Covered individuals under the policy will be required to show proof of vaccination.

UC Santa Barbara faculty, staff, and students who obtained their COVID-19 vaccines from a provider other than our campus’s Student Health Services should submit their vaccination information online through the “Medical Clearances” section of the Student Health Services Patient Portal to verify their vaccination status. Information can be requested through the State of California Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record.

• Faculty, staff, and students must be in compliance with the policy "two (2) weeks before the first day of instruction at any University campus or school for the Fall 2021." At UC Santa Barbara, the first day of instruction is Thursday, September 23.

• Individuals may request medical exemptions consistent with Centers for Disease Control guidance and manufacturer labeling on contraindications and precautions. In addition, accommodations based on disability or religious belief may be requested, and deferrals are available for those who are pregnant.

Our campus COVID-19 Response Team is continuing to work with the UC Office of the President to develop the exemption, accommodation, and deferral procedures, and these will be communicated in the coming weeks.

• Campus community members with approved exemptions, accommodations, or deferrals will be required to wear face coverings in all indoor settings and to comply with the campus’s COVID-19 mitigation measures. That includes completing the daily COVID-19 Symptom Screening Survey and undergoing weekly COVID-19 testing.

• All COVID-19 vaccines approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) under its emergency use authorization or subsequently fully approved by the FDA will satisfy the vaccination requirement.

• Research has shown that vaccination is by far the most effective way to prevent severe disease and death after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and to reduce spread of the disease to those who are not able, or not yet eligible, to receive the vaccine, and to maintain the health and well-being of our campus community and of the general public.

We look forward to welcoming back our faculty, staff, and students this fall, and to seeing a return of UC Santa Barbara’s vibrant campus life. We will continue to send you updates as our planning moves forward.

Sincerely,

Henry T. Yang
Chancellor