Update to the Research Community: Winter Break and Spring Semester Virtual Period

Colleagues,

Yesterday, university leadership shared important updates on GW’s planning for spring semester operations. The university’s COVID-19 testing program has identified an increase in positivity rates among members of our community. While these cases are not severe and vaccination continues to provide strong protection, it is critical that we act to limit further spread of the virus.

As announced, the university will move up its booster requirement deadline and will begin the spring semester virtually to allow for a gradual and careful in-person return to campus. They anticipate that this will be a temporary adjustment and are projecting that full in-person operations will resume on January 18, following the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

The message noted that the university will reopen after winter break on January 3. Access to research spaces is vital to our investigators, but we must also make adjustments to protect the health and safety of our community.

The following guidance should be followed over winter break and until the campus returns to full in-person operations:

Any lab and shared area may be utilized up to 50% of its capacity. Principal investigators or project leaders may determine how best to divide responsibilities or rotate team members to ensure a safe density of personnel. (As we have previously learned, coordination will be essential in areas shared by multiple projects or teams from multiple departments and schools.)
Undergraduate student access is restricted. Undergraduate students may receive approval to work on site in laboratories on a very limited basis. Requests for access must be submitted by the student to the school’s Associate Dean for Research with justification and approval from their advisor or principal investigator. The Associate Dean for Research will review and forward requests for approval to the Office of the Provost for those requiring access.
Those planning to work onsite in research spaces who will be away from campus during the break and returning to campus should test prior to entering research spaces. On-campus testing hours are available online. Individuals can schedule a test now for the day they will return to campus. Individuals may also arrange for an external PCR COVID-19 test in lieu of on-campus testing. Additional details about external testing and uploading the results can be found on the university’s COVID-19 site.

Please be reminded that the following health and safety guidelines continue to be in effect:

GW requires students, faculty, and staff who are in person to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. All eligible, returning community members must receive a booster dose and upload supporting documentation by January 10.
GW will require all accessing on-campus facilities to undergo regular COVID-19 testing, and strictly follow all public health guidelines in effect.
Students, staff, and faculty who feel ill, no matter the cause, must stay home and not perform work of any kind in the laboratory. They should follow standard protocols for unplanned absences and communicate by phone or email to relevant parties (professors, supervisors, etc.) to let them know they are sick.
Workers must wear face masks indoors at all times and access to PPE and cleaning supplies is critical.
Labs and core facilities may require additional PPE and cleaning protocols.
Consequences for not following health and safety protocols are at the discretion of the PI or lab/unit head. If the non-compliant individual is the PI or lab/unit head then the Associate Dean for Research should be notified.

The safety of our community and our neighbors must be our priority. By working together and following GW’s public health and testing protocols I am confident that we can protect each other and minimize disruptions to our research and scholarly activities.

Pamela Norris
Vice Provost for Research