4/15/2022 - Reminder: Twice-Weekly Covid-19 Testing Protocols

To: The Campus Community

From: Kevin Gilmartin, Vice President for Student Affairs; William R. Kenan, Jr., Professor of English

Lesley Nye, Interim Dean of Undergraduate Students

Date: April 15, 2022

Re: Reminder: Twice-Weekly Covid-19 Testing Protocols

Dear Undergraduate Students,

Since the beginning of this academic year, and our full return to in-person learning and living, consistent surveillance testing has been central to Caltech's efforts to support the health and well-being of all members of the community. Regular and routine testing has allowed us to monitor campus infection rates and, in our student residences particularly, to limit COVID transmission by quickly identifying students who test positive and need to take time away from classroom learning, and enter our residential isolation protocols.

With the local arrival of the BA.2 Omicron variant, public health officials have observed a rise in infection rates in Los Angeles County. At this point, there is also evidence of a more limited uptick in our campus community infection rates. This increased case activity is an important reminder that we need to maintain our ability to gather regular and reliable testing data. To this end, all undergraduate students must continue to fully comply with the twice-weekly testing protocols. Students who fail to comply with our testing requirements will be subject to disciplinary consequences, including potential loss of housing privileges and involuntary leave.

We appreciate the commitment and resolve that our undergraduate student community has shown through this protracted pandemic. As many of you know, undergraduate student leadership and the Office of Residential Experience have worked together to plan a significant spring term expansion of student social activity. Our ability to deliver on these plans, and schedule interhouse parties along with a range of other familiar social activities, will depend on consistent and reliable data from surveillance testing.

Please join the campus community as we all do our part to support health and safety protocols, through regular surveillance testing, in order to preserve the integrity of the student residential and learning experience.