VPR Announcement - Trainee Accommodations - Phase 3

Dear students, faculty, and other trainees and supervisors,
 
Yale started Phase 3 of Research Reactivation on August 24. For those whose work requires access to campus, guidance for Phase 3 largely resembles that in Phase 2. Requirements for physical distancing, daily health checks, and the use of face coverings and PPE remain the same.

We write today to reiterate our commitment to the safety of all trainees during Phase 3, reminding the community that while we work to achieve research continuity, we must continue to mitigate the risk of being on campus. Supervisors should remain vigilant to public health measures, implement Yale’s requirements for physical distancing and de-densification of campus spaces, and whenever possible, support remote work for trainees. Additional guidance for trainees and their supervisors can be found here. Briefly:

•    Restrictions on activities due to physical distancing, de-densification of campus facilities, heightened personal hygiene and use of PPE remain in place. These restrictions will continue to limit activities that require close physical proximity, such as large in-person meetings or person-to-person training that would otherwise violate physical distancing restrictions.

•    In-person meetings should be avoided. When trainees are co-sharing space, six-foot physical distancing must be maintained. Indoor meetings must not exceed the COVID-19 specific occupancy limits for the spaces in which they are held.

•    If a trainee tests positive for COVID-19, they should isolate for 10 days and, if symptomatic, until they are free of fever for 24 hours, in order to prevent transmission to others. (University-mandated isolation days will not count against sick days allotted to postdoctoral associates and fellows.) Someone who tests positive through the university testing program will be contacted by Yale Health with instructions and advice and will be asked to participate in Yale’s contact tracing program. Individuals may reach out to their designated Health and Safety Leaders (HSL) from within their Yale schools for assistance with academic accommodations. Individuals who test positive through non-Yale testing venues are required to isolate and are encouraged to notify their supervisor or HSL. Trainees with questions about testing, contact tracing, isolation, and/or quarantine may contact the Campus COVID Resource Line (203.432.6604) or visit https://covid19.yale.edu/health-guidelines.

•    Trainees who have disability-related concerns about resuming on-campus research (which may include health circumstances directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic) should refer to existing Yale policies regarding accommodation requests. Trainees who are Yale College, GSAS, or professional school students should register with Student Accessibility Services (documentation guidelines are here). Postdoctoral associate trainees should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Access. Postdoctoral fellows should contact the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (guidelines are here).

Further details regarding these recommendations are in the recent report from the Trainee Accommodations Committee. We ask faculty advisers and supervisors to review these recommendations and act accordingly. We appreciate everyone’s concern for the safety and well-being of our community during this time.

Sincerely,

Lynn Cooley
Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Michael Crair
Vice Provost for Research