UCI Forward

UCI Forward is our commitment to the well-being of our community as we ramp up campus operations. Working together, each of us doing our part, we can move UCI Forward.

Returning to campus: employees

Important requirements and guidelines for employees returning to campus

If and when your unit is approved to return to campus – either as a whole unit, or just some individuals, or your unit is continuing to work on campus – there are new protocols for staff, faculty, and researchers for being on campus. (Information for students will be added shortly.) These protocols are designed to help reduce the spread of illness and inform our return to campus culture. Please remember that all returns to campus must be pre-approved.

Required training

All employees who plan to be on-site are required to view a training video titled “Returning to Campus,” 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.

Face coverings

In compliance with the California Department of Public Health, all individuals on UCI-controlled property are required to wear face coverings to reduce possible exposure and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the UCI community.  Please read UCI’s Executive Directive for details, including permitted exceptions. Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) is offering face coverings to campus employees.

Physical distance

Based on the most current scientific research, maintaining physical distancing of 6’ or more from those around you may contribute to minimizing exposure to COVID-19.

Daily symptom check-in app

As we carefully and systematically bring employees back to campus, it is important that everyone designated to work on-site take precautions to keep themselves and others well. State and county guidelines indicate that employees should assess themselves each morning before coming into an office where others will be present. To assist employees in this daily assessment, the UCI Working Well Daily Health Check-In application has been developed as part of the new Working Well™ program.

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

The return to campus decisions are being made with an abundance of thought and planning. Your health and safety are at the forefront of this process and we remain committed to high-quality instruction, research, health care and public service. We also acknowledge that changes may occur rapidly in the pandemic environment. So, we may adjust our plans if new therapies, techniques and technologies become available, or if stricter limitations are required.

If you have any questions about returning to campus, please contact CRIT at CRIT@uci.edu.

If you are a department head and are looking for information on how to safely return your unit to campus, please visit our Returning to campus: units page.