COVID-19 resources for the Stanford community

Employees who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 are no longer required to wear face coverings and will no longer need to follow distancing rules in most workplace settings. However, face coverings may still be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in certain locations such as classrooms, crowded events where physical distancing is difficult, all healthcare facilities, cars and other university vehicles occupied by more than one person, and public transportation. And, consistent with CDC guidance, Stanford strongly recommends that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, wear face coverings indoors on campus. Updates will be added as we get closer to fall quarter.

COVID-19 vaccines are being administered by health care providers to eligible individuals based on criteria set by public health authorities. For the most current information, visit the Vaccinations page.

Classes will be mostly remote for the summer quarter, with limited classes offered in-person. Teaching Commons and Teach Anywhere offer resources for instructors.

On-campus housing for the summer quarter is being offered to graduate students, frosh and sophomores, approved undergraduates with special circumstances, and, if space permits, juniors and seniors returning for a fifth year in 2021-22. Effective June 26, dining halls will offer indoor dining (no reservations needed), with Clean Dining protocols. The campus compact will not be required for summer and subsequent quarters, but certain health and safety requirements will remain in place.

Research and some other essential in-person campus activities are operating on-site. Guidance for researchers is available. Undergraduate researchers who are enrolled in summer quarter and live in the local area may be approved to work in campus labs following an application/approval process outlined on the research recovery site. Otherwise, faculty, staff, postdocs and students who can work remotely are asked to continue doing so until school/unit leaders determine that return to on-site work is needed. Work Anywhere offers resources.

COVID-19 testing is being provided for the campus community. Effective July 19, 2021, students living on campus or coming to campus frequently this summer are no longer be required to participate in COVID-19 testing and Health Check after providing documentation they are fully vaccinated. Testing is voluntary for faculty, staff, and postdocs who are approved to work on-site and are fully vaccinated but, effective Aug. 9, is required for those who are not fully vaccinated. Dashboards provide aggregated results for the Stanford community. 

Health Check to self-report health status is required on a daily basis for students on campus and for employees and postdocs working in-person at a Stanford facility. Training on COVID-19 hygiene is required before returning to work at a campus location for the first time.

Gathering size and events policy: Currently, there are no limits on the size of non-student gatherings on campus, with the exception of mega-events above 5,000 people indoors and 10,000 people outdoors. Events and gatherings of greater than 500 individuals require registration. Please email eventsafetyteam@stanford.edu for more information, and visit Health Alerts for the latest event and gatherings guidance.

Visitors and the Stanford community are welcome to outdoor areas of both Redwood City and Palo Alto campuses. Public events, performances and exhibitions are occurring in person at limited capacity. Certain essential visitors (including spouses/partners and minor dependents) are allowed in student residences. Visitors for academic, business, or research purposes  must be hosted by a department or unit. New appointments of visitors, including visiting scholars, visiting postdocs, visiting student researchers and others, are restricted.

Proof of COVID vaccination, uploaded in Health Check, is required for all university-sponsored travel. Unvaccinated travelers returning from personal travel outside of California (including from international locations) must test before coming to campus. Further details may be found on the For Stanford Travelers page. Students should continue participating in Stanford’s regular testing procedures.

Stanford Athletics has provided a carefully staged return, based on each team’s situation. Select athletic venues are now accessible for spectators beyond families and friends of participating student-athletes.

Exercise outdoors is encouraged, subject to physical distancing. Pool reservations and other recreational offerings are available for those approved to be on-site.