September 8, 2021 - New Public Health Order: Where Proof of Vaccine Will Be Required On Campus

This message was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students.

 

Key Takeaways:

  • The City of Berkeley has implemented a new health order that the campus will implement on Friday, September 10 requiring proof of vaccinations (or approved exemption), details below. 
  • Food and drink will be prohibited indoors at student organization meetings and events on-campus, including those hosted by the ASUC and GA.
  • On-campus:  To enter inside services such as Cal Dining, Recreational Sports, and other indoor dining facilities on campus, at each visit students and staff will need to show either:
    • Your campus access badge on your mobile device showing that you are green (cleared) and fully compliant with UCOP COVID-19 vaccination requirements (fully vaccinated, or approved exemption and surveillance test within the past week). You will specifically need this for Cal Dining for each visit. 
    • Proof of vaccination such as your vaccine card issued by the CDC (details below)
    • Remember to also have your photo ID, which can include your student ID (AKA Cal 1 Card)
  • Off-campus: Expect to show proof of vaccination and photo ID if you plan to be inside at restaurants, entertainment venues, etc. in the cities of Berkeley and San Francisco. 

Dear undergraduate, graduate and professional students,

The City of Berkeley has recently implemented a new health order which will require proof of vaccinations for patrons and employees of certain businesses - including gyms and places that serve food and drink indoors or indoor events with 1,000 or more persons. As a result, you may experience certain campus services checking proof of vaccination of patrons (12 years and older) before allowing indoor entry (accompanied by photo ID - which can include your Cal 1 Card). This will be effective beginning this Friday, September 10, 2021. We recognize the many challenges as we work to navigate the continued impacts the pandemic is having on our lives. We appreciate the efforts everyone in our community is making so far this semester. 

On-campus**, you may experience longer than normal lines or wait times for certain services as our staff will need to check proof of vaccination for those entering certain facilities. Failure to provide this proof and ID may result in being denied services. Until further notice, this will have impacts on the following areas:

Student Organizations:
Student organizations will not be allowed to have indoor meetings and events with food or drink on-campus while this order is in effect. This includes those hosted by the ASUC and GA. Outdoor events may still offer food and drinks. If your group has questions, the LEAD Center will work with you to help find ways to host confirmed events or find alternatives that are in compliance with this new policy. 

Recreational Sports:
This policy also affects those who wish to use Rec Sports’ facilities (including the RSF and Golden Bear Rec Center). To access Rec Sports facilities, patrons will be required to show proof of vaccination at each visit to enter and use the facilities. Also note that this policy applies to patrons 12 years and older.

Proof of vaccination for Rec Sports spaces can include your campus access badge on your mobile device showing that you are fully compliant with UCOP COVID-19 vaccination requirements (fully vaccinated, or approved exemption and surveillance test within the past week). Remember your Cal 1 Card or other photo ID as well! 

Cal Dining: 
Patrons of our Cal Dining dining halls will be required to show proof of vaccination at each visit if they wish to enter inside.

You will need your campus access badge on your mobile device at each visit for Cal Dining showing that you are fully compliant with UCOP COVID-19 vaccination requirements (fully vaccinated, or approved exemption and surveillance test within the past week). Remember your Cal 1 Card or other photo ID as well! 

If a student does not have a green campus access badge, they will be able to obtain to-go food options outside of the dining hall, but will not be allowed to enter inside the dining hall. 

ASUC Student Union and Event Services: 
If you have reserved or booked an event or meeting space through Event Services that includes indoor food or drink services, please contact your event specialist or eventservices@berkeley.edu as soon as possible so we can pivot your event to make outdoor food/drink arrangements, make other accommodations, and/or postpone or cancel events, if need be. 

Off-campus, we want to let you know that businesses in the City of Berkeley will be enforcing this requirement surrounding our campus, and you should expect to be asked to show proof of vaccination and a photo ID if you plan to be inside at certain businesses including, but not limited to, restaurants and other dining establishments, bars, clubs, theaters, and entertainment venues. 

What constitutes proof of vaccination?

The following documentation (accompanied by photo ID - which for students and staff on-campus can include your Cal 1 Card) indicating that at least two weeks have elapsed since a person received their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine authorized (including emergency authorization) by the FDA or World Health Organization: 

  • ON-CAMPUS ONLY (and REQUIRED for Cal Dining at each visit): Your campus access badge on your mobile device showing that you are fully compliant with UCOP COVID-19 vaccination requirements (fully vaccinated, or approved exemption and surveillance test within the past week).
  • A Vaccination Card issued by the CDC or a foreign governmental jurisdiction which includes the name of the person vaccinated, the type of vaccine provided, and the date(s) the dose or doses were administered;
  • A photo or copy of a Vaccination Card either as a hardcopy or stored on a phone or electronic device;
  • A personal digital COVID-19 vaccine record issued by the State of California and available by going to https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ or similar documentation issued by another state, local, or foreign governmental jurisdiction; or 
  • An authentic digital record that includes a QR code that when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader accurately displays to the reader client name, date of birth, vaccine dates and vaccine type.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can help reduce virus transmission on our campus.

Sincerely,

Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D. (he/him/his)      
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Sunny Lee, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)
Dean of Students

**UC Berkeley does not promise or assure that all attendees/patrons are vaccinated. Unvaccinated people could potentially be present at an event or in a facility as a result of exemptions, exceptions, fraudulent verification, or checker error.