COVID-19 Notice: College Research Policy Update

Dear Colleagues,

In order to ensure the safety of our researchers and the continuity of research projects, we ask that all research heads comply with the following guidelines, consistent with those of the university (https://www2.gmu.edu/research-continuity-guidelines)

Designate your laboratory’s essential personnel. These individuals will have full access to the lab. Essential personnel must be at least 21 years of age and may include the laboratory head, research scientists, technical staff and graduate students. Please share this information with the Dean's Office.

Develop and implement a plan for maintaining social distancing (at least 6 feet) for all laboratory personnel. This could include creating work shifts and assigned days (to minimize the number for people in the lab), moving equipment etc. Please be sure to consider situations where working alone is not safe, or permitted. Moreover, please ensure that all surfaces, such as lab benches, chairs, desks, phones, etc. are wiped down with a disinfectant on a regular basis. This includes any equipment that can also be safely disinfected. General information on disinfection can be found on the CDC website. Please share this plan and the disinfection protocol with your laboratory personnel and with the Dean's Office.

A waiver must be obtained for all undergraduate students under the age of 21 working in the laboratory. Submit your waiver request to the Dean's Office.

Should any of the laboratory personnel experience symptoms of SARS-CoV-2, they must immediately inform their supervisor, quarantine themselves and seek medical help. 

Should this happen, it is the responsibility of the laboratory head to immediately alert EHS and the Dean's Office.

Please be flexible with your laboratory personnel and make sure that you address their physical and psychological health needs during this stressful period. Please note that whenever possible teleworking must be encouraged and enabled.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Please copy pgilleve@gmu.edu, aandalib@gmu.edu, and lvirgil@gmu.edu on all of the above

Ali

Ali Andalibi
Dean (Interim)

College of Science