From the Desk of Willie Brown

Have a wonderful winter break!

Fall Quarter is coming to a close and I want to thank you for the determination and dedication you continue to display throughout the pandemic. The intense work that has gone into successfully re-opening and supporting our students could not have been done without your hard work and partnership.

While we look forward to spending more time in person with loved ones this winter break, caution is still needed. Please continue to mitigate your risk of exposure to COVID-19 by wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending COVID vaccination boosters for everyone 18 and older, which are widely available at local pharmacies. You can learn more about COVID boosters, COVID tests, and steps for a safe return to campus in the winter quarter via communications that went out to campus community members recently:

• December 10 email from the UCSB COVID-19 Response Team
• December 15 message from Michael Drake, President of the University of California

If you’re traveling internationally, please note that you will have to sequester at home for ten days after returning from international travel if you are unvaccinated, and test three to five days after returning from abroad. UCSB Student Health’s website has many useful resources, including links for domestic and international travel. Check their website for updates, as information changes with new variants and over time.

Thank you for everything you are doing to protect yourselves, your friends and family, and our campus community. We could not have had a fall quarter like we did without you. I hope you have a happy and healthy winter break and have time to rest up for 2022, another productive year as a member of our community.