Read this email on the Web

Division of Research - Wayne State University

UPDATE: On-campus research activities

January 2, 2022

As indicated in the President’s memo of December 23, the university is on an adjusted operational schedule until January 31, 2022 to reduce the impact of the continued increase in COVID-19 infections as the omicron variant spreads. 

At this time, research activities and support services on campus will continue with the established safety procedures as noted in the President's memo and additional temporary operational measures as summarized below.

  1. Use appropriate masking in all campus facilities and complete the Campus Daily Screener before coming to campus.
  2. All individuals coming to campus are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccination boosters, which are readily available through the Campus Health Center ((313) 577-5041).

Beginning Jan. 3, you are required to receive and upload proof of your booster at the time you are eligible, which is six months past the second dose for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The Campus Daily Screener will be updated accordingly, and those who are unvaccinated or past their due date for a booster will not be permitted on campus unless they have an approved waiver.

  1. Maintain appropriate social distancing in laboratory work spaces and seating areas. This may require appropriate management of access to confined rooms or work areas such as those for specialized instrumentation or cell culture.    
  2. Limit in-person, on-site training for specialized procedures and instrument use that requires close interaction of personnel.
  3. Lab-related research activity that can be done remotely should remain remote until January 31, 2022 or until further notice.
  4. Conference room use will be limited to minimize in-person interaction in accordance with university guidelines.
  5. Research cores remain operational during this period with enhanced safety and operational considerations.
  6. Research support offices (e.g. Sponsored Programs Administration, IRB, IACUC, IBC) have shifted to primarily remote operations with the standard operational considerations established earlier in the pandemic.
    1. Please continue to check the COVID-19 Research Operations website for any support office specific operational considerations.
    2. For grant submissions, it is critical to meet the deadlines proposal deadline policy and to maintain timely response to communications from post-award reporting staff. Advanced communication with Grant & Contract Officers of upcoming proposal submissions is also very important as we coordinate all of the many moving parts.
  7. Laboratory hygiene and safety operations through the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (https://research.wayne.edu/oehs) remain fully active.
  8. Specific guidance for any adjustment of research activities in vivarium facilities will be provided to users through the Division of Laboratory Animal Resources.
  9. Specific guidance for any adjustment of research activities involving human subjects will be provided to staff and investigators through the Human Research Protection Program and IRB offices and indicated on the office website.
  10. Undergraduate and graduate students may continue their in-progress research activities on-campus as necessary in coordination with their mentor and in alignment with established and enhanced campus safety parameters including completion of the campus daily screener, appropriate mask-wearing and social distancing.  

Additional adjustments and guidance may be operationalized as we continue to monitor the situation over the next several days.

To report concerns regarding any aspect of the resumption of research activities and compliance with WSU Covid-19 policies, please use the WSU Internal Audit Anonymous tip form at https://internalaudit.wayne.edu/report and/or contact the WSU Integrity Officer, Phil Cunningham (philc@wayne.edu, 313-577-9064). 

Each of you have done a tremendous job during the past 22 months as we operationalized and managed research activities on campus during the pandemic.  

Thank you for your continued engagement, adaptation and support of each other during this period.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or the VPR team if you have any questions. 

Please do let me know if there are any items that I may have missed and any suggestions or thoughts as we go forward.

Steve

 

Be sure to check the following links for updates and awareness of university initiatives and operations regularly:

Warrior Safe coronavirus website

Research operations at Wayne coronavirus website

Campus Health Center website  

Wayne State University COVID-19 Dashboard  

Contact Information for Questions and Additional Information

General questions

Julie O'Connor, Director of Research Communications, Office of the Vice President for Research, julie.oconnor@wayne.edu, Office: (313) 577-8845, Cell: (734) 748-4207

Antonio E. Yancey, Associate Vice President, Research Administrative Operations, antonioyancey@wayne.edu, Office: (313) 577-1411

Direct line for concerns regarding safety and operational health: Research Integrity and Safety Office – Phil Cunningham, Ph.D., Associate VP for Research Integrity, philc@wayne.edu, Phone:  (313) 577-9064, FAX:  (313) 577-0384

Campus Health Center: (313) 577-5041 (accessible around the clock) https://health.wayne.edu/coronavirus/