Research Reopening Information

* Last updated 8/16/20

Phase II Research Reopening (starting 8/24/2020)

Reopening Research Laboratory Spaces: Principal Investigators must have approval from the Dean of their Research Reopening Plan (aka "safety assuredness plan”). CMNS has delegated the authority to approve research reopening plans to the unit heads. 

• For those with an approved Phase 1 plan:  During Phase 2, laboratories and other research spaces will be allowed to function at 50% occupancy, provided it is possible to maintain the space requirements of at least 150 ft² per person. If the potential increased density of personnel requires substantive changes to your laboratory plans (beyond simply adding persons), you should submit a revised plan to your unit head for approval. The only portion of the plan that needs to be updated is the physical distancing portion if there is a significant change as a result of increasing personnel.  You may resubmit your original form with relevant updates to your unit head. The updated research form is for your reference as it contains all of the useful links and information regarding recent university guidelines.

• For those without an approved Phase 1 plan, you must complete the form in its entirety and submit for approval to your unit head.   https://research.umd.edu/sites/default/files/documents/UMD-Safety-Assuredness-COVID19-Research-August-2020.pdf

Reopening Office Spaces:  The recommendation is that if researchers can work remotely, they should continue to do so.  However, if researchers prefer to come back to work in their offices, they are permitted to do so as long as they are tested and agree to all of the health and safety requirements.  If they are alone in their offices, they do not need to fill out the safety assuredness plan.  If there are multiple people in a room, the VPR is recommending development of a safety assuredness plan for maintaining physical distancing, disinfecting spaces, and staggering work hours to limit exposure.

Researchers returning to campus:  Up-to-date information on all health and safety requirements for faculty, staff and students to come to campus are available at return.umd.edu. 

Important FAQs are posted on https://ora.umd.edu/COVID19ResearchActivity, under the section titled "FAQs on the Phased Reopening of Campus Research Activities.” 

Currently in Phase 1, Limited Occupancy Phase (through 8/23/2020)

Information for Researchers

• Research Reopening Plan: Principal Investigators must have approval from the Dean of their Research Reopening Plan (aka "safety assuredness plan”). CMNS has delegated the authority to approve research reopening plans to the unit heads. 

• Video & Community Responsibility Pledge: All researchers approved to work on campus must view a short video and read the University’s Community Responsibility Pledge about returning to on-campus work. The video and pledge are available at return.umd.edu.

• COVID-19 Employee Screening Checklist: Researchers and research support staff must complete the COVID-19 Employee Screening Checklist for symptom tracking/monitoring prior to coming to campus every day.

Rules for your safety and the safety of the entire community

• Researchers must work remotely if they are not approved by the deans to be on campus in Phase 1. In CMNS this approval is delegated to the unit heads.

• Researchers must not come to campus if feeling unwell.

• Researchers must not come to campus if living with or caring for someone with COVID-19 or if awaiting a COVID-19 test result.

• Researchers must wear face coverings/masks in university buildings.  Please bring your own face coverings. 

• Researchers must practice good hygiene (frequent handwashing) and must clean and disinfect all high-contact surfaces.

• Researchers must abide by the following social distancing restrictions in research spaces: no more than 25% occupancy and not to exceed 1 person/ 200ft2.

Important FAQs are posted on https://ora.umd.edu/COVID19ResearchActivity, under the section titled "FAQs on the Phased Reopening of Campus Research Activities.” 

If you have campus-level questions on the research reopening, please submit them to askresearchadmin@umd.edu.