School of Arts and Sciences will no longer require social distancing indoors

The School of Arts and Sciences will no longer require social distancing in campus buildings.

All offices, conference rooms, classrooms, and labs are now available to use at full capacity without social distancing requirements, SAS Dean Steven Fluharty and Vice Dean for Finance and Administration Matthew Lane wrote in an email to the SAS community on June 4. Beginning July 1, SAS will no longer use PennOpen Pass to grant entry into buildings.

Building occupants can enter buildings via PennCard swipe 24 hours per day starting on July 1, and hours will vary per building for all non-occupants, the deans wrote. Graduate and undergraduate students on campus are required to continue participating in PennOpen Pass and regular COVID-19 screening until the end of Summer Session 2 on Aug. 6.

Faculty, staff, and postdoctoral students who have submitted proof of vaccination will no longer be required to use PennOpen Pass or participate in regular COVID-19 screening, the deans wrote. The University previously announced on June 1 that all faculty, staff, and postdocs without medical or religious exemptions are required to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 1.

Employees and postdocs who do not report their vaccination status will be required to continue frequent COVID-19 testing and daily symptom checks on PennOpen Pass. Anyone with a Red Pass is not permitted to enter buildings, according to the email. However, passes will not be checked at building entrances.

Masks will still be required in shared indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status, but masks will not be required outdoors for vaccinated individuals.

Indoor events with food will be permitted only at 25% capacity, in accordance with Philadelphia Department of Public Health guidelines, the deans wrote. SAS plans to continue monitoring indoor eating areas and adding capacity as needed.

“It has been a remarkable year where the SAS community responded to the needs of our health care professionals, our students, and our colleagues and co-workers in ways that embodied our resilience and respect for one another,” the deans wrote. “We thank everyone for their efforts keeping our campus safe for the past year.”