June 23, 2020

Dear Members of the UD Research Community,

Earlier this month, the University of Delaware launched Phase 1 of our research reactivation on campus. The return of this initial group of more than 700 researchers to our labs and field sites has gone extremely well, with research teams embracing new health screening and safety protocols to keep our community safe. My thanks to these teams for their tremendous work and ongoing vigilance.

Based on the success of Phase 1, we are now opening the application process for Phase 2, which seeks to increase UD’s on-site research activity to 33% of the research workforce. With the launch of Phase 2, an estimated 1,500 personnel are expected to be back in labs and design studios and conducting fieldwork at any one time by the end of June.

We are engaged in a gradual research ramp-up, with health and safety our highest priority. Provided current trends continue, we aim to be at 90%-100% research capacity by the start of fall semester, which will begin September 1, as President Assanis recently announced. UD is carefully monitoring external and campus conditions, which will dictate the pace of the phased reactivation of campus research.

Principal investigators who believe they or their graduate students and postdocs qualify for Phase 2 may now submit their Request to Return to Campus forms. Forms will be reviewed for approval by the PI’s department chair and dean, the provost and myself. Please visit this webpage to access the online form, as well as links to the ramp-up checklist and the safety training required of each member of your team:

Research Reactivation Guidelines and Resources

In Phase 2:

• All field-based research can resume consistent with local guidance/conditions.
• Laboratory research will continue to ramp up — with an indoor density of one person per 250 square feet.
• Studio activities, such as visual and performing arts and design, will be permitted.
• Limited time-sensitive human subjects work may be possible depending on restrictions, with prioritization of:
  • Research with significant likelihood of providing direct therapeutic benefit to the study participants, which outweighs the risk of COVID-19 exposure
  • Studies for which in-person research interactions can occur, with no added risk, in the context of a clinical care visit
  • Research with minimal physical contact/proximity with study participants
• Instructional lab and studio spaces will be available to permit preparation and redesign of fall semester classes.
• Common/gathering areas, multiple cubicle spaces and shared offices will remain closed. Desk and group work will continue remotely.
• Research work that can effectively be performed remotely should continue to be conducted remotely.

Maintaining Health and Safety. Researchers in Phase 2 can expect these changes as work on campus resumes:

• A daily health questionnaire
• Cloth face masks as the norm
• Highly controlled access to buildings/facilities and the traffic flow within them
• Closure of common areas/shared spaces
• A density of no more than four researchers per 1,000 square feet, potentially necessitating shift work at some facilities
• Increased cleaning of bathrooms and high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, etc.

As UD’s research engine continues to ramp up, I encourage you to share your thoughts and questions at UDresearch@udel.edu or at our next virtual town hall, held each Monday, 1-2 p.m.

Thank you for your commitment to the health and safety of our community, and to the pursuit of research. Your collaboration is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Charles G. Riordan
Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Innovation