Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer	Category	Audience
Are CSUSM employees and students eligible to be vaccinated in San Diego County?	All individuals ages 5 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the California Department of Public Health's My Turn website to make an appointment.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
How do I make a vaccination appointment?	Your health care provider: Many providers are notifying their patients directly with next steps to receive the COVID-19 vaccine based on federal and state guidance. San Diego County locations: If you are unable to get the COVID-19 vaccine from your health care provider, the County of San Diego and its partners are offering vaccinations to eligible individuals. Appointment information is available online at www.VaccinationSuperStationSD.com. Riverside County locations: Please visit Riverside County’s Public Health website for appointments.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Is a COVID vaccination required for students?	Yes. The California State University system announced that all CSU students are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive their booster once eligible. More information about the vaccination requirements for students.	Health and Safety	Students
Is a COVID booster required for students?	Yes. The California State University system announced that all CSU students are required to receive a COVID booster when eligible.	Health and Safety	Students
Am I eligible for the COVID booster?	If it has been more than five months since your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or more than two months since receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you are eligible to receive the booster. More information about booster eligibility is available on the CDC website.	Health and Safety	Students
Are there any vaccine exemptions for students or employees?	Students can apply for a medical or religious exemption. The exemption application process for employees is available at this link. Any student or employee who is granted an exemption must participate in on-campus mandatory weekly COVID testing.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
If I'm exempt from vaccination, do I need to undergo regular COVID-19 testing?	Yes. Any student or employee who is granted an exemption must participate in on-campus mandatory weekly COVID testing.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Do I need to get vaccinated if I've already tested positive for COVID?	Yes. The California State University system announced that all CSU students and employees (including auxiliary employees) must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive a booster once eligible. More information about the vaccination requirement for students and vaccination requirements for employees.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
How do I submit proof of vaccination?	Students can submit proof of vaccination online: student proof of vaccination. Employees can submit proof of vaccination online: employee proof of vaccination.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
How can students and employees get N95/KN95 masks?	N95 masks are available to any employee upon request at the Covered Cougars Distribution Center (CCDC). KN95 masks are available to students and employees at the CCDC and other satellite locations as indicated on the CCDC web page. Complimentary surgical masks are available at building entrances. Please contact the Office of Safety, Health, and Sustainability at shs@csusm.edu with any questions related to N95/KN95 face filtering devices.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Can I still get a free COVID test if I am vaccinated?	Yes. Any employee or student may get a free COVID test at any public testing site that offers them, as well as at the campus testing locations.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Is there a vaccination location at CSUSM?	Testing for CSUSM students and employees is available at the Clarke Field House and CSUSM at Temecula campus. Community members can visit the county's website to make an appointment or to find a convenient location.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Do employees need to undergo COVID-19 symptom screening before coming to campus?	COVID-19 symptom self-assessment is still required, but employees don't need to submit the screening form through the campus app or website. By showing up at work, all employees are confirming that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Employees should stay home if they are sick. Anyone who is not coming to work because of COVID-19 symptoms should notify their manager.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Do I need to report a positive COVID-19 result?	Yes. Students and employees who test positive for COVID-19, experience COVID-19-like symptoms or have recently been exposed to someone who tested positive to COVID-19 are still required to report this information to campus (unless they are fully remote and have not been on campus recently).	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
What if I lost my vaccination card?	The California Immunization Registry (CAIR) offers a way to get a digital copy of your vaccination record. If you have trouble accessing your record through CAIR, please contact Student Health and Counseling Services at 760-750-4915 or immunizations@csusm.edu for assistance.	Health and Safety	Students
Are there travel restrictions for students or employees?	There are no longer post-travel quarantine requirements for vaccinated people (for foreign or domestic travel). Unvaccinated people are still required to quarantine for 7-10 days post-travel (seven days if they test mid-quarantine and are negative; 10 days if they do not test). If you are considering traveling for work or personal reasons, please review the full set of CDC requirements and recommendations.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
What cleaning protocols are in place on campus?	All cleaning and disinfection protocols are returning to pre-pandemic status. The exception to this is if there is a confirmed COVID-19 case on campus, in which case enhanced cleaning procedures will still be utilized depending on the location and timing of the case. (Enhanced cleaning will be performed if the space in which a COVID-19-positive person was present will be occupied within 24 hours following the positive case being in the space.) Any person wishing to perform additional cleaning or disinfecting of their personal workspace or equipment can obtain cleaning/sanitizing supplies by contacting the CCDC.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
What course formats are being offered?	Courses are offered in a variety of modalities, including fully in person, online synchronous, online asynchronous, online blended asynchronous and synchronous, hybrid, and live & online. Please visit the Office of the Registrar's Class Formats/Instruction Modes webpage for details on what each course modality entails.	Academics	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
If I sign up for a hybrid course but can’t come to campus because I am immunocompromised or a family member is immunocompromised, do I still have to come to campus for the course?	Please contact your instructor to see if accommodations can be made for you to complete your coursework virtually.	Academics	Students
Why are some courses online only?	Many courses are well suited to online modalities. Having online options helps students meet their educational goals in a timely manner while accommodating important work-life commitments. In many cases, it makes the difference for students staying in school and completing their degree. We continue to offer flexible course options to meet different student needs.	Academics	Students
Why are some courses in person only?	Many courses benefit from in-person instruction and the ability to engage material with the instructor. Some students learn best in this mode. And some courses require hands-on activities. We continue to offer flexible course options to meet different student needs.	Academics	Students
Are online classes asynchronous or synchronous?	Class modality is noted in the course schedule portal.	Academics	Students
What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous courses?	Courses taught asynchronously are accessible to students any time; there is no set meeting day or time. Courses taught synchronously occur at the same day and time each week. Your class will remain in the same modality for the duration of the fall semester. Please visit the Office of the Registrar's Class Formats/Instruction Modes webpage for more information.	Academics	Students \| Faculty
How do I receive help with academic planning?	Our Office of Academic Advising is available to assist you, offering virtual appointments as well as drop-in advising. Please visit the Office of Academic Advising website for more information or to make an appointment.	Academics	Students
Why am I limited to 16 units?	When registration appointments open, we restrict all students to 16 units so that everybody has a chance to enroll for a full load. This allows more students to stay on pace for a four-year graduation (or two years for transfers). After everyone has had a chance to enroll, the unit limit is lifted and students wishing to take more units can go back and add classes.	Academics	Students
Is weekly COVID-19 testing mandatory for students?	Students who have received an approved vaccination exemption must participate in weekly on-campus testing at the Clarke Field House or CSUSM at Temecula testing locations. Learn how to schedule a testing appointment here.	Health and Safety	Students
Are masks/face coverings required while on campus?	Masks are required in indoor instructional spaces, including classrooms, teaching laboratories, learning centers and Kellogg Library. Masking also is required in the Student Health and Counseling Services Building in alignment with CDPH’s requirements for healthcare settings. Masking is encouraged in all other indoor spaces (such as offices, conference rooms and indoor event spaces) and strongly recommended when participating in indoor gatherings and events lasting at least one hour, with 10 or more individuals. Masks are not required for gatherings and events held outdoors. Free KN95 masks are available for any campus community member who wants one. Employees may also request an N95 respirator, which requires training. Please visit the Covered Cougar Distribution Center (CCDC) website for more information on obtaining a KN95 mask or N95 respirator.	Health and Safety \| Returning to Work	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Where can I find more information related to mask/face-covering guidance?	More information regarding face-covering guidance is available on Safety, Health & Sustainability’s COVID-19 Campus Resources and Guidelines webpage.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Is COVID testing available on campus?	Mandatory student testing must be completed at the Clarke Field House or CSUSM at Temecula testing locations. Students can make an appointment through the CSUSM mobile app. Learn more about mandatory student testing. CSUSM employees who have received a vaccination exemption also must test at the Clarke Field House or CSUSM at Temecula testing locations. Learn more about mandatory student testing. The County of San Diego is currently operating a free, walk-up testing site in CSUSM's Lot B off Craven Road for community members. Weather permitting, the testing site is open to the public and available Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Visit the County's website to find other available testing locations.	Health and Safety	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Can I take a campus tour?	Yes! In-person campus tours are back! Schedule your tour now or visit via a virtual tour.	Student Life and Activities	Students
Are there in-person activities?	CSUSM is phasing in events over the 2021-2022 academic year, working to meet campus needs while also prioritizing the reengagement of students.	Student Life and Activities	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Is on-campus dining open?	Yes! For updated hours and operations, please visit CSUSM Corporation’s website.	Student Life and Activities \| Returning to Work	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Is the library open?	Yes. Learn more about library hours.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
How can I access resources, such as databases, from off campus?	Navigate to the research databases as you would on campus. When you click on a link, the proxy server will ask you for your campus username and password. Once you have entered that information, you should be able to access the database. For more information, visit the Off-Campus Access to Library Resources webpage.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Can I place a request for materials to be mailed to my home?	Yes. Learn more about how to place a Mail-to-Home request.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
When will I receive my financial aid package?	Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@csusm.edu with any questions related to financial aid.	Financial Aid	Students
How come I haven’t heard about my application for Student Relief Funds?	Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@csusm.edu with any questions related to your application for Student Relief Funds.	Financial Aid	Students
Is on-campus housing available?	Yes. Please visit our housing website or email housing@csusm.edu for more information.	Campus Services \| Student Life and Activities	Students
Is the University Store open?	Yes, in-store shopping is available Monday-Friday. Items can be purchased on our bookstore website and shipped directly to your home as a contact-free alternative to shopping in person. Please contact the University Store at 760-750-4730 with additional questions or for store operating hours.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
How can I order course materials?	Course materials are available on our bookstore website. Please contact the University Store at 760-750-4730 with any questions.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty
Do employees need to reactivate their parking pass?	Yes. Employees interested in purchasing their parking permit through payroll deduction must reactivate their account. Employees can indicate the month that the deduction will go into effect. Please note it can take a minimum of two business days for the permit to be activated.	Campus Services \| Returning to Work	Faculty \| Staff
Do I have to purchase a parking pass?	Yes. Please visit the Parking and Commuter Services website for information on purchasing daily, monthly or semester permits.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff
Can employees continue to telecommute?	The university has updated its routine telecommuting policy. If an employee had a telecommuting agreement in place before the pandemic began, that agreement may continue. Auxiliary employees may contact hrcorp@csusm.edu for updated information on telecommuting.	Returning to Work	Faculty \| Staff
Are campus buildings open?	Yes. Campus grounds are no longer required to be closed to the public.	Campus Services	Students \| Faculty \| Staff