We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation through managing research and extension activities during the pandemic. The Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) just released updated information regarding research restarts and the university just released updates about community standards, gathering limits, testing and vaccinations which enables us to revise our research and extension policies. If you haven’t already, please read both memos from May 21, 2021 carefully (See ORI memo below and University memo). Based on these two memos the following are some CALS specific points and changes.

1. All research and extension activities (on- or off-campus) that occur after May 31, 2021 no longer require an exemption approval through CALS or a research restart approval through ORI.
2. The following guidelines and policies are still in effect for everyone, regardless of work site:
   1. As of today, there is no change to vehicle occupancy policy. Although we expect new guidance from the University soon.
   2. Please continue to follow NC State Community standards on masks.
   3. Guidelines released on May 7, 2021 for Field Days (see below) still apply EXCEPT for the need for an exemption approval
3. The following guidelines and policies are still in effect for anyone working on Research Stations:
   1. On-site check-in is still required for all research station visits.
   2. Please continue to communicate directly with Research Station superintendents regarding any outside visitors on stations, even though a visitor exemption approval is no longer required by CALS or ORI.

We have learned a lot throughout this process and plan to apply that knowledge to improve communication across our College, University, and with our stakeholders. Look for more direction in the near future as we work to improve our ability to collect information about research and extension activities on research stations or off-site in counties.

Research Restart Phase IV Occupancy Restriction Update

Phase IV for research restart at NC State will begin Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

In Phase IV all research activities will be allowed with no occupancy density requirement in research spaces. Individuals are still encouraged to maintain a 6-foot distance whenever possible. A maximum limit of 100 occupants will be allowed at a given time regardless of the size of the space. For information about general university space and occupancy guidelines and travel restrictions, refer to the Emergency Management and Mission Continuity Working at NC State During COVID-19 webpage.

Face coverings or masks will continue to be required on campus. If there is more than one occupant in a room, masks MUST be worn by ALL occupants at ALL times.

Beginning June 1st, the approval process for research restart requests will no longer be in effect. We encourage our colleges to continue using their shared research restart spreadsheets to record personnel using rooms designated as research space so they have a better awareness of the density in their buildings.

For individuals planning to conduct Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) programs during the summer of 2021, if the program involves external visitors, external students or minors, please submit the request through the special research exception form.

NC State Student Health Services is an approved provider of COVID-19 vaccinations for the faculty, staff, students and alumni of NC State, and their immediate family members aged 12 and up. While not required, we encourage research community members to receive a COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible. Register to receive your vaccine or share your vaccine status by visiting the Protect the Pack webpage.

Do not hesitate to contact us at ncstate-research@ncsu.edu if you have any questions.

Memo on Field Days (May 7, 2021)

Requests for field days and tours on research stations and producer fields have been coming in from research and extension scientists, specialists, and agents. With the latest update on the governor’s guidelines regarding COVID-19, we are now able to follow suit with new guidelines regarding those requests.

The primary message to keep in mind is that research station field days and on-farm tours will likely be approved if they include the following guidelines:

1. Review process to be determined (5/21/21 update to original memo). Exemption approval no longer required.
2. We will follow the governor’s limit for outside participants (as of April 28, 2021 the limit is 200)
3. Registration is required for all events (Please collect at minimum name and email or phone number)
4. If trams are used, limit capacity to 50% of normal load/tram
5. Avoid communal gatherings, social hours, sit down meals, etc. until state guidelines change
6. Participants and associated workers must be wearing masks since social distancing is difficult in a group setting. Note that the guidelines for wearing masks during field days and tours are different than those for daily field staff, PIs, and others conducting work on site where distancing is more readily accomplished.

Employees, faculty, students, and guests on research stations and field labs conducting regular research and extension work and are NOT part of a field day are NOT required to wear a mask outdoors if social distancing can be practiced. As a result, field day guests may notice that on-site workers, not affiliated with the field day, are not wearing a mask which is in agreement with current state guidelines.