Stanford
Re-Approaching Stanford
Banner image featuring emergency kits supplies like Q-Tips and Band-Aids against a white background, via Freepik.

Emergency Preparedness

Our goal is to provide you the safest on campus experience possible. In order to do so, we want to keep you informed and prepared for potential campus emergencies that may occur this year. 

Returning to Shelter-In-Place

It is very possible that Stanford could return to a strict “Shelter in Place” status similar to the one experienced in March 2020. Although campus is already under strict guidelines, additional County Shelter in Place restrictions could continue to happen. These restrictions could include - elimination of gatherings of any size, online courses only, increased levels of testing, closing of recreation centers, libraries, campus labs and many/most other campus buildings.

  • What would students expect?

    • If said highly strict ordinances were issued, students would be expected to shelter in place – this could entail restrictions like remaining in individual rooms and only going outdoors for exercise and to get take-out food. Restroom protocols might be needed. Delivery of food to student rooms might be required. Students in isolation or quarantine would be expected to remain on campus, sheltering in place. This is for their health and safety and for the safety of the community.  Students who are not in isolation or quarantine could choose to leave campus. Those who do would follow the Student Departure Process below.

  • Is it possible that Stanford would need to send undergraduates home instead of sheltering in place?

    • We do not intend to send students home as we did in March 2020, but if the demands of isolation and quarantined students came to outstrip the ability of staff to provide services, Stanford might need to send undergraduates who are not infected with COVID home. It is unlikely that graduate students would be sent home, although some might choose to leave.

      This could occur if student cases were extensive, if severity of cases intensified, if large numbers of staff became sick, if hospital capacity was outstripped, if County ordinances required sending students home, etc. If needed, the decision to send students home would be made to keep them and the surrounding community as safe as possible. When leaving campus, students would follow the Student Departure Process below.

  • Student Departure Process
      • Students would be responsible for taking all belongings. No storage will be available. This includes cars, bikes, ESAs, everything. Students have been alerted to bring to campus only what they can carry on their own: two suitcases and a backpack. Belongings left behind will be donated to local charities.
      • Students on financial aid are budgeted for one round trip airfare/quarter.
      • Students would NOT be allowed to return to campus in the term they depart campus. Exceptions would be made only in cases of extreme emergency.
      • Students would get pro-rated room and board refunds if they chose to leave housing.
      • Students pre-approved for remaining on campus due to special circumstances would be expected to stay. If they chose to leave campus, they would be allowed to return only in cases of extreme emergency.

General Info

In order to prepare yourself for a campus emergency, it is crucial that you keep an eye out for updates on the Emergency Information Page and CardinalReady's need to know page.

Additionally, we'd like to remind you to double check your contact information for AlertSU, Stanford's emergency notification strategy for communicating time-sensitive information during a campus emergency. Students can update their information through Axess.