Protection of Minors: COVID-19 Guidelines

Stanford on-campus programs and activities involving minors (as defined in Administrative Guide 1.8.1), including internships, camps and tutoring/mentorships, are permitted to operate in-person on a continuing basis, provided they adhere to Stanford’s policies. Vaccination is strongly encouraged for all participants in minors programs. Please note that these policies do not extend to Stanford on-campus childcare centers, which maintain their own COVID-19 protocols.

All third-party programs who wish to operate at Stanford must be reviewed and approved by University Human Resources.

Off-campus in-person programs and activities involving minors must follow the university’s COVID-19-related requirements, which are available at this EH&S link and should be incorporated into the COVID-19 Safety Plan. Additionally, when the respective county’s transmission level for COVID-19 is at high, face coverings are recommended.

Stanford programs and activities who wish to operate in-person must develop a plan to meet the university’s COVID-19-related requirements. Additionally, minors programs and activities must register with the university’s Protection of Minors Management System (known as ePOM) and meet all requirements of the Protection of Minors policy prior to anticipated start date, including obtaining approval from the Program Sponsor.

This policy is subject to change at any time. Stanford will be closely monitoring COVID-19 spread in the community. Programs should be ready to modify existing or future programming if conditions warrant.

COVID-19-related requirements for in-person minors programs and activities

To ensure the health and safety of participants and the campus community, vaccination is strongly recommended for all participants in in-person minors programs and activities.
Programs need to verify that minors do not have COVID-19 at the start of the program or activity. Programs should have rapid antigen testing to screen minors and/or require minors to provide a negative COVID-19 test (rapid antigen or PCR test). The Program Sponsor will need to verify that proof of a negative COVID-19 test result was shown. Stanford is not keeping copies of COVID-19 test results.
Programs need to maintain rapid antigen test kits on hand for symptomatic testing. Participants exhibiting symptoms should be tested to determine if they are COVID-19 positive. All COVID-19 positive participants will need to isolate for at least 5 days and obtain a negative antigen test before returning to the program.
Programs need to provide isolation space, including transportation and essential resources (food and medical support) for COVID-19 positive participants, until they can be picked up by their parent/guardian.
It is recommended that minors complete the Stanford Visitor: Daily COVID-19 Health Attestation on the first day of the program or activity.
With certain exceptions, face coverings are no longer required but will continue to be strongly recommended on-site, regardless of vaccination status, as well as off-site when the respective county’s transmission level for COVID-19 is at high. Programs must comply with current university policy on face coverings.
Program Sponsors are required to submit a COVID-19 Safety Plan (see FAQ below).

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is considered a Program Sponsor?

Each program or activity involving minors must have an identified Stanford department serving as the Program Sponsor, represented by a Department Chair, Senior Staff as defined by Administrative Guide 2.1.14: Senior Staff, or Institute Director. The Program Sponsor must be one of the following:

Stanford University academic department, school, or institute
Stanford administrative office operating on behalf of the university
Non-academic departments recognized by the President’s Office

For more information, visit the Program Sponsor page.

Who is responsible for ensuring that the COVID-19-related requirements are met?

Program Sponsors are responsible for ensuring the COVID-19 related requirements are met. Program Sponsors with questions about the COVID-19 related requirements should contact EH&S by filling out the EH&S Health Guidance form.

What needs to be included in a COVID-19 Safety Plan and where should the COVID-19 Safety Plan be submitted?

The COVID-19 Safety Plan needs to include details about how the program or activity plans to ensure the safety of those involved in the in-person minors programs and activities. Programs taking place in Summer 2023, including minors programs, should use the COVID-19 Safety Plan template available here. All other minors programs taking place in person should use the COVID-19 Safety Plan template available here. The COVID-19 Safety Plan should be submitted to University Human Resources at protectminors@stanford.edu. EH&S is available to consult with teams as needed on their COVID-19 safety plans. Minimally, the COVID-19 Safety Plan should include answers to the following questions:

Who is the Program Sponsor?
What is the program or activity?
How often will minor participants be on campus?
How will the program or activity check and document review of the minor participants’ negative COVID-19 test results?
Will the program or activity maintain rapid antigen test kits for symptomatic testing?
What is the program or activity’s isolation plan for minor participants who test positive for COVID-19?
How will the program or activity ensure the university’s COVID-19 requirements are met, e.g., relating to masks?

Who can I contact about the COVID-19-related requirements?

Program Sponsors with questions about COVID-19-related requirements, please fill out this EH&S Health Guidance form.

Who is responsible for ensuring that the Protection of Minors policy requirements are met?

Program Sponsors are responsible for ensuring that all policy requirements are met prior to the anticipated start date.