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Get the latest information from the school regarding emergency situations including inclement weather, the coronavirus pandemic, etc.

Updated on March 16, 2023

Changes to COVID-19 precautions slated for March 20

After careful consideration of COVID-19 hospitalization, wastewater and national data, MD Anderson leaders on the COVID-19 Core Leadership Team (CCLT) have endorsed recommendations by Infection Control to scale back some restrictions enacted during the height of the pandemic.

The following protocols will go into effect on Monday, March 20:

Face masks will be required in areas where there are interactions with patients. This marks a return to mask-required and mask-optional zones. BSRB is now a mask recommended zone. Watch the MD Anderson Inside News and the COVID-19 intranet page on personal protective equipment (PPE) for information. Click here to see a map showing where masks are required.

Invited business visitors no longer have restrictions related to capacity. Departments no longer need to restrict the number of invited business visitors per day or the meeting visitor ratio. However, departments must continue to pre-register their invited visitors ahead of the visit and meet the visitor at the agreed upon location to receive a temporary visitor badge.

Meetings and events in non-patient care buildings, such as BSRB, will be allowed without capacity restrictions. Capacity limits have been removed for meetings and events held in non-patient care buildings. Masking is still dictated based on the location of the meeting or event (i.e., mask-required zone).

Click here for complete details regarding the guideline above and protocols for patient areas. (Links require MD Anderson credentials to access)

Access to 3rd floor skybridge to reopen on Monday, Feb. 27

The 3rd floor skybridge between the George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building (BSRB) and the MD Anderson Main Hospital will reopen on Monday, Feb. 27.

Four permission-dependent doors on the 4th floor between the Clinical Research Building (CRB) and the main hospital, BSRB, and Gimbel, Bates-Freeman Research Building and Jones Basic Research Building and on Floor 1 between Gimbel and CRB will be made accessible to all employees via their employee ID badge. Permissions no longer need to be requested.

Note: Institutional links require credentials to access.


GSBS students working remotely

During the height of the pandemic, modifications were made to allow students to work remotely in order to keep our community safe. However, these measures were temporary, made necessary by the pandemic, and were never meant to be permanent. Importantly, even with modifications for remote or hybrid work, GSBS students are expected to conduct their educational training in Houston. GSBS students who hold a GRA are not allowed to work outside the state of Texas due to taxation and employment law implications. International students, to satisfy physical presence requirements of their visa, also cannot work remotely. 

Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the GSBS Dean’s Office (all students), MD Anderson Research and Trainee Programs (students appointed at MD Anderson), the Visa and Immigration Services Administration Department (international students at MD Anderson), and Office of International Affairs (all international students). Exceptions will only be considered if a clear educational benefit can be demonstrated (i.e. internships and fellowships). For questions please contact Karen.Weinberg@uth.tmc.edu.


For the latest information regarding safety protocols, travel, shuttles, parking, health, and more, the Graduate School asks that you refer to these institutional websites listed below. These sites, which require institutional credentials or network to access, are updated on a regular basis and should be checked often as MD Anderson and UTHealth maybe different information for its labs/clinics/employees.

Note: Institutional links require credentials to access.


Additional informational websites and resources regarding the pandemic:

If you still have questions after consulting the resources above, please email Talk2GSBS@uth.tmc.edu for assistance.