Conference Policies

Updated June 1, 2022

Health & Safety

GSA is committed to providing a safe environment for conference attendees, staff, exhibitors, vendors, and others on site at our meetings. To help minimize risks and promote a safe environment at the in-person conference, we have adopted Health & Safety policies that reflect current best practices. Please see below for full details on vaccination and testing requirements and other onsite protocols.

Vaccination requirement

All participants at the in-person 2022 conferences—presenters, attendees, exhibitors, staff members, guests, and vendors—will be required to be fully vaccinated, including a booster if eligible*, at least 14 days prior to the start of the meeting on August 17, 2022. If you are registered as an in-person attendee and have not yet received a booster, you must receive a booster no later than July 25, 2022. You will be asked for proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination is your vaccination card (photo is acceptable) from the healthcare provider. Please review our COVID-19 FAQs for information on uploading your proof of vaccination (Note that you will need to upload your proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test at the same time).

GSA revised this vaccination mandate to include a booster after carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant. This policy is meant to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible, in accordance with current CDC guidance. Our top priority is to create the safest possible meeting environment.

*If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster by July 25, 2022 because of limited access in your country of residence, time since your second vaccine dose, or a documented medical exemption, please contact mahoney@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#Yeast22 booster exception” to request an exception.

All CDC and WHO authorized vaccines are acceptable for meeting the vaccination requirement for the in-person conference. Approved vaccines include:

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
Moderna
Oxford/AstraZeneca
Pfizer/BioNTech
Serum Institute of India
Sinopharm
Sinovac

If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to register for or change your registration type to virtual attendance and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming. Please contact mahoney@genetics-gsa.org if you have any questions.

Testing Requirement

In-person attendees must provide proof of a negative test or recent recovery from COVID-19. In addition to proof of vaccination, all in-person attendees must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the conference start date, August 17, 2022. We do not recommend but will accept a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of arrival at UCLA. Rapid tests must be performed at a pharmacy, healthcare provider, or under telehealth supervision.

Attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead provide proof of a positive COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date AND a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that the attendee is cleared to travel.

In-person attendees will be required to upload their negative test results or proof of recent recovery documentation to 42Chat by August 17, 2022 and prior to their arrival at UCLA (Note that you will need to upload your proof of vaccination and proof of a negative test at the same time). Attendees will receive an invitation to upload their documentation in the coming months.

Please note: If you are unable to schedule an appointment for a COVID test or obtain results before travel, you may take an at-home test and upload a photo of the results along with a photo of your driver’s license or other government or school-issued ID. This test should be taken within 24 hours of your arrival at the conference site.

Mask requirement

As of March 28, 2022, GSA will require all in-person meeting attendees to wear a mask while in the meeting space. Masks should fit snugly against the face and must completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

In accordance with CDC guidance, attendees should wear the most protective masks they can, ideally N95s or KN95s. Learn about the types of masks and their varying levels of protection on CDC’s website. GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary N95 and KN95 masks onsite for those who do not have access to high-quality masks.

Additional safety information

We will continue to share updates via this webpage and conference emails. As we get closer to our event dates, we will post more information about what you can expect onsite. GSA may implement other safety measures as needed. GSA will meet or exceed all federal, state, and local government and venue requirements for masks, social distancing, and other measures.

Please do not travel to or attend the conference if you are sick, have been exposed to anyone with a documented or suspected case of COVID-19 within 10 days, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19. If you experience any symptoms before picking up your conference badge or develop symptoms at any time while onsite, do not enter the conference space.

Change Participation Type

If you registered to attend the meeting in person but you no longer feel comfortable or are unable to attend, you may change your registration to virtual attendance. There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to online attendance or vice versa. Because of financial obligations we have to the many suppliers who are involved in a meeting, we ask that you make the change to your participation type by July 1, 2022 so that we may plan accordingly. To make this change, please notify mahoney@genetics-gsa.org. You can request this change at any time. However, so that we may plan accordingly, we would appreciate changes to be requested no later than July 1, 2022. GSA will issue a refund for the price difference between in-person registration and virtual registration at the time of your change request. Alternatively, you may choose to donate your refund to help fund registration for participants from low- and middle-income countries. If you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation, please contact Anne Marie Mahoney (mahoney@genetics-gsa.org) to discuss virtual presentation options.

If you registered for virtual attendance but would like to attend the meeting in person, you may change your registration to in-person attendance. To make this change, please notify mahoney@genetics-gsa.org. You can request this change at any time. However, so that we may plan accordingly, we would appreciate changes to be requested no later than July 1, 2022. You will be charged the price difference between virtual registration and in-person registration at the time of your change request. If you have been selected for an oral or poster presentation, please contact Anne Marie Mahoney (mahoney@genetics-gsa.org) to discuss in-person presentation.

Cancellation & Refunds

Conference Registration Cancellations

We understand that making plans during a pandemic is challenging. Conference registration cancellation requests received by June 1, 2022 are fully refundable and will not incur a cancellation fee. All conference registration cancellations received between June 2, 2022 and June 30, 2022 will incur a $50 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received on July 1, 2022 or later will not be eligible for a refund.

(Canceling your meeting registration does not cancel your hotel or other travel plans. Please see below for additional information.)

Conference Registration Refunds

To receive a refund, please submit your cancellation request to mahoney@genetics-gsa.org with the word “Refund” in the subject line by June 30, 2022. If you cancel your registration after June 30, 2022, you will not be eligible to receive a refund. For questions, please contact mahoney@genetics-gsa.org.

Cancellation requests received:

by June 1, 2022: Full refund
between June 2, 2022 and June 30, 2022: Refund minus a $50 cancellation fee
after July 1, 2022: No refund

There is no fee to change your registration from in-person to online attendance or vice versa. We ask that you send participation type change requests to Anne Marie Mahoney (mahoney@genetics-gsa.org) no later than July 1, 2022.

Hotel Cancellation

If you need to cancel your housing reservation, you can do so directly with UCLA.

Airline and Train Cancellations

Many airlines and rail carriers have adjusted their cancellation policies. We highly encourage you to check directly with your carrier for additional information.

Presentation Cancellation

If you are scheduled to present in an oral or poster session, please contact Anne Marie Mahoney (mahoney@genetics-gsa.org) with the subject “Presenter Cancellation” in addition to sending in your cancellation notice.

In-Person Meeting Cancellation

GSA is continuing to monitor the outlook for in-person events and will share updates as they are available. In the unlikely event that GSA must cancel the in-person meeting, all in-person registrants will automatically be converted to virtual attendance. GSA is not liable for any costs incurred by participants due to the cancellation of an in-person event. Participants are strongly encouraged to purchase travel insurance.

Code of Conduct

This Code of Conduct covers in-person conferences, online conferences, and other online events hosted by GSA. GSA conferences include keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, live poster Q&A, workshops, conference-related Slack channels, and Q&A via Zoom chat.

The Genetics Society of America Conferences foster an international community of geneticists and provide an opportunity to discuss scientific advances and form new collaborations.

GSA values your attendance and wants to make your experience productive and inspiring by fostering an open exchange of ideas in a professional setting. Our Code of Conduct was established to communicate a transparent set of standards and guidelines for acceptable behavior at GSA Conferences and to provide a positive, safe, and welcoming environment for all attendees, vendors, volunteers, and staff.

All conference participants (regardless of their role) are expected to follow the Code of Conduct while attending any portion of the conference, including but not limited to keynote presentations, concurrent sessions, live poster Q&A sessions, workshops, and all conference Slack channels. Because there is also a virtual nature to the conference, our Code of Conduct extends to communications related to the meeting and its attendees, presenters, exhibitors, sponsors, staff, and vendors. These types of communications include Zoom chat, Zoom Q&A window, live poster Q&A, Slack, email, social media, and texts.

Unacceptable Behaviors

Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to:

Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant and at all related events
Harmful or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, political orientation, socioeconomic, disability or ability status, or other personal characteristics, including those protected by law
Inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images (including presentation slides, posters, Slack channels, or Zoom chat)
Deliberate intimidation or stalking
Violating the rules and regulations of the online provider, Zoom
Sustained disruption of scientific sessions or other events
Unwelcome and uninvited attention or contact
Real or implied threat of physical harm
Real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm
Photographing or reproducing slides of oral presentations and posters without permission
Recording of scientific and other sessions without permission

Taking action or making a report

Need to file a complaint? For instructions on how to confidentially report a Code of Conduct violation, please visit genetics-gsa.ethicspoint.com. In addition, GSA staff is available to assist participants in contacting our Ethics Committee to make a report. Please email Tracey DePellegrin, GSA Executive Director, at tracey.depellegrin@genetics-gsa.org.

Consequences of non-compliance

Anyone asked by GSA staff, Organizer, Session Chair, Workshop Leader, Moderator, Presenter, or Zoom representative to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. Retaliation toward GSA or toward someone reporting an incident or after experiencing any of the following consequences will not be tolerated and may result in additional sanctions.

The consequences of non-compliance with GSA’s Code of Conduct may include:

Immediate removal from in-person meeting
Immediate removal from accessing the online meeting
Immediate removal from Slack channels and meeting app without warning
Restrictions from future GSA meeting attendance
Termination of GSA membership or positions on GSA Boards or Committees
Incidents may be reported to the proper authorities

Diversity and Inclusion

GSA is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion to create greater opportunity for any individual to fulfill their scientific potential, irrespective of their background, gender, or circumstances. This diversity leads to innovation by attracting the widest possible talent to the community and fostering a greater diversity of ideas, approaches, and perspectives. The Organizing Committee aims to select speakers and session chairs that represent the breadth and diversity of the discipline and conference participants. GSA especially encourages the Committee to select excellent speakers from groups traditionally underrepresented in science.

Social Media/Photo/Video Policy

Attendees are permitted to live tweet during presentations, unless the speaker explicitly opts out by stating so at the start of their talk. Taking or sharing photos, videos, or reproductions of posters is not permitted unless you have the presenter’s consent. By attending a GSA conference, you grant GSA the right to use your name and likeness for use in GSA educational, news, or promotional materials. All keynote, award, plenary, and platform sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing for a limited time to registered attendees.

Posters

When you view poster materials at the conference, whether in person or via the Conference App, remember that posters are typically works in progress. Please do not cite or reproduce any part of posters without the presenter’s permission.

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COVID-19 FAQs

What will happen if the in-person Yeast Genetics Meeting is cancelled?

Are attendees required to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Yes, all in-person attendees must be fully vaccinated, including a booster if eligible, at least 14 days prior to the start of the meeting on August 17, 2022. After carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant, GSA has revised its vaccination mandate to include a booster. We have adopted this policy to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible, in accordance with current CDC guidance. You will be asked for proof of vaccination. If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to join as a virtual attendee and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming.

Please check our Conference Policies to learn more.

Will in-person attendees also need to provide proof of a COVID-19 booster shot to attend in person?

Yes. After carefully considering recent data and the impact of the Omicron variant, GSA has decided to include a booster with limited exceptions* to our vaccination mandate. We have adopted this policy to ensure that in-person attendees are as optimally protected against COVID-19 as possible. If you are registered as an in-person attendee and have not yet received a booster, you must receive a booster no later than August 1, 2022. If you cannot meet the vaccination mandate, you may change your registration type to virtual attendance.

*If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster by August 1, 2022 because of limited access in your country of residence, time since your second vaccine dose, or a documented medical exemption, please contact mahoney@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#Yeast22 booster exception” to request an exception.

How are you validating vaccination status for in-person attendees?

In-person attendees will be required to upload their proof of vaccination and proof of negative test results to 42Chat by August 17, 2022. Proof of vaccination is your COVID-19 vaccination card (photo is acceptable) from the healthcare provider, which you received when you were vaccinated. In-person registrants, you will receive an email from GSA with a QR code and a phone number for 42Chat to upload your vaccination documentation. You will receive verification (a green check mark) from 42Chat via text once you have uploaded your proof of vaccination and negative test or recovery from COVID-19.

What if I am not eligible or do not have access to a booster by July 25?

If you are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster by July 25, 2022 because of limited access in your country of residence, time since your second vaccine dose, or a documented medical exemption, please contact mahoney@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#Yeast22 booster exception” to request an exception. Alternatively, you may register as a virtual attendee, or, if you had previously registered to attend #Yeast22 in person, you may change your registration type to virtual attendance and will receive a refund for the difference in price.

Will proof of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of previous COVID-19 infection and recovery be accepted in place of proof of vaccination?

Will exceptions to the COVID-19 vaccine requirement be accepted?

GSA cannot accommodate exceptions to the vaccination requirement, except for those who are not eligible for a booster*. If you are unable to meet the vaccination requirement, we invite you to join as a virtual attendee and participate in the streaming, online, and on-demand programming.

Can I bring unvaccinated children to the in-person meeting?

I’m not sure if I want to attend in-person. Will I be able to register on site?

I’m not scheduled for my second COVID-19 vaccination until after the conference. Can I still attend?

Are in-person attendees required to get tested for COVID-19?

Yes. All in-person attendees must provide proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to the conference start date, August 17, 2022. We do not recommend but will accept a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours of August 17, 2022. If you are unable to schedule an appointment for a COVID test or obtain results before travel, you may take an at-home test and upload a photo of the results along with a photo of your driver’s license or other government or school-issued ID.

In-person attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead provide proof of a positive COVID-19 viral test result taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date on August 17, 2022 and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that the attendee is cleared to travel. Please note that proof of recovery from COVID-19 does not exempt in-person attendees from the vaccination mandate.

Do I still need to provide a negative test if I was previously infected with and recovered from COVID-19?

In-person attendees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may provide proof of recovery in the form of a positive viral test. Positive tests must have been taken no more than 90 days prior to the conference start date, August 17, 2022. In addition to their positive test results, attendees are also required to submit a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official verifying that they are cleared to travel.

What if I am unable to get a PCR test within 72 hours of arrival?

What should I do if my pre-conference test is positive for COVID-19?

Unfortunately, if you have registered as an in-person attendee and test positive within 72 hours of the meeting start date on August 17, 2022, you will not be able to attend the meeting in person. You may change your registration type to virtual attendance, which will provide access to streamed sessions, presentation opportunities, and networking events. You will receive a refund for the price difference between in-person and virtual registration.

If you would not like to attend virtually, you may cancel your registration.

Will masks be required at the in-person meeting?

Yes. At this time, GSA will require all in-person meeting attendees to wear a mask while in meeting spaces. Masks should fit snugly against the face and must completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

In accordance with CDC guidance, attendees should wear the most protective masks they can, ideally N95s or KN95s. If you do not have access to a high-quality mask, GSA will have a limited supply of complimentary N95 and KN95 masks onsite.

What health and safety protocols is the University of California, Los Angeles following?

Should I book my transportation yet?

Where can I get a COVID-19 test for my flight home?

Appointments for a Covid-19 test for your return travel can be made at 911 Covid Testing.

Two locations are available near UCLA, and are open 7 days, 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.:

Getty Center Drive 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles 90049

Beverly Hills 9900 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills 90212

There is also a testing site by the Los Angeles Airport that is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week:

LAX 9800 S. Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles 90045

Tests are also administered at CVS pharmacy, 1001 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, 310-209-9141 to have a Covid-19 test administered.

Appointments should be made online. The zip code for UCLA is 90095.

Attendees are responsible for payment of any fees.

What if I experience symptoms and/or test positive while at #Yeast22?

While GSA has taken steps to create the safest possible in-person meeting environment, COVID-19 can be contracted anywhere at any time. All in-person attendees should complete a daily self-assessment while at the meeting using CDC’s COVID-19 Self-Checker. If you experience any symptoms before picking up your conference materials or develop symptoms at any time while onsite, do not enter the conference space. We encourage attendees to bring rapid antigen test kits for self-testing during the conference. If you do not have rapid tests and experience symptoms while onsite, you can request to have a rapid test delivered to your room. More information on requesting a rapid test will be available a month before the meeting.

There are a limited number of single rooms for attendees who need to isolate onsite. Please contact the UCLA front desk and gsasconferences@genetics-gsa.org to arrange a transfer to these rooms.

If you require immediate medical attention, contact UCLA security to arrange for emergency services.

What will I need to show on site to enter the meeting?

Can I cancel my in-person registration?

If you can no longer attend the meeting in person, consider changing your registration type to virtual attendance. Virtual attendance will provide access to streamed sessions, presentation opportunities, and networking events.

However, if you would not like to attend virtually, you may cancel your registration by June 1, 2022 without a cancellation fee. All conference registration cancellations received between June 2, 2022 and June 30, 2022 will incur a $50 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received on July 1, 2022 or later will not be eligible for a refund. Please check our Conference Policies to learn more.

What if I registered as an in-person attendee, but I can no longer attend in person?

What if I submitted an abstract as an in-person attendee, but I can no longer attend in person?

If you were selected to present a talk or poster in person, you may present virtually instead. Please contact Anne Marie Mahoney at gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org with the subject line “#Yeast22 presentation change” as soon as possible to discuss virtual presentation options.

If you cancel your registration, please ask a co-author to present on your behalf and send the replacement information to Anne Marie Mahoney at gsaconferences@genetics-gsa.org as soon as possible.

Where can I get a mask?

I don’t feel well and would like a free rapid antigen test. Where do I get them?

Attendee FAQs

After I register, can I change my registration from in-person to virtual or vice versa?

Can I cancel my registration?

Can I ask presenters questions, and will they be answered live?

Yes, you will be able to submit your question in real time through Zoom. It is up to the session chair to select questions to ask the presenter, so yours may not be included in the limited amount of time available for live Q&A. You can also submit a question to the presenter to be answered later. The presenter will be notified of the question and may answer it as he/she/they are available (Please note that we cannot guarantee that a presenter will answer your question). Recordings will also include questions that were asked during the live session.

You can also ask questions in the Conference App via the Join the Discussion field at the bottom of each session listing or you can direct message them through the attendee list.

How can I ask poster presenters questions?

How can I attend workshops?

Can I share my Conference App log-in information with others if I cannot attend an event?

What will I miss if I am not there in person?

Will there be exhibitors?

Where do I go to pick up my badge cover and lanyard?

Where do I go to upload my presentation?

Where do I pick up the program book?

I need a Certificate of Attendance or Participation. Where can I get one?

Presenter FAQs

Can I still give a talk if I cannot be there in person?

Yes. Abstracts will be evaluated solely based on their scientific content and relevance to this meeting and the associated topics, not the author’s registration type. You do not need to attend the meeting in person to be selected for a talk; virtual presentation options will be available.

Sessions will be developed based on review of the submitted abstracts. Overall diversity across location, institution, gender, race/ethnicity, and career stage will be considered as well. All talks will be presented live. If connectivity or other factors impact your ability to present live, an uploaded recording may be possible.