Coronavirus

Given the increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the county, state and local community, as well as it being unlikely that there will be a dramatic reversal in the public health situation before fall semester instruction begins on Aug. 26, UC Berkeley has made the difficult decision to begin the fall semester with fully remote instruction. However, the campus continues preparations to implement hybrid and/or flexible modes of instruction as soon as public health conditions allow.

Read more: UC Berkeley to begin fall semester with remote instruction

With the fall 2020 semester now beginning remotely, a new UC Berkeley program that a campus official calls an example of ‘Berkeley at its finest,’ is providing an extraordinary $4.6 million in support for students who will attend class, do assignments and take tests from home — but who lack reliable laptops, Wi-Fi and other technology.

Some 3,300 laptops and 800 Wi-Fi hot spots will be among the loaner equipment sent, starting in August, to applicants who meet the requirements of the new Student Technology Equity Program (STEP).

Read the full article: UC Berkeley Campus, going remote, provides $4.6 million in tech to students in need

Find the latest messages on testing, masks and return to work on the U C S F COVID-19 updates for community page of the UCSF coronavirus site. Protocols for U C S F staff, faculty and students are here.

In preparing for the fall 2020 quarter, UC San Diego plans to welcome back students, faculty and staff through an incremental repopulation of campus beginning this summer. The plan is designed to be flexible and offers the university the ability to respond quickly should state and county public health guidelines change. Read more on the UC San Diego Return to Learn website, which covers campus safety, pilot program results, instructions for faculty and students and more. Find details specific to the UC San Diego Return to Learn fall 2020 plan here.

Campus officials provide an update on plans to reopen in the fall. 

“For the fall quarter, we are planning a curriculum that includes some face-to-face courses, and courses with a mixture of remote instruction and some face-to-face components, subject to the availability of COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and the approval of state and local public health officials,” they write.

Read the full letter from Chancellor Yang here: UC Santa Barbara COVID-19 update: Fall planning.

When fall quarter instruction begins October 1, UC Santa Cruz will offer most courses remotely or online and provide in-person instruction for a small number of courses that cannot be delivered remotely, as is the case for some laboratory, studio and field study courses. Each course will have the mode of instruction listed within the schedule of courses. Whether in-person or remote, UC Santa Cruz is committed to the values of fostering community, ensuring accessibility and facilitating deep learning across and beyond the academic curriculum.

Read the letter from Chancellor Cynthia Larive to the UC Santa Cruz community.

UC Riverside has released a four-phase plan for fall instruction. For summer sessions, the campus is in phase 2. For fall quarter, the campus is planning to be in phase 3. Both of these phases reflect modified operations.

This means all classes will continue to be available in remote formats at least through fall quarter, and any class that is approved to be offered in-person will accommodate students who cannot attend on-campus with a remote option. UC Riverside will announce the instructional phases for winter and spring quarters approximately three months prior to the start of each term.

Learn more about UC Riverside's instructional continuity plan, and visit the U C Riversidecampus return website.

UC Berkeley leaders write: “We have created a set of options for you. You and your family will need to decide which course of action is right for you based on your circumstances, your preferences, your goals, and your judgment of the risk. Please be assured that we are committed to providing you with the highest quality educational experience and will do everything possible to support your progress toward a UC Berkeley degree.”

For more information on options and reopening plans see the full UC Berkeley plans for the fall semester. There is also a letter addressed specifically to graduate students for the fall semester.

The University of California, Davis, is preparing to welcome students back to campus this fall if county and state health guidelines permit, and plans to offer a mix of in-person and remote instruction. The university is committed to reducing health risks as the safety and well-being of the campus community are its priorities.

Read more from the campus newsroom here: UC Davis plans to welcome students back to campus for fall.