UC Davis is committed to being resilient in these challenging circumstances. We are prioritizing the health of all members of our UC Davis community while doing all we can to provide top-quality educational experiences that help our students progress toward their degree and succeed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Chancellor May, addressing “preparedness” in his weekly letter July 31, referred to this overview and two other documents:

• Updated Campus Ready Plan.
• Comprehensive FAQ for undergraduates, including categories for student health, financial aid and tuition, housing and dining, and international students. (Please visit the Graduate Studies COVID-19 information page for updates on graduate instruction and research.)

We are engaged in comprehensive planning and preparations for the gradual return of instruction, research and other activities in a way that limits the spread of COVID-19. Our newly released Campus Ready Plan is guided by state and Yolo County public health directives and will continue to evolve and adapt.

Health and safety

For the good of all, mandatory safety practices will include wearing a face covering indoors and outdoors on campus, physically distancing from people not in your household, and good hand hygiene. Campus has established a reporting process for positive cases of COVID-19 within our community. We are also working to establish a daily symptom screening tool as well as a COVID-19 testing and contact tracing program. We encourage students and employees to prepare for fall by getting vaccinated for the upcoming flu season — even more important during the pandemic. 

Instruction and academic support

Most courses will be offered remotely with very limited offerings in person. All classes with enrollments greater than or equal to 50 students will be taught remotely. For classes with fewer than 50 students, in-person instruction may be possible. We are working on finalizing the remote and in-person course offerings by mid-August, and once available, this information will be viewable on Schedule Builder. Students will be alerted when this course information has been updated. This is subject to future modifications if we can no longer offer in-person courses due to changes in public health directives.

To support student success, the team of specialists, tutors and others at the Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers will provide remote services. Instructors will hold regular office hours by remote means. The Student Resources section of the Keep Teaching website also provides a variety of resources, including information about laptop loaner program for students who don’t have a laptop with the features necessary to support remote learning. 

International students

Continuing F-1 international students in the U.S. may pursue up to 100 percent remote courses without having to leave the U.S., and continuing F-1 international students outside the U.S. can take remote classes while remaining in status. New students are subject to additional government restrictions at this time, and UC Davis is committed to ensuring there are plenty of course offerings to help them satisfy the government’s requirements. Please see the Services for International Students and Scholars website for updates and information, and if you have questions, work with your advisor. 

Housing and dining halls

UC Davis is currently planning to offer single- and double-occupancy rooms in its residence halls, and the use of common areas will be governed by Yolo County Public Health guidelines. We have expanded the residence hall move-in process to be staggered over multiple days with residents having designated times to allow for physical distancing. We are also working with Yolo County Public Health and UC Davis leadership to develop implementation protocols around testing, isolation, quarantine and tracing. 

To provide additional time to review and consider the new information in the Campus Ready Plan and Fall Plan Student FAQ, we have extended the deadline to cancel housing contracts. We are also awaiting higher education guidance from the state of California that may affect our housing requirements and cancellation deadlines.  

For dining, we anticipate that most students will take their food to go from dining halls. The campus is exploring online orders for streamlined “curbside” pickup and will add limited indoor seating with physical distancing once allowed. 

Financial aid

UC Davis understands that the financial circumstances of some families have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Affected students — both incoming and continuing — may file an appeal for revision to financial aid.

Student programs, services and recreation

Unitrans buses are running, and student services — from academic advising to mental health counseling — are available. There are opportunities for internships, student jobs and research experience, though most will be done remotely for now. Student Affairs is working on finalizing plans for in-person and remote programs and services for the fall, and those updates can be found at Virtual UC Davis. 

While gatherings are not permitted, students will find opportunities to meet through remote activities including the Orientation program, a student organization fair, and even sorority and fraternity recruitment. The Rec Pool is open for lap swimming, the Equestrian Center is offering private riding lessons and Outdoor Adventures is renting equipment for kayaking, camping, rock climbing and more. The Arboretum and Public Garden also offers opportunities for exercise and relaxation. 

Preparing for positive cases

To help keep community members healthy, the campus has a reporting process for reviewing confirmed cases of COVID-19 and responding to those concerned about a member of the campus community having COVID-19. Any community member identified as being at risk of exposure from these individuals will be notified if they need to quarantine and/or self-monitor for symptoms. The campus has set aside isolation and quarantine spaces for student residents, and those using them will have access to medical care as well as food and essentials. A website provides basic information about reported cases for the Davis campus. Extensive planning for contingencies is taking into consideration health care and treatment capabilities as well as other factors.

Frequently asked questions

We know that many questions remain, and the situation is changing all the time due to updated mandates or guidance from our state and county public health officials. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions for undergraduates to try to address questions they may have. Please visit the Graduate Studies COVID-19 information page for updates on graduate instruction and research. We are developing other FAQs for various audiences and topic areas, so please check back with us frequently.