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Message from EVC Simmons COVID-19 has created an extraordinary public health emergency that burdens all of us with unusual constraints, extra responsibilities, and tremendous uncertainties. In the last three months, you have enabled students to continue their education by swiftly transforming Winter Finals, Spring Quarter, and Summer Session to remote format. You have also participated in an iterative planning process to prepare the campus to offer some Fall Quarter courses in person if the public health situation allows this.   Thank you for everything you are doing to help UC San Diego continue to innovate and thrive as a student-centered, research-focused, service-oriented public university. -Elizabeth H. Simmons

Fall '20 instruction update

It is the priority of UC San Diego to promote the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to gradually resuming in-person teaching, learning, and research activities, in a manner that is fully compliant with safety and public health directives. Initiatives we are pursuing to support in-person activities include: launching the Return to Learn feasibility study focused on COVID 19 testing and contact tracing, establishing campus requirements for appropriate social distancing of people, and de-densifying classroom spaces in accordance with public health directives. Departments and colleges have been asked to identify courses that enable first- and second-year undergraduates to take half of their courses in person, as well as graduate and upper division courses where students would especially benefit from in- person instruction. Some proposals include lectures that have been reconfigured to accommodate no more than 50 students; others focus on smaller lab, studio, discussion, or recitation sections We are committed to supporting all instructors and TAs in accomplishing their teaching responsibilities given their personal circumstances and the public health environment. The Return to Learn testing, the social distancing requirements, and the classroom de- densifying measures being taken are explicitly designed to support and promote safer in person education. We have asked for proposals for in-person teaching under the assumption that it will be possible for this to occur in the context of an overall campus increase in in-person activities. However, if it becomes clear that the evolution of the pandemic requires campus activities to be remote, we will return to fully remote operations.  Moreover, if any TA or instructor of record who initially had planned to teach in person becomes unable to do so or no longer feels comfortable doing so, then the chair, dean, and EVC’s Office will coordinate to find an appropriate accommodation.

Course modality glossary To help clarify the different course delivery options for fall instruction, please see details and examples below. As always for all courses, instructors must provide reasonable accommodations for students who are ill to continue in the course without being penalized. As a reminder, students are not required to provide a doctor’s note as documentation of their illness (see UC San Diego Medical Excuse Policy ).

In-Person Only This is the traditional form of instruction with students and instructors joining the course in the classroom or lab (onsite). Physical attendance is required and course materials do not need to be provided asynchronously online. This option may be appropriate for courses such as labs that require the use of specialized equipment only available on campus. In-Person Similar to the In-Person Only option, In-Person courses will be delivered on campus with students and instructors physically present in the classroom. However, all course materials must also be provided asynchronously for students to access anytime online . For example, lectures are provided in real time in the classroom, recorded, and posted on Canvas along with all assignments and other course materials. This is appropriate for courses that benefit, but do not depend on physical presence, where the connection between student and instructor are particularly important (e.g. foundation courses), or for instructors that prefer to engage with their students in-person. 

Hybrid This option combines elements of the In-Person option and remote instruction. Some course components are delivered on campus while other course components are offered remotely. All course materials, including components offered in-person, must be provided asynchronously for students to access anytime . For example, a course may deliver lectures online by posting recordings on Canvas and convene weekly discussion groups in the classroom. Students who are unable to join the discussion groups in person would complete an equivalent assignment, such as submitting a paper with their comments about the discussion topic. This modality may be appropriate for classes that require interaction and problem-solving with an instructor, or hands-on group work, but are too large to fully accommodate in-person due to social distancing requirements.  Remote This is the only option without an element of in-person instruction. Instruction and all course materials are provided remotely and asynchronously, just as courses are currently being delivered in our remote learning environment. This option provides the most flexibility for students and instructors to continue the course with minimal disruption during the university’s transition back to campus. This may be an appropriate option for instructors who are unable to return to campus, for classes that are too large to be safely accommodated, and classes with large populations who may be unable to join us in person. 

Preparing for Summer Session

Student demand for summer session is trending higher this year, and the enrollment period has been extended to June 22 for Session I and Special Session. Instructors are encouraged to review their course waitlists and consider accepting additional students if this can be done without adversely impacting workload. All software typically accessed in campus computer labs will need to be provisioned in the cloud for summer session courses. This takes additional time to install, configure and test. To ensure access to cloud-based computer labs and any associated software, faculty need to submit a CINFO lab request by Monday, June 8. Please reach out to Educational Technology Services if there are summer courses that will need software access, but will not have an instructor assigned until after the June 8 deadline.

Graduate education updates

Graduate funding reform The Graduate Division has met with every Division and School to discuss the upcoming graduate funding reforms, and to begin the process of consultative planning with Departments and Divisions for a new approach to TA allocation. Dean Antony is continuing to work through the details of the changes with each department, and has discussed the graduate funding model with Senate representatives at the May 18th Senate Administration Council meeting. View the presentation for details about the new model for supporting graduate students. Exception to Graduate Council policy approved The Graduate Council recently approved extending an exception to general rules for conducting graduate thesis defenses and qualifying exams: Effective through Fall 2020, the student and/or any member of a Master's or doctoral committee may participate via video conference for a thesis defense, qualifying exam, or final oral examination (dissertation defense). Transition to DocuSign  Please remember that all required faculty and student signatures for various graduate education forms are now being collected via DocuSign . Graduate coordinators and program staff are responsible for initiating the digital routing process for required signatories. Please review the memo from Dean Antony about the initiative , and be sure to visit the Graduate Division's collab website for additional information.

Continuity and Resilience

Faculty, student, and staff representatives are collaborating as part of several task forces that are addressing issues facing the campus community, recommending improvements to our remote environment, and planning toward the eventual return of on-campus activities. Brief descriptions and points of contact are given below.  Educational Continuity: Carlos Jenson, Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Innovation (avcei@ucsd.edu), and Alison Sanders, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (avc-aa@ucsd.edu), are co-chairing this group, which focuses on preserving the university’s teaching and learning mission.  Continuity of Research: Miroslav Krstic, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Affairs (krstic@ucsd.edu), and James McKerrow, Dean of Skaggs School of Pharmacy (jmckerrow@ucsd.edu), are co-chairs of this group, which is developing plans and procedures to guide a phased return to on-site research at UC San Diego.  Admin/Staff Return to Campus: Under the leadership of Margaret Leinen, Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences, and Nancy Resnick, Chief Human Resources Officer, this task force is developing recommendations related to the timeline and conditions for returning to in-person work, including addressing any issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. In addition, the task force will consider whether the expertise acquired by the university during this remote work period presents opportunities for future consideration. Please direct any questions for this group to Brandi Bangle (bbangle@ucsd.edu). Remote Student Experience: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Alysson Satterlund (vcsa@ucsd.edu) is co-chairing this group along with Associated Students Vice President Melina Reynoso (asvpcampusaffairs@ucsd.edu) and Graduate Student Association President Rachel Flanagan (president@gsa.ucsd.edu) representatives to make recommendations for supporting a student-centered remote learning environment at UC San Diego. Travel: Faith Hawkins, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research Affairs (fhawkins@ucsd.edu), and Adele Brumfield, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management (acbrumfield@ucsd.edu), are co-chairing this task force focused on addressing travel-related issues as part of the transition toward in-person campus operations. University-wide Events: Sharon Van Bruggen, Executive Director of University Centers (svanbruggen@ucsd.edu), is leading a task force focused on adapting major campus events for the virtual campus experience in light of public health guidance.

2020 UCUES: Encouraging student feedback

This year's UC Undergraduate Experiences Survey is open and includes key questions related to COVID-19. Please encourage students to take the survey to help us understand how the remote learning environment has impacted their undergraduate experience. Students who complete the survey are entered into prize drawings - the sooner they complete the survey, the more chances they have to win!

Introducing the Virtual Campus Collaborative A network of UC San Diego employees and students are volunteering their time to help meet the needs of campus in our new remote learning environment. Whether you're looking for assistance updating a website, coordinating a virtual event, or have ideas about how we can improve our virtual campus experience, the Virtual Campus Collaborative team is here to help! Connect today

Triton Tools & Tidbits Listen to episodes and learn more about Triton Tools & Tidbits. The sudden shift to a remote learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced UC San Diego students to adapt to a new way of learning and connecting away from the... Read more shows.acast.com

Live Well, Be Well Listen to episodes and learn more about Live Well, Be Well. Health Promotion Services at UC San Diego presents Live Well, Be Well -- a podcast where we speak candidly about all things wellness! We'll be covering everything under the sun when it... Read more shows.acast.com

Alone Together: Support Forum for International Students CAPS & ISPO are offering an Emotional Support Forum for International Students. This is a weekly drop-in forum and every international student is welcomed. Together, we will help you manage in the face of the enormous psychological strain that COVID-19 is generating. Learn More Connecting with Social Networks Academic Enrichment Programs have shared ideas for informal ways to stay connected with your friends and family during quarantine. Throw a Netflix party, take a virtual tour of a national park or museum, or check out House Party to play games while video chatting with up to 8 friends! Learn More

Components of a campus viral testing program might serve ... Not so long ago, no one had heard of the 2019 novel coronavirus. Until mid-February, neither the virus nor the disease it causes even had an official name. Now, we are all painfully familiar with SARS-CoV-2 and the respiratory disease, COVID-19.... Read more www.insidehighered.com Its Eyes on the Fall, One Campus Is Conducting a... The University of California at San Diego proposes to take “widespread testing” to a whole new level. Is this what every campus will have to do? Read more www.chronicle.com

Calling all Changemakers Making positive change is part of our DNA at UC San Diego. By looking deeper and breaking boundaries, we are leading innovative ways to address some of today's toughest challenges. Every Triton is a changemaker and whether it's in our local community or around the globe, you can help us make a difference. Volunteers are needed to support UC San Diego's ambitious plan to re-open campus. Visit the Return to Learn website to learn more about participating in our confidential and evidence-based study that will help us minimize the transmission of the virus on campus. Return to Learn (log in required)

Alumni Scholar-Athletes in Healthcare

Alum Amy Leu, a sports medicine and family medicine physician, shared her experience providing care during the pandemic and shares advice for other scholar-athletes at UC San Diego. "These challenges help build a strong foundation for you to lean on in future times of adversity." Read the full story here and check out the weekly Alumni in Action series for more stories about alumni making a difference.

A Happy Mother's Day for COVID-19 Patient

Bianca, a pregnant mother, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at UC San Diego Health after testing positive for COVID-19. Her life-threatening condition meant that a multi-disciplinary medical team needed to deliver her baby via emergency cesarean section while she was in a coma. Bianca woke up nearly a month later to meet her healthy baby daughter, and the two were discharged last week just in time to celebrate Mother's Day together!

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