Dear Campus Community, Three months ago, I wrote to you about improving COVID-19 conditions in Riverside County and the possibility of relaxing constraints on instructional activities if conditions continued to improve. Instead, conditions worsened significantly. The third wave of the pandemic hit California particularly hard and Riverside County regressed back into the Purple tier. ICU...
Dear UCR Community, We are now one month away from the start of winter quarter and I am writing to provide updates on our winter instruction plan. A total of 50 courses have been approved for in-person instruction with remote options for winter. This represents only 2-3% of UCR’s overall course offerings. Consistent with state...
Dear Campus Community: Like many holidays, Thanksgiving has a complicated history. Its existence suggests we pause, enjoy a meal with friends or family, and make a gratitude list—three behaviors routinely lauded by mental health experts for contributing to wellbeing. However, the storytelling and imagery about Pilgrims and American Indians is a lopsided narrative designed to...
Dear Campus Community, This week, the United States saw its deadliest day for COVID-19 while California’s 102% increase in positive cases over the last two weeks triggered a return to broader restrictions statewide and implementation of a limited stay-at-home order. Additionally, last Friday, the State of California issued a travel advisory stating that all persons...
Dear Campus Community, We write to provide an update on the annual budget process and campus planning over the next two years. The impact of the COVID pandemic and ensuing budget crisis cannot be overstated. While the campus has built robust health and safety protocols to address the pandemic, we must be equipped to navigate...
Dear Campus Community, UC Riverside has joined other University of California campuses and the California Department of Public Health to pilot a program aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. All you need is your cell phone to activate the California COVID Notify exposure notification system. The technology, developed by Apple and Google, is safe...
As in previous years, UC Riverside plans to observe a Winter Holiday Closure during the 2020-2021 holiday season. This year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the closure will be extended to include three additional days, which will allow for a two-week closure. Similar actions are being taken at other University of California campuses. To...
Because of expected budget shortfalls related to the COVID-19 crisis, the University of California is considering a new systemwide program to achieve additional operational and salary savings. This program would expand the existing winter curtailment period, which is currently tentatively scheduled from December 28th to December 30th, or add new curtailment periods as needed to...
Dear Campus Community, Earlier this month, I sent a video message about the importance of taking care of ourselves and staying in communication with our friends and colleagues. It’s been more than seven months since we moved into modified operations while learning how important hand washing, face coverings, and physical distancing were to our individual...
While remote learning, teaching, and working remains the default mode of operation, there are some essential functions approved to continue working on campus at this time. The recently updated state requirements mandates that each department or operation with employees working on campus (or campus owned/lease space) for any length of time, including intermittent visits, must...
Dear Campus Community, UC Riverside remains in phase 2 of our COVID-19 recovery plan, and we are announcing today that we will continue the same modified operations for winter quarter that have been in place for fall quarter. This means classes will continue to be available in remote formats at least through winter quarter, and...
Dear Campus Community, As COVID-19 testing resources and regularity have become more broadly available, the numbers of confirmed cases have increased across the country and would be expected to do so within our UCR community. We became aware this week that a member of the Barn staff has tested positive for COVID-19. Please join us...
Dear UCR Community, Riverside County Public Health is strongly encouraging UCR employees who are residents of Riverside County to be tested for COVID-19. While Riverside County has the capacity to test about 4,000 people each day at its testing sites, less than half that number are being tested at this time. Recently Riverside County entered...
Dear Campus Community, As we begin fall quarter after a long summer of fighting a pandemic, racial injustice, and record wildfires, we also must look ahead—already—and begin planning for winter quarter instruction. Currently, COVID-19 statistics in Riverside County are improving. The county recently moved out of Tier 1 (purple) of the Governor’s four-tier, color-coded evaluation...
UCR Faculty and Staff, To support the health and well-being of UC students, faculty, and staff and our communities, the University of California – in consultation with UC Health leadership – has issued a systemwide executive order requiring all members of the UC community to receive an influenza immunization before Nov. 1, 2020. More information...
Dear Campus Community, We would like to thank everyone for their efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on our campus over the past several months. Physical distancing, face coverings, limiting gatherings, and completing the Daily Wellness Check have all helped to ensure our collective health. We have tried to take a careful and measured...
Dear Campus Community, There’s a type of picture puzzle that challenges observation skills by asking the player to look at two similar photos and identify what’s changed. As we prepare for the start of the fall quarter, I am aware of the many ways this academic year appears different than last. At the same time...
Dear Campus Community, Recent events around the country and world have further illuminated a host of historic inequities and injustices within society. We have heard the voices calling for change and are prepared to respond with informed action. How we secure our campus and ensure safety are areas that many agree warrant a comprehensive review...
The Reckless Use of Wheeled Devices and Bicycles Policy (currently known as “Reckless Skateboarding/Bicycle Use”) originated in 2012 and was last reviewed in 2017, prior to these proposed revisions in May 2020. The revisions include reference to the UC Riverside Traffic, Parking, and Other Enforcement Codes (issued in October 2019), which allow the reckless use...
Dear Campus Community: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mariam Lam as UC Riverside’s first Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Recently approved by University of California President Michael Drake, Lam’s appointment is consistent with Chief Diversity Officer positions at many other UC campuses, and reflects that an inclusive campus community is...