UCLA Samueli COVID-19 Information

This webpage is designed to answer frequently asked questions from students, faculty and staff at UCLA Samueli School of Engineering regarding the impacts of COVID-19. We will refresh the page as quickly as possible when new information becomes available. This page was last updated on January 5, 2021. For real-time updates from the university, please visit Bruins Safe Online.

University Status:

Q: What are the plans for the 2021 winter and spring quarters?
A: Winter quarter 2021 instruction began Monday, January 4, 2021. The safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our highest priority, and we continue to monitor the pandemic and follow public health guidelines. Nearly all courses are taught remotely with the exception of limited required, advanced courses that provide training for students preparing for essential workforce jobs, and which cannot be conducted remotely. A list of approved winter on-site classes can be downloaded from the Registrar’s website.

For the spring quarter, UCLA will continue the plans it put in place for the winter quarter, offering remote-only instruction with the exception of a limited number of in-person or hybrid courses necessary to train students for essential workforce positions. A list of classes to be offered this spring quarter will be available on Tuesday, January 26,through the Schedule of Classes and MyUCLA.

Updates will continue to be posted as soon as information becomes available. Please visit UCLA’s COVID-19 resources page for the latest information on the pandemic and Bruins Safe Online for campus safety protocols and guidelines. Please contact the Student Affairs Office at 310-825-9580 and individual departments for online service or virtual appointments.

Unfortunately, campus tours and engineering ambassador tours are both suspended during this time. One of our engineering school ambassadors led a virtual tour last June, and campus is now offering live virtual tours. UCLA will continue to offer a wide range of student and campus life activities as well as co-curricular programming in accordance with public health guidelines.

Q: Will we be returning to in-person classes during the summer or fall?
A: UCLA Summer Sessions instruction will take place primarily remotely, with the exception of a limited number of in-person or hybrid courses necessary to train students for essential workforce positions. Enrollment for Summer Sessions will be available starting Monday, February 1. For details, please visit the UCLA Summer Sessions website, which will be continuously updated as we finalize remote teaching course availability for the summer. UCLA Housing will continue to operate this summer at reduced levels; additional information is available on UCLA Housing’s COVID-19 information page. International students should visit the Dashew Center’s COVID-19 Updates page for resources related to travel and visa compliance. Fall quarter planning is underway for a return to in-person instruction across UC campuses in accordance with public health guidelines. University of California leaders are optimistic about a return to campus this year and all UC campuses will aspire to offer an on-campus experience this fall.
Q: How is UCLA handling the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: The UCLA COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force is hosting a series of virtual town halls to update faculty, staff and students on the progress of UCLA Health’s vaccination distribution process. As of mid-January, more than 18,000 UCLA Health personnel have received the vaccine since the first doses were administered at UCLA Health facilities on Dec. 16, 2020, and thousands more are being vaccinated each week. To find out more about the rollout schedule and procedures, please see a recording of the Jan. 14 virtual town hall at the UCLA Newsroom website where many questions were answered and a written update can be reviewed here. To stay updated on vaccine-related developments, please visit the UCLA COVID-19 Vaccine Information Hub.

UCLA Samueli COVID Efforts:

Q: How is the School of Engineering contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts?
A: Engineers are problem solvers. At UCLA, we have not shied away from challenges presented by COVID. Our computer scientists and engineers have been collaborating with colleagues at the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Health to develop urgently needed personal protective equipment, cutting-edge testing methods, predictive models adopted by the CDC, and vaccine boosters. And there are numerous creative student-led efforts as well.

You can read the highlights of UCLA Samueli COVID-related research projects and press coverage here.

New Students:

Q: Are new student programs still available? Can I defer my enrollment?
A: Please visit the New Student Programs website for details. On a case-by-case basis, students may submit a written request for a deferment to another term if they have significant extenuating circumstances. For students deferring to later quarters, there could be issues with certain classes due to missing specific prerequisites taught in earlier quarters.

Housing and Campus Services:

Q: Should I leave my apartment or campus housing? Will there be room for me if I choose to stay?

A: As a result of county health department directives, UCLA must limit on-campus housing to students who have no alternative housing options and whose current housing does not provide a safe and appropriate environment or does not provide sufficient ADA accommodations. Some other exceptions include student-athletes participating in on-campus training and conditioning, and students enrolled in hybrid or in-person who do not have alternative local housing options. Dining facilities will be open for carryout meals and other safety precautions are in place. If you have any specific questions or concerns, please visit the Housing COVID-19 information page or contact .

International Students:

Q: How does moving to remote learning affect me as an international student or scholar? Can I register as a part-time student?
A: While F and J visa regulations limit online course enrollment for purposes of visa compliance, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has approved exceptions that accommodate online courses for students attending institutions that have made COVID-19 adaptations. The Dashew Center will continue maintenance of valid immigration status for students who maintain full-time enrollment (undergraduate students – 12 units minimum; graduate students – 8 units minimum) despite the transition to online instruction. The center also has its own COVID-19 information web page. Continuing international students will maintain valid F-1 status within the U.S. and overseas with full-time online enrollment for the winter and spring terms. Incoming international students are also allowed to enroll and take classes remotely for the winter and spring quarters. There may be potential issues with logging into the VPN, as some countries might have restrictions for logging into servers overseas. We ask students to work with individual departments to resolve these issues. For other questions, please visit the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars’ website for updates. Continuing students, in order to maintain immigration status, are required to enroll full-time. For incoming students, there are no regulatory issues in the way of enrolling part-time, and it will be up to each department to approve requests for part-time enrollment.
Q: Are there any restrictions against attending online courses for students located in countries or regions subject to OFAC sanctions like Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea and the Crimea region of Ukraine?
A: There are restrictions preventing graduate students located in these areas from taking remote classes. Without an export license, UCLA is prohibited from providing remote instruction to graduate students living in any of these areas, including U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents and U.S. dual citizens. UCLA is also prohibited from providing remote instruction to graduate students who are from these countries, regardless of their current location. The only exception will be for students who normally reside in a non-sanctioned state and are physically located there during their instruction. Students who are physically located in the U.S. will also be allowed to proceed with remote instruction. The current recommendation is for graduate students from affected countries who are unable to enter or return to the U.S. to work with their programs to defer matriculation (incoming students) or request a leave of absence (continuing students). If you have any questions regarding deferred matriculation for incoming students, please have the department SAO contact Susan Smith at . For continuing students, please contact .
Q: I am an international student. Will I be able to live in the U.S. while I study remotely?
A: Under current rules, newly admitted international students may only come to the U.S. if they are taking at least one class in person – whether or not they have a visa. With the heightened restriction on in-person classes, this means most incoming international students will not qualify to travel or stay in the U.S. UCLA is currently recommending that international students, aside from those required by their major to take one of the few in-person classes, should stay in their home country. Reach out to the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars with any further questions.

Enrollment and Classes:

Q: What are the grading policies for Winter 2021?

A: At this time normal P/NP policies are in place for winter 2021 as detailed on the OASA Deadlines and Enrollment Policies webpage for undergraduate students, and by the registrar for graduate students.

Undergraduate students in good standing can take one class on a Passed/Not Passed (P/NP) basis.The deadline to change class grading basis is Friday of week nine on MyUCLA without a petition. All students should check with their adviser or counselor before considering a change to the grading basis of courses in your program or major. Certain types of financial aid require that a student be enrolled in a minimum number of units for letter grades. Consult with Financial Aid and Scholarships about your particular situation.

Q: Will I be able to audit a class?

A: Auditing classes will be up to each individual professor’s discretion. If you’d like to audit a specific class, you can email the professors and they may be able to add you as a participant to the CCLE page and allow you to access course material.

Q: Is the winter 2021 enrollment information available?

A: The winter quarter 2021 Schedule of Classes and enrollment appointment times are posted on MyUCLA. For information on the university’s policies on taking an academic quarter off, please see the registrar’s site or contact the Student Affairs Office at 310-825-9580.

Tuition and Fees:

Q: Is the university reducing tuition or fees as a result of remote education? Will students get extensions to pay their tuition? How does the move to online instruction affect nonresident students who planned to petition for reclassification of residence status?
A: There will be no changes in campus tuition and fees as classes are offered remotely. There will not be an extension of the pay period. For additional information, visit the Registrar’s FAQ under “Registration and Fees.” See the Registrar’s website residence requirements section for UCLA and UC residence information. Those classified as nonresident students will still be charged nonresident tuition fees, even if instruction is remote.

Financial Assistance:

Q: I’m uncertain about financial aid. Can changes in enrolled units or other areas affect my financial aid? Is there anything else I need to know?
A: Students receiving financial aid can find answers related to such changes on the Financial Aid and Scholarships website. The university is not changing policies and procedures regarding declaring nonattendance or withdrawal.

Student Life:

Q: How can students maintain their relationships with faculty and students? Is collaboration between students still possible?
A: While we may be separated by distance, we remain connected socially via Zoom and other platforms. Our faculty members and TAs will hold office hours via Zoom so students can continue to work with their instructors online, and student clubs are encouraged to continue their activities remotely as well. Students were also able to collaborate on group projects in the spring quarter using a mixture of the official UCLA CCLE courseware tools and other cloud resources such as Google Suites and Zoom, which are available to all UCLA students. While we cannot be physically connected, Bruins will always find a way to stay together and interact with one another.

Technology and Accessibility:

Q: How will UCLA assist students who feel they don’t have adequate technology resources? What if I have problems with my laptop/device not being compatible for class?

A: Students can submit a form to borrow a laptop from the UCLA library for the entire quarter, while supplies last. If you have compatibility issues with your current technology, submit a message using the MyUCLA Student Support COVID-19 Message Center. For one-time internet connectivity error, please get in touch with your professor to attempt to resolve the problem. For more major technology accessibility issues, UCLA has several programs that can help with purchasing or borrowing laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots, and other devices. Please visit Bruin Resources and Tools for more information. We also encourage any student who may be facing financial hardship to reach out to our Economic Crisis Response Team for assistance.

Q: What accommodations can be made for students with technological difficulties, particularly regarding attendance requirements and live-time activities?

A: Students with difficulties that prevent them from participating in synchronous class activities should communicate directly with their professors or TAs to discuss possible accommodations. Further concerns can be directed to the UCLA Academic Senate. Read the full list of adjusted policies from the Academic Senate here.

Q: Will remote learning options be available for the entire academic year?

A: The number of classes offered in-person may fluctuate as the state of the pandemic changes, but remote learning will continue to remain an option for all students throughout the entire academic year.

Q: If I am living on or near campus, will I have access to any on-campus facilities or labs?

A: Pursuant to public health orders, the campus is currently closed to the general public. Only people who are engaged in essential campus operations, are attending approved in-person courses, or are receiving care at UCLA hospitals and clinics are permitted to be on campus. Certain campus facilities including UCLA-owned housing, the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center, UCLA Recreation, Counseling and Psychological Services, and ASUCLA dining facilities will continue to provide services, though some services may be modified. See the complete list of available campus services here. Anyone plans to be on campus must follow symptom reporting requirements prior to arrival. Please check the protocol for students, employees and essential visitors.

Q: Are there any scholarships or fellowships available to students through the School of Engineering?

A: UCLA Samueli offers a variety of undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships that help remove some of the financial barriers for promising students. These may be awarded on the basis of financial need, academic merit or other criteria, and all current or incoming undergraduate/graduate students are welcome to apply. Matriculated graduated students are eligible to apply for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship.

If you are an undergraduate or incoming freshman/transfer student, click here to view information and application instructions for a UCLA Samueli scholarship.

If you are a graduate student or candidate, you may search for fellowships available to UCLA graduate students.

Q: Are there any resources for students who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and other unforeseen crises?

A: UCLA remains committed to supporting students during these unprecedented times. We recognize that students may be experiencing a variety of challenges and financial hardship.

If you are experiencing a financial crisis beyond available financial aid resources, please contact the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) by completing the ECRT Self-Assessment Intake Form.

For information on applying for CARES Act Funding, submitting appeals or other general Financial Aid related questions, please visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships website.

Research, Teaching Assistant (TA) Positions & Internships:

Q: I’m going to be a researcher or TA in. Is there anything I need to know?
A: For positions which do not involve compensation, there should be no issues. For TA-ship, which involves verification of status and social security number, the U.S. has certain guidelines; individuals must be hired by a third party in their home country. There will be more information to come, so please contact your specific department. TOP (test of oral proficiency) exams will be offered via Zoom.

If demand is sufficient, TA training classes will be offered in the winter and spring quarters. Once you are a TA, you can check out resources from the UCLA Library, or talk to your department and instructor to address additional needs.

Q: How can I become a graduate student researcher?
A: Graduate Student Researchers assist faculty with scholarly research and may or may not collaborate in the publication of research results. Students interested in a GSR position should contact their faculty advisor to discuss potential opportunities.
Q: If my internship was originally in-person, is it still on?
A: Please contact Will Herrera, director of Undergraduate Research and Internship Programs at , or connect with the internship coordinator at the organization with whom you plan to have an internship.
Q: How do I find an internship?
A: The Undergraduate Internship Program (UIP) is a new initiative from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science to assist Samueli Engineering students by providing resources, information and opportunities. UIP hosts multiple workshops throughout the year to better prepare students in securing an internship, offers a seminar on the internship process, co-hosts the ESUC Industry Liaison Committee along with ESUC, and offers organizations the resource to track attendance of their events.

The UCLA Career Center also offers a variety of resources such as career counseling, career fairs, job-seeking platforms, and more.

Health and Wellness:

Q: How do I know if someone tested positive for COVID-19 was recently in a campus building I plan to visit?

A: UCLA recently created a COVID-19 case dashboard (DOCX) in an effort to keep our community members informed if they were present in a building where someone who tested positive for COVID-19 had been. Whenever UCLA receives notice of a COVID-19 positive case occurring on a UCLA property, the case location dashboard will be updated and an email notification will be sent to those who indicated in the symptom monitoring survey if they would be present in the related facilities. These email notifications will be sent to both campus and UCLA Health employees.

Q: What precautions is UCLA taking to keep our community safe?

A: The safety of our students, faculty and staff remain our top priority. UCLA has put recommended infection-control procedures in place on campus. This includes physical distancing, lower density in classrooms and other spaces, frequent cleaning of classrooms and facilities, and the requirement that people wear face coverings while on campus, in consistency with guidance from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Additionally, daily symptom checks will be required for anyone coming to campus or living in on-campus housing.

More information on the campus’ symptom-monitoring protocol is available online for staff and faculty performing non-healthcare work on campus (PDF) and for students (PDF). Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing will also be required for all students living in university housing or participating in on-site or hybrid classes, as well as for faculty, staff, or teaching assistants involved in teaching on site. Tests will be provided at no cost, and contact tracing protocols will be in place when anyone tests positive.

Please follow UCLA’s Standard Operating Procedure in reporting a confirmed COVID-19 case: For Students — Email Dr. Sam Elias at UCLA Arthur Ashe Center promptly. For Employees, including student workers, working remotely or on premises if they have been exposed to COVID-19 — their supervisor should email Dr. Maria Han and Dr. Shaunte Walton in preventative health promptly. In the email, provide the following information:

  • Subject line: Confidential Report of Potential Covid-19 Incident
  • Body: (1) Name of exposed employee and their supervisor, (2) location on campus where they last worked and the date, (3) nature of incident (e.g. hospitalized for symptoms and under review for confirmation), (4) actions taken (for example: referred to Hotline, advised not to return to work until cleared, OSHA report submitted)

*Important: Send all emails with “[Secure]” written prior to the subject in email and minimize notifications to other individuals due to patient privacy. Campus officials will handle notification plans or other needed actions.

If the staff member was exposed and/or infected during the course of work-related duties, notify the Office of Insurance and Risk Management (IRM) at: IRM Workers’ Compensation. If work-related and the individual was admitted into the hospital overnight for in-patient treatment beyond observation, call the Environment, Health and Safety (EH&S) Serious Injury Hotline at 310-825-9797 for Cal/OSHA reporting.

Direct the person to call the UCLA Infectious Diseases Hotline at: 310-267-3300. This hotline provides individualized support for exposures and initial testing of employees, symptom monitoring guidance, and cluster investigations.

Q: What wellness resources are available to me, even remotely?
A: Students have access to multiple mental health resources from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which has a satellite clinic in Boelter Hall, to the Resilience in Your Student Experience (RISE) Center. CAPS has also provided a guide that can help inform students on available resources and how to access them. Typically, the Engineering satellite clinic is scheduled from weeks 5-10, on Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and Thursdays from 2-4 p.m. In a virtual setting, students can access engineering-specific counselors from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. throughout the quarter. CAPS offers one-on-one therapy sessions, group therapy, and skills groups such as “Coping Throughout the Quarter,” “Break the Cycle of Anxiety” and “Progress Not Perfection.”

CAPS can also assist incoming students with utilizing resources such as the TAO app, which is available and covered for any student with a UCLA email address. However, CAPS cannot treat incoming students until they are fully registered or enrolled.

Students with disabilities are also eligible to receive accommodations from the Center for Accessible Education. If you are experiencing a crisis, please visit UCLA’s CAPS website for additional resources. For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or UCPD’s 24- hour dispatch line at (310) 825-1491.

Counseling is also available for staff and faculty as well.

Q: Where can I get tested for COVID-19 near campus?
A: The Ashe Center is offering COVID-19 tests on campus. There are two testing locations — for those living in the residence halls or the undergraduate university apartments, testing will take place in the Covel Commons Grand Horizon Ballroom. For all other groups, testing will take place in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom. To schedule an appointment, go to the Ashe Patient Portal. Los Angeles County also offers free testing centers within close driving distance from campus.
Q: How can I report violations of public health guidelines in the UCLA campus community?
A: Email the Office of Student Conduct on known individuals at . You can also report incidents anonymously online via the Whistleblower Hotline or by phone at (800) 403-4744 providing the date, time, nature, and location of the violation. In urgent situations, call the On-Campus Housing Dispatch at (310) 206-9633.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Q: What steps has UCLA Samueli taken to address diversity and inclusion in the School of Engineering?
A: At UCLA, diversity is an indispensable element of academic excellence. The UCLA Samueli

School of Engineering is committed to providing a more equitable, diverse, inclusive and nurturing learning environment. We strive to achieve a diverse student and faculty body, with programs designed to complement a rigorous engineering education for anyone with the talent and the desire to succeed. A population rich in diversity expands the range of knowledge, experiences and viewpoints, leading to innovative new solutions that otherwise would not be possible. Programs to enable the success of all of our students, regardless of ethnic or economic background, are in place – and are making progress. Over the next decade, we hope to double the percentage of underrepresented minorities and increase the percentage of women in both our student body and our faculty. Please visit our diversity and inclusion page for more information.

Clubs & Organizations:
ACM- Women
American Indian Science & Engineering Society
IEEE WATT (Women Advancing Technology Through Teamwork)
Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association
National Society of Black Engineers
Pilipinos in Engineering and Science
Queers in STEM
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists

Programs:
Women in Engineering (WE)
Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED)

Discrimination:

Q: I feel that I’m being targeted based on my race and ethnic background due to the outbreak of coronavirus, what should I do?
A: UCLA Samueli is deeply committed to providing an equitable, diverse and inclusive learning environment. We ask that anyone who experiences a bias incident to report it to us by completing a UCLA Incident of Bias Reporting Form so we can take action. Resources to report electronic abuse, including UCPD, can be found here.
Q: Why might referring to COVID-19 or the coronavirus by a particular geographic location be offensive?
A: At UCLA, we believe it is important to promote an equitable, inclusive and diverse culture. Using terms such as “Wuhan virus” has unfortunately led to people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent being teased, bullied, harassed, harmed or made to feel like outsiders. See this post from the office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for more information. If you are a target of bullying or harassment, please report it to us by completing a UCLA Incident of Bias Reporting Form so we can take action. Resources to report electronic abuse, including UCPD, can be found here.

The Samueli COVID-19 Task Force

The Samueli COVID-19 task force has been created to address academic and operational issues resulting from the outbreak. Please direct specific questions to the following individuals:
 

RoleNamePhoneEmail
Task Force Chair, and Chair for Academic AffairsRick Wesel310-825-2942
Chair for Operational AffairsJeff Goldman310-825-2704
CommunicationsChristine Wei-li Lee310-206-0540
MSOL and online classesJenn-Ming Yang310-825-2758
Physical plantLex Kopfer310-206-1946
Research infrastructureHal Monbouquette310-825-8946

Departments and Programs Contact List

Melissa B Tran
Bioengineering

Lesly Navas
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Stacey Fong
Civil and Environmental Engineering

Leticia Ortiz
Computational Medicine

Cassandra Franklin
Computer Science

Jaqueline Tran
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Alisa Janesajawan
Master of Science in Engineering Online

KaiShan Li
Materials Science and Engineering

Alex Duffy
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Jackson Fletcher
WE@UCLA