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 May 17, 2021. For real-time updates from the university, please visit Bruins Safe Online.
University Status:
Q: What are the plans for Spring 2021 instruction?
A list of all classes offered in spring 2021 is available through the Schedule of Classes and MyUCLA, identifying which classes are conducted completely remotely, which are offered on site, and which are hybrid. If public health recommendations change, plans for in-person classes may change.
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.
Q: What will research, on-campus work and dining look like during spring 2021?
Although the gradual expansion of services and activities on campus will require some employees to return to on-site work, the vast majority of employees currently working remotely should expect to continue doing so at least through June 30. Planning is underway to develop more permanent flexible work options and standards for staff who are able to continue to effectively work remotely.
Bruin Café and De Neve will resume limited-capacity indoor dining starting March 31. Physical distancing protocols will be in place for guests from different households and guests will still be encouraged to dine outside. Meals at De Neve will continue to be offered as carry-out (not all-you-care-to-eat).
Plateia at the Luskin Conference Center has resumed indoor dining at 25% capacity for parties of up to six people from a single household, in addition to offering limited outdoor dining and take-out meals.
The A-level of Ackerman Union and the Court of Sciences Student Center has resumed indoor seating at 25% capacity. ASUCLA Catering also offers Catering Express menus for meal pick up or delivery to those who are working on campus and Starship delivery robots are available to deliver meals to those on campus (map) from several ASUCLA restaurants, including Bruin Buzz, Southern Lights, Blaze Pizza and LuValle Commons. For Ackerman hours and available services, visit ASUCLA.
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 UCLA Samueli be offering an in-person commencement ceremony for Class of 2021 graduates this year?
Students can reserve a spot, capacity permitting, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and can be accompanied by up to two guests for a procession around the stadium. Graduates will have their names read aloud, proceed across the stage by themselves and be photographed. They will rejoin their guests and be photographed off stage before exiting Drake Stadium. There will not be any seating in the stadium. If students cannot make it within the time frame or if the capacity has been reached, they can still sign up for a spot from any other available time slots on June 10-15 that are open to all majors. This will offer the same experience for a procession alongside graduates from all units. All students and guests participating in the event will need to be either fully vaccinated or show a negative COVID test.
Additional details will be sent to all eligible degree candidates soon. Questions can be directed to our Message Center. For Students – MyUCLA Message Center. For the general public, family and guests – Message Center.
On Sunday, June 13, at 12:30 P.M. (PDT), UCLA Samueli will host a virtual commencement ceremony on this web page and the school’s Facebook page. Degree candidates have received details via email. Review eligibility and participation here.
Each eligible degree candidate can submit a photo, name recording and special message for a personalized slide to be featured during the ceremony, which will also include a formal program with special speakers and a degree conferral by department and program.
Q: What formal events can be held in-person on campus at this time?
Private indoor gatherings may be held only if all guests show a recent negative COVID-19 test result or are fully vaccinated, and no more than 150 people are permitted to attend.
If all attendees are fully vaccinated, masks and physical distancing are not required for outdoors events with up to 50 people or indoor events of up to 25 people.
An event plan must be submitted to UCLA EH&S for review and approval prior to the event.
Q: Can we hold informal social gatherings on campus?
Outdoor informal social gatherings are limited to 50 people maximum. Indoor informal social gatherings are limited to 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is less.
Unless all guests are fully vaccinated, face masks are required, except while eating or drinking. Eating and drinking is limited to outdoor areas and only while seated, and physical distancing is required.
Informal social gatherings (on and off campus) must adhere to LACDPH Protocol Appendix CC (PDF) but do not require EH&S approval.
Q: What does proof of vaccination for COVID-19 mean at UCLA?
Q: Will the university be requiring that all students and community members get vaccinated for COVID-19?
Visit UCLA’s Return to Campus website for the latest information and our current plans for 2021.
Q: Will we be returning to in-person classes during the summer or fall?
If public health conditions in the region continue to improve and our faculty, students and staff are able to be vaccinated in the coming months, UCLA expects to offer in-person instruction for a substantial majority of fall courses, as well as most labs. Students and faculty should plan to be on campus for the quarter. Some in-person classes may be subject to enrollment limits in order to limit classroom density and large undergraduate lectures will likely be taught remotely with corresponding discussion sections held primarily in person.
Q: How is UCLA handling the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine?
UCLA Samueli COVID Efforts:
Q: How is the School of Engineering contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts?
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?
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?
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?
Q: I am an international student. Will I be able to live in the U.S. while I study remotely?
Q: How does in-person instruction this fall affect my ability to enter the U.S.?
Enrollment and Classes:
Q: What are the grading policies for spring 2021?
A: At this time normal P/NP policies are in place for spring 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 spring quarter 2021 deadline to change class grading basis on MyUCLA without a petition is Friday of week nine (May 28). 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 spring 2021 enrollment information available?
A: The spring 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.
Student Life:
Q: What are the current guidelines on small gatherings in Los Angeles county?
Q: Are recreation centers and libraries open on campus? What about the museums?
The Charles E. Young Research Library and Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library are currently open at reduced capacity. Additional libraries will open in phases, first at 25% occupancy and eventually ramping up to 50% as demand necessitates. Reservations are required at both locations and all entrants to the buildings are required to wear a proper face covering and show their Bruincard, COVID-19 symptom monitoring clearance certificate and seat reservation confirmation. Page and pick up services at both libraries are available.
The Hammer Museum will reopen to the public on a limited basis on Saturday, April 17. The museum will open with its acclaimed biennial, Made in L.A. 2020: a version. The exhibition will be presented at both the Hammer and The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens from April 17 to Aug. 1, 2021. In accordance with L.A. County guidelines, the Hammer Museum will be operating at 25% capacity. Free, advance reservations will be required.
The Fowler Museum at UCLA is planning to reopen in June with the exhibitions The Map and the Territory: 100 Years of Collecting at UCLA and Photo Cameroon: Studio Portraiture, 1970s–1990s The Map and the Territory was previously postponed, as part of UCLA’s Centennial celebration.
Q: How can students maintain their relationships with faculty and students?
Leaders of the engineering undergraduate student clubs and organizations have been notified of limited campus access for activities and the required application deadline is March 31. Please check with the org and club leadership for details.
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?
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?
Housing and Campus Services:
Q: What kind of university housing will be offered this fall?
A: With increased COVID-19 vaccinations and the easing of public health restrictions, we are pleased to report now that UCLA expects to be able to offer on-campus housing to a high percentage of those interested. We are currently planning for triple capacity rooms in on-campus housing, allowing us increased capacity to welcome foster youth, veterans, new first-year freshmen and transfer students who are seeking housing with us. We will also be able to welcome more second-year students, including second-year transfer students, than previously anticipated.
University apartment capacity is expected to remain the same.
Q: Who will be eligible for on-campus housing in Fall 2021?
A: UCLA aims to offer on-campus housing this fall to all UCLA freshmen and students with an institutional need. Transfer students and sophomores will also be prioritized for on-campus housing. If UCLA is unable to accommodate demand from these groups in the fall, additional housing will be available starting winter quarter. Graduate housing will continue to be offered as usual.
Students who do not fall into one of the above groups but who plan to return to campus should secure housing off-campus in privately-owned accommodations. More information about fall housing is available on the UCLA Housing website.
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?
If demand is sufficient, TA training classes will be offered in the spring quarter. 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?
Q: If my internship was originally in-person, is it still on?
Q: How do I find an internship?
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?
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?
Q: How can I report violations of public health guidelines in the UCLA campus community?
Diversity and Inclusion:
Q: What steps has UCLA Samueli taken to address diversity and inclusion in the School of Engineering?
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?
Q: Why might referring to COVID-19 or the coronavirus by a particular geographic location be offensive?
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:
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