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 update the page as quickly as possible when new information becomes available. This page was last updated April 18, 2023.

University Status:

Q: How are classes taught for the Spring 2023 quarter?

A: Classes are being held in-person for spring quarter 2023.

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements and where can I get tested?

A: COVID-19 testing is highly encouraged following the spring break. iIndividuals living, learning or working on the UCLA campus must adhere to diagnostic testing requirements per the UCLA COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Protocol, and are strongly recommended to conduct routine surveillance testing per the UCLA Community Screening/Surveillance Testing Protocol. Testing requirements may change over time contingent on public health conditions:

For students who test positive:

  • Student will be contacted by a member of the UCLA Exposure Management Team and directed to/assisted with isolation.

For faculty and staff who test positive:

  • Individuals with a positive test will be contacted by a member of the UCLA COVID-19 Call Center and directed to isolate.

Those who test positive should also: 

  • Report to the appropriate UCLA COVID-19 Hotline and you will be given instructions for isolation. Student: ASHE COVID Hotline (310) 206-6217 and/or email exposuremanagementteam@ashe.ucla.edu Faculty and Staff: UCLA COVID Call Center (310) 267-3300
  • Isolate per the LACDPH Isolation Order.
  • Wear a mask.
  • UCLA has designated isolation and quarantine spaces available to students living in on-campus housing. 

PCR self-test kits continue to be available free of charge to the UCLA community and can be obtained from campus vending machines. As of April 14, 2023, however, some of the underused UCLA COVID-19 test drop-off locations and vending machines were consolidated.

The following COVID testing vending locations were scaled back and units were removed  April 14, 2023: CHS Store Courtyard, Murphy Hall Rm 1111, CHS – Southside facing Switzer Plaza, Law Library and Melnitz-Magowan. 

Collection bins removed include: Sproul Hall, Hedrick Hall, Melnitz-Magowan, Anderson, Law Library, Murphy Hall, Facilities Yard, CHS Store Courtyard, and Weyburn Commons.

Please refer to the UCLA COVID-19 Surveillance Testing website for the vending machines and testing locations that remain active throughout UCLA. 

Open Vending Machines & Collection Bin Locations:

  • Pauley Pavilion NW Area
  • Ackerman Union SW Entrance
  • Haines Hall West Entrance
  • La Kretz Hall SE Area
  • Neuroscience Research West Entrance

Open Kit Distribution Center & Collection Bin Locations:

    • Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center Entrance
    • Bradley Hall
    • DeNeve Hall – Front Desk
    • Wilshire Center

Anyone with an active BruinCard can receive up to two self-test kits each week using the vending machines available on campus. BruinCards automatically receive a weekly credit to be used to purchase COVID-19 tests from these dedicated machines. Credits will not be valid at any other vending machines or for any other use. 

UCLA affiliates who are fully remote and only coming to campus for a one1-time meeting are strongly recommended to test prior to the in-person engagement.

In-Person Testing Available at 300 Bradley Hall
300 Bradley Hall is the final remaining in-person testing location on campus from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday each week.Please contact the Exposure Management Team for questions regarding COVID-19 testing at exposuremanagementteam@ashe.ucla.edu.

Q: How does the Campus Self-Testing Process Work?

A:

  • Once a test sample has been completed, it may be deposited in any of the marked collection bins, which are located adjacent to the vending machines.
  • Test samples should be deposited within one hour of taking the test in order to maintain proper temperature.
  • Individuals depositing test samples before 11 a.m. can expect results within 24-36 hours, while those depositing samples after 11 a.m. can expect results within 48 hours.
Q: What is the masking requirement?

A: Masking continues to be optional although strongly recommended indoors for the general public. However, for those visiting medical settings, masks continue to be required for all patient care and waiting areas. Masking is not required in the main building lobbies or in offices and conference rooms outside of patient care units. 

A highly protective mask (i.e. surgical, N95, KN95 or KP94) while indoors with others is strongly recommended, and supplies remain available free of charge for students, faculty and staff at the UCLA PPE Store, the John Wooden Center, residence hall front desks, the Student Activities Center and in Ackerman Union at the A-level information window (next to the post office). 

Department upgraded masks distribution for faculty and staff

Upgraded masks may also be available to faculty and staff through their respective departments. Departments can request upgraded masks for their employees via the Emergency PPE Supply Store at no cost. Departments are asked to place orders only for those supplies needed to meet the needs of their employees who may request them. Those with questions may contact Bryan Ruiz at bruiz@ehs.ucla.edu.

Students, faculty and staff will need to show their Bruin ID card at the time of pick up at any of these sites.

Q: Can in-person organized events be held on campus? What are the protocols for food and drink at in-person events?

A: Updated guidance for campus events on the UCLA campus was posted Sept. 14, 2022.

Food and drink:

Food and drink may be served during indoor meetings and events, although it is still discouraged. Meeting organizers should schedule a room that is oversized for  the  number  of  attendees  when  food/drink  is  being  offered.  When attending an indoor event where food and drink are being served, those who are not up to date  on  their  COVID-19  vaccinations  should  maintain  a  six-foot  distance  from  others when their mask is removed to eat or drink.  

 

Q: I just tested positive for COVID. What do I do?

A: Instructions for UCLA faculty, staff and students who test positive for COVID-19:

Please note: A negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to end isolation, provided other prescribed criteria and timeframes are met. Additionally, it is strongly recommended but no longer required for close contacts to wear a mask for 10 days.

    • Report to the appropriate UCLA COVID-19 Hotline and you will be given instructions for isolation:
      • Student: ASHE COVID Hotline (310) 206-6217 and/or email exposuremanagementteam@ashe.ucla.edu
      • Faculty and Staff: UCLA COVID Call Center (310) 267-3300
    • Isolate per the LACDPH Isolation Order.
      • Isolation can end after Day 5 (i.e., between Day 6-10) if all the following are met:
        • You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, AND
        • Your symptoms are mild and improving, or have never developed.
        • A negative COVID-19 test is no longer required to leave isolation between Day 6-10.
        • NOTE: LACDPH still strongly recommends that persons test negative prior to leaving isolation between Day 6-10. Additionally, this does not apply to health care workers, including student health care workers, who must follow specific protocols.
      • The following groups of students must report to the Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center for observed/proctored rapid antigen testing after day 5 for early release to campus:
        • All Medical Students
        • Nursing and Dental students considered healthcare workers
        • NOTE: If you have symptoms, Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed. If you never developed symptoms, Day 0 is the day your positive test was taken. Day 1 is the first full day after your positive test was taken.
        • Wear a mask.
          Faculty, staff and students who are in isolation: You must wear a highly protective mask if you need to be around others, including people you live with.

          Students who meet the criteria to leave isolation after Day 5: You must wear a highly protective mask around others through Day 10.
          • If you meet the criteria to leave isolation after Day 5, you may discontinue wearing a mask sooner (between Day 6-10) if you have two sequential negative COVID-19 tests taken at least one day apart.Faculty/staff who meet the criteria to leave isolation after Day 5: If you return to work after Day 5, you are required to wear a mask at the workplace for a total of 10 days after your positive test per Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Non-Emergency Regulations (effective Feb. 3, 2023).



Q: I was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, but have no symptoms. What should I do?

A: Contact the Exposure Management Team. If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine. Please test through UCLA campus surveillance testing 5-7 days after your exposure. As of Mar. 13, 2023, those who are NOT fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine if they are asymptomatic (this includes individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 90 days).

Q: What are the COVID quarantine requirements for students?

A:  The UCLA Isolation and Quarantine Process is detailed here (PDF).

  • Students: 
    Students do not have to quarantine if they are asymptomatic, regardless of vaccination status, provided they adhere to LACDPH IHE Exposure Management Plan requirements following exposure. Requirements include monitoring symptoms, wearing a highly-protective mask when around others indoors (except when eating or drinking for 10 days from their last exposure and testing with an FDA-authorized viral COVID-19 test within 3-5 days since their last exposure.  Those who have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days also meet this exemption.
Q: What are the quarantine requirements for faculty and staff?

A: The UCLA Isolation and Quarantine Process is detailed here (PDF).

Faculty/Staff: 

Faculty/staff do not have to quarantine if they are asymptomatic, regardless of vaccination status, provided they adhere to Cal/OSHA requirements following exposure. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 90 days also meet this exemption.



Q: I am fully vaccinated but I believe I have been in close contact with an infected person. What should I do?

A: At this time, fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff — those who are at least two weeks past the final dose of a two-dose mRNA vaccine or two weeks past the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine — who have been in close contact with an infected person but are asymptomatic do not need to quarantine. It is recommended that they test for COVID-19 five to seven days after their initial exposure and that they closely monitor their symptoms for 14 days after their exposure.

Q: What should I do if I know I’ve been exposed to COVID-19?

A: Adherence to the latest UCLA isolation/quarantining policies (PDF) is essential for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or in limited situations have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive. It is important to remember that the contagious period may begin as early as two days prior to the onset of symptoms.

Individuals who were a close contact to a COVID-19 infected person will be subject to quarantine per the LACDPH Quarantine Order unless the following exemption criteria are met:

  • Wear a highly protective mask (e.g., surgical mask, N95, KN95 or KF94) around others for 10 days after the last date of exposure.
  • Test with an FDA-authorized vial COVID-19 test (e.g., PCR or Antigen test, including at-home tests) 3-5 days after date of exposure.
  • Monitor health for 10 days.

Changes to campus policies include:

Positive tests performed outside of the UCLA testing program must be reported through the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center (formerly known as the Symptom Monitoring System) and to the appropriate UCLA COVID-19 Hotline:

  • Students: 

Call the Ashe COVID Hotline at 310-206-6217 and/or send an email to exposuremanagementteam@ashe.ucla.edu

  • Faculty and Staff: 

Call the UCLA COVID Call Center at 310-267-3300

Those who test positive must isolate for 10 days unless the Criteria for Early Release from Isolation below are met. As a reminder, those who are exposed to a COVID-19-infected individual but remain asymptomatic are not required to quarantine, provided certain masking and other rules are adhered to following exposure. 

 

Q: Does the university require that all students and community members get vaccinated for COVID-19? Are vaccine boosters required?

A: UCLA students, faculty and staff are required to submit proof of having received the COVID-19 vaccine’s primary series and at least one booster or the opt-out declination form through the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center. If you are unsure whether you need to take action, you can check your status as an option in the action center.

Vaccination is one of the most important strategies for preventing severe illness from COVID-19 and optimizing the outcomes for those who become infected. This is especially important for those who are part of high-risk and/or vulnerable populations. UCLA faculty, staff and students who are living, learning or working on UCLA properties are required to provide proof of vaccine and COVID-19 boosters (when eligible) or request an exception. See UCLA COVID-19 Public Health Mitigation Requirements and  CDC COVID-19 Booster Guidance for details.

 As a reminder, those who have been fully remote and now plan to return to in-person work, class, etc., including in a hybrid fashion, must visit the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center to:

  • Change remote status
  • Upload proof of vaccination or request an exception

The full list of UCLA COVID-19 protocols can be viewed on the Table Summary of COVID-19 Recommendations and Requirements (PDF). There is also an option on the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center to navigate the various campuswide policies.

 

Q: I tested positive on a rapid antigen test done at UCLA, but am waiting for the result of my confirmatory PCR test. What do I do?

A: Please continue to quarantine pending the result of your PCR test. If your PCR test if negative, you are free to leave isolation as long as you do not have symptoms. If your result is positive, please continue to isolate and a member of the exposure management team will contact you for case investigation.

Q: I recently did a rapid test at home and it was positive. What should I do?

A: You need to quarantine immediately. Call the COVID hotline at 310-206-6217 if you are a student and leave a voicemail for the Exposure Management Team who will return your call during business hours. For faculty and staff, please contact the UCLA COVID Call Center at (310) 267-3300. 

Training for Voluntary Use of N95 Respirators

Students are also highly encouraged to complete this training to better educate themselves on proper use and fit.

We encourage any faculty, staff or students who wish to take advantage of the personal protection that voluntary-use N95 masks provide to request one from their department and attend the clinic. More information about the clinic time and location will be provided soon.

Additional information on acquiring N-95 masks for voluntary use and instructions and required training (PDF), is available on the Emergency PPE Supply Store website.

Instructions for Mask Use, Removal and Reuse

Those using medical-grade masks (see informational PDF), KN95 masks and N95 respirators should follow these tips from the CDC regarding proper fit and use:

  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
  • Place mask over nose and mouth and secure under chin.
  • Hook loops of mask around ears.
  • Pinch top around the nose.

 

Q: What happens if I have to miss a class or an exam?

A: UCLA faculty members are committed to accommodating students who cannot be in class due to isolation and quarantine protocols through video or audio streaming or recordings, makeup assignments and assessments, alternative projects or other means. Instructors have been informed that students’ absences due to isolation or quarantining should not factor into any attendance component of students’ final grade.

Students needing to isolate or quarantine are encouraged to notify their course instructors as soon as possible and explain their circumstances. If an instructor requires a medical note, students can visit the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center’s patient portal and select the medical excuse option under “Messages.”

Students who are significantly sick with COVID-19 may qualify as being temporarily disabled and receive support from the Center for Accessible Education following an interactive process with the instructor.

Q: What is UCLA doing to address concerns from students with disabilities who need remote access to classes?

A: Since our return to the classroom in fall 2021, we have seen instructors adapt to the needs of students unable to attend class in person by recording and/or broadcasting courses live via Zoom, designing assessments that are not tied to specific times and locations, and more. In keeping with guidance previously offered by the administration and the Academic Senate, we endorse instructor use and sharing of recordings and livestreams for students who are absent for pandemic-related reasons, and reaffirm our support for providing other flexibility when it serves learning and equity goals.

We note that faculty have the responsibility, under UC systemwide policy, for applying academic standards to ensure that our university’s degrees have value — with each individual instructor possessing the authority to make decisions about their courses and the dissemination of teaching materials. We know many instructors are already doing so much to be flexible while maintaining academic excellence, and we offer our gratitude. For those who wish to learn more, resources related to using technology effectively for teaching, learning and assessment can be found on our Center for the Advancement of Teaching website. Several other specific resources appear below:

Students who are immunocompromised, have disabilities or special medical circumstances that make them more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 may seek reasonable academic adjustments by:

  • Contacting the UCLA Center for Accessible Education (CAE), which will review requests from students to reorder course sequences for their health and safety, seeking to ensure that immunocompromised and other students do not lose opportunities to take required courses in a timely way.
  • Requesting notes from CAE, which is assigning notetakers to attend in-person classes and provide notes and/or individual recordings of the lectures for those students who have been granted accommodations.
Q: Did the university require that all students and community members get the flu vaccine?

A: Yes. UCLA requires all students, faculty, other academic appointees and staff learning, living or working at UC locations to get their flu vaccines by Nov. 1, 2022. Students who are noncompliant are subject to an academic hold. Information about where to find vaccination sites, how to schedule a vaccine and insurance coverage can be found here

Those who file for an exception will be required to wear face masks on campus through the end of flu season even if COVID-19 protocols are lifted.
To document your vaccine or to file for an exception, please do the following:

  1. Navigate to the UCLA COVID-19 Symptom Monitoring and Vaccination Verification System.
  2. Click the green “Flu Vaccine Verification” button at the top of the page.
  3. Select your UCLA affiliation.
  4. Enter your Single Sign-On login credentials and follow the prompts.
Q: What does proof of vaccination for COVID-19 mean at UCLA?

A: Information on providing proof of vaccination and booster status is available at this page.

All students, faculty and staff who will be living, learning or working on campus or at other UCLA facilities are required to submit proof of their vaccination and boosters to UCLA. Individuals can do so online or use the UCLA Mobile app, which is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

Proof of vaccination and/or booster should be submitted by following the directions below:

  • Students
    Students can submit proof by logging into the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center’s electronic patient portal and clicking on the Medical Clearance section.

     

  • Employees
    Staff and faculty can most easily confirm their status through UCLA’s UCLA COVID-19 Action Center by giving the university consent to check UCLA Health records and the California vaccination database. (Alternatively, you can upload an image of your CDC vaccination card or non-U.S. equivalent, or upload an official medical record from your health care provider.)

    If you gave consent to check records for your initial vaccination, the survey should automatically update your booster status. If you didn’t, you can give consent for your booster. If your records are not found, the system will provide instructions on how to proceed.
  • Other campus categories
    More information for UCLA Health employees and those in clinical settings, non-matriculating students and K-12 students is available here.
Q: Where can I find information on daily reported COVID-19 cases on campus and where they occurred?

A: Information on daily reported COVID-19 cases among members of the campus community can be found on the UCLA COVID-19 resources page. As of Sept. 23, 2021, this page also reports the percentage of UCLA students, faculty and staff who are fully vaccinated.

Q: What would cause the university to switch back to remote learning?

A: Eight separate pivot points — including increased UCLA or regional rates of breakthrough cases, increases in UCLA or regional positive tests, increases in COVID-related deaths in the region, decreases in available ICU beds, decrease in available isolation capacity or contract-tracing capacity — will result in implementation of additional health and safety protocols or a scaling down of in-person activities.

Pivots ranging from an increase in remote learning to limitations of campus activities will be triggered based on an increase in those eight factors and the severity of increase in those factors.

This is addressed in the document titled UCLA COVID-19 Pivot Plan and Decision Matrix. This document can also be found on the COVID site protocols page.

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-19. 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.

Enrollment and Classes:

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: Will lectures be recorded for students who cannot attend in-person classes?

A: If students cannot attend in-person classes, professors should consider the best means to provide instruction to these students. This can include allowing the student to arrange for the classes to be recorded through Zoom. Many classrooms are equipped for BruinCast Video or Audio or Zoom streaming and professors are encouraged to record their lectures.

Q: Are there limits on the number of students that can be in a classroom when in-person instruction is taking place?

A: UCLA is not subject to any classroom density limitations. There are no caps on the number of students in a classroom beyond the normal room capacity. See UCLA’s Protocols for Fall 2021 Instruction from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force and the Academic Personnel Office.

Student Life:

Q: What are the current guidelines on small gatherings in Los Angeles County?

A: Please see the LACDPH website for the current guidelines.

Q: Are recreation centers and libraries open on campus? What about the museums?

A: Outdoor facilities have reopened with modified hours of operation.

Now Open:

  • Drake Stadium
  • Hitch basketball courts
  • Marina Aquatic Center
  • Sunset Canyon Recreation Center
  • Tennis courts – LATC, Sunset, Sycamore
  • Intramural Field
  • Bruin Fitness Center
  • John Wooden Center
  • Kinross Recreation Center
  • Student Activities Center basketball courts

Updates will be added to the UCLA Recreation website.

UCLA  libraries are open to BruinCard holders and the public. 

The Hammer Museum and Fowler Museum are now open to the public.

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.

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 submitting appeals or other general Financial Aid related questions, please visit the Financial Aid & Scholarships website.

Faculty and Staff:

Q: What happens if my students have to miss a class or an exam?

A: With the return to in-person instruction, there is likely to be an uptick in students missing class due to isolation and quarantine protocols. The prospect of missing class time, projects or assessments can be daunting, and we’d never want our students to attend in-person events with COVID-19 symptoms for fear of missing a class or an exam. If our students do not feel well and are exhibiting COVID-19-related symptoms, they should stay home and rest. As faculty members, we should be committed to accommodating students who cannot be in class for these reasons through video or audio streaming or recordings, makeup assignments and assessments, alternative projects or other means.

Q: How can I best support students who request special accommodations?

A: To best support our entire community, instructors are being strongly encouraged to record live lectures, as per the Academic Senate guidelines and adopt the following approaches:

    • Create video or audio recordings of lectures to be watched either live via Zoom or at a later time.
    • Determine whether the room in which you are lecturing is equipped for BruinCast Video, Zoom Streaming, or BruinCast Audio setup here.
      • If your classroom is equipped for BruinCast Video or Audio, register for your classes to be recorded here and lectures will be recorded/posted for you.
      • If your classroom is equipped for Zoom Streaming, see Zoom Streaming instructions here.
      • If your classroom does not have any of these options, use this DIY Guide for recording and posting your in-person lectures yourself.
      • For additional questions or information, see the Technology and Access Guide.
    • When broadcasting lectures synchronously via Zoom:
      • Use real-time automatic captions to support many different types of learners and increase access. (Reach out to the Center for Advancement of Teaching about alternative options.)
      • Remember to check in on the remote students and provide opportunities for them to participate by calling on them, having them participate in classroom polls, having them react to questions you pose or other methods that are outlined in the guide for Teaching Local and Remote Students.
    • Allow accommodations for student absences caused by reasons related to public health mitigation (such as a student’s compliance with a symptom monitoring instruction to remain off campus, go into isolation or quarantine) when determining a final grade.
    • Reschedule exams and presentations to accommodate individual student absences caused by the public health risk mitigation requirement to go into isolation or quarantine.

For more information, view the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force Faculty FAQs and the Teaching Resources and Recommendations.

Q: What should department staff expect in their return to campus?

A: UCLA has created a Campus Ramp-Up Planning Guide that provides guidance for FlexWork opportunities, strategies to reduce employee density and other resources to make the transition back to in-person offices as safe and smooth as possible.

Managers are encouraged to adopt FlexWork practices, more information for which is available in the FlexWork Guide for Managers. FlexWork allows employees to work remotely on a full-time or part-time basis depending on their individual needs and comfort levels, usually utilizing a hybrid approach to remote and in-person work.

Q: What are UCLA guidelines for instructors on COVID-related questions in class?

A: For faculty needing information on student masking requirements, accommodations, microphone reservation and other COVID-related questions, please read this FAQ.

Q: When faculty are required to quarantine, what should they do about their classes?

A: Given the university’s commitment to in-person instruction, instructors are not permitted to unilaterally move their classes to a remote format without prior permission from the administration and/or at the direction UCLA’s Exposure Management Team. An instructor may move a single, individual in-person class, or up to two classes in a row, to Zoom without prior authorization under the following circumstances:

  • The instructor has an illness or physical symptoms and is thereby not cleared for onsite work but feels well enough to teach remotely.
  • The instructor has had direct, recent, extensive close contact with someone who is COVID-positive and believes that they should temporarily quarantine (even though current university protocols and public health orders do not require vaccinated individuals to do so if they remain asymptomatic).

The university needs to understand the frequency with which such situations arise across the institution. For this reason, instructors must inform their department chair or chair’s designee within 48 hours of any in-person class moved to Zoom for the above reasons.

Best practices also include preparing a fellow faculty member, co-teacher or TA to lead one or more classes in case the primary instructor is not available.

See the protocols for instructors.

Housing and Campus Services:

Q: Are students who are not living on campus able to purchase meal plans?

A: Due to staffing shortages, UCLA is not offering the Bruin Meal Plan, the plan traditionally offered to students living off campus, for spring quarter 2023. As staff levels increase, we are re-evaluating dining operations and will open additional dining options.

Q: What are the dining options for students living on the Hill?

A: Dining halls are open for in-person dining.

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 and other technology from the UCLA Library for an 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 a 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,  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: What is the university doing to address concerns from students with disabilities?

A: Students who are immunocompromised, have disabilities or special medical circumstances that make them more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 may seek reasonable academic adjustments including:

  • Contacting the UCLA Center for Accessible Education (CAE), which will review requests from students to reorder course sequences for their health and safety, seeking to ensure that immunocompromised and other students do not lose opportunities to take required courses in a timely way.
  • Requesting notes from CAE, which is assigning notetakers to attend in-person classes and provide notes and/or individual recordings of the lectures for those students who have been granted accommodations.

To best support our entire community, instructors are being encouraged to adopt the following approaches:

  • Create video or audio recordings of lectures, either live via Zoom or to watch later.
  • When broadcasting lectures via Zoom, use real-time automatic captions to support many different types of learners and increase access. (Reach out to the Center for Advancement of Teaching about alternative options.)
  • Allow accommodations for student absences caused by reasons related to public health mitigation (such as a student’s compliance with UCLA Ashe Center COVID-19 exposure protocols to remain off campus, go into isolation or quarantine) when determining a final grade.
  • Reschedule exams and presentations to accommodate individual student absences caused by public health risk mitigation requirement to go into isolation or quarantine.

Since our return to the classroom in fall 2021, we have seen instructors adapt to the needs of students unable to attend class in person by recording and/or broadcasting courses live via Zoom, designing assessments that are not tied to specific times and locations, and more. In keeping with guidance previously offered by the administration and the Academic Senate, we endorse instructor use and sharing of recordings and livestreams for students who are absent for pandemic-related reasons, and reaffirm our support for providing other flexibility when it serves learning and equity goals.

For those who wish to learn more, resources related to using technology effectively for teaching, learning and assessment can be found on our Center for the Advancement of Teaching website. Several other specific resources appear below:

For more information, view the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Task Force Faculty FAQs and Teaching Resources and Recommendations.

Research, Teaching Assistant (TA) Positions and Internships:

Q: I’m going to be a researcher or TA. Is there anything I need to know?

A: For positions that 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. When TOPs are offered in person, they will take place at 270 Powell Library in the Instructional Media Lab.

Q: How can I become a graduate student researcher?

A: Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) 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: How do I find an internship?

A: The Undergraduate Internship Program (UIP) is a new initiative from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering to assist 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 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 were 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 remains our top priority. UCLA has put recommended infection-control procedures in place on campus. These include physical distancing, lower density in classrooms and other spaces, and frequent cleaning of classrooms and facilities. Information on campus protocols is available online and updated frequently.

Please follow UCLA’s Standard Operating Procedure (revised Jan. 26, 2022) when reporting a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Q: What wellness and mental health resources are available to me, even remotely?

A: Students have access to multiple mental health resources from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), which has an engineering virtual satellite clinic, 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.

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering continues to partner with CAPS to offer free, confidential, brief support for students within the School of Engineering.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Support Services

Support for students within the School of Engineering will be offered via Zoom or in person. To schedule, call the CAPS front desk at (310) 825-0768 and mention the Engineering Satellite

Weeks 5-10 Engineering CAPS Satellite
Wednesdays 10-12 pm

Zoom Meeting ID:  933 5983 1572,  Passcode: 327050
Virtual Only

Fridays 1-3pm
Boelter Hall, 6288-G
In-Person Only

Additional Wellness Support:

CAPS Training and Support Groups – Relaxation, Time Management, Problem-solving, Academic Success, Anxiety, and more.

The RISE Center
A wellness hub for all students, faculty, and staff who want to find encouragement through mindfulness and resiliency. This hub is called Resilience in the Student Experience (RISE) and is located on campus, downstairs at Lu Valle Commons room B-01. RISE serves as a physical extension of CAPS, and as part of its programming, RISE offers meditations, yoga, peer coaching, and other mind-body modalities.

Dashew Services for International Students

The GRIT Coaching ProgramSign up for a GRIT Peer Coach! If you’re looking to focus on your holistic well-being and personal development this year, join GRIT! GRIT stands for guidance, resilience, integrity, and transformation. Undergraduate students can enroll at any time during the academic year to receive one-on-one support from trained peer coaches. Topics of focus during individualized coaching sessions include stress/time management, effective communication skills, meditation/mindfulness, cultural humility, goal setting, comprehensive campus resource referrals, and much more! Our goal is to empower students to discover their true thriving potential and ultimately give back to the greater UCLA campus community. Explore our site for more info!

WAZO CONNECT Peer Mentorship Program

Wazo Connect is a peer mentorship program for students who are feeling lonely, stressed, or overwhelmed and who prefer a more informal support system. Mentors are trained by CAPS, CARE, GRIT, LGBTQ+ Center and Psychology professors. Mentors meet with mentees weekly/bi-weekly and can accompany them to important appointments and meetings if requested. Interested students can sign up to get a peer mentor from the website: https://www.wazoconnect.com/jointhefam For more information please visit our website www.wazoconnect.com or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wazoconnect/.

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.

Q: How can I report violations of public health guidelines in the UCLA campus community?

A: Email the Office of Student Conduct regarding known individuals at dean@saonet.ucla.edu. 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 foster a diverse student and faculty body, with programs designed to complement a rigorous engineering education for anyone with the talent and 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 EDI page for more information.

Clubs & Organizations:
American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES)
Arab American Association of Engineers and Architects (AAAEA)
Association for Computing Machinery-Women (ACM-W)
IEEE Women Advancing Technology through Teamwork (WATT)
Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association at UCLA (BruinKSEA)
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Pilipinos in Engineering and Science (PIES)
Queer and Trans in STEM (QTSTEM)
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
Society of Latino Engineers and Scientists (SOLES)
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
GradSWE at UCLA

Full List of UCLA Samueli Student Clubs & Organizations

Programs:
Women in Engineering (WE@UCLA)
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 COVID-19, 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.