A: Nearly all classes are being held in-person for winter quarter 2023.

A: COVID-19 testing is highly encouraged following the winter break. PCR self-test kits continue to be available free of charge to the UCLA community and can be obtained from campus vending machines.

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. 

However, some of the underused UCLA COVID-19 test drop-off locations and vending machines have been consolidated beginning Jan. 13. Seven distribution centers, 22 test collection bins and 10 vending machines will remain active throughout UCLA. 

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.

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

UCLA COVID-19 test distribution and drop-off locations will no longer be active at:

• University Apartments-South
• Ackerman Union, A Level
• Gayley Center Front Desk
• Hammer Museum Front Desk

UCLA COVID-19 test vending machine locations will no longer be available at:

• Facilities Management NW Area (Employee Only)
• Anderson School Courtyard
• Ackerman Union, A Level

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.

A:  Indoor masking continues to be strongly recommended at UCLA to reduce transmission of COVID-19, as well as influenza and RSV.

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.

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.  

A: 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. See the latest isolation/quarantining policies (PDF) for specific details.

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. If you are NOT fully vaccinated, you need to quarantine immediately. The Exposure Management Team will provide specific guidance for testing and length of quarantine.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

See the latest isolation/quarantining policies (PDF) for specific details.

A: UCLA students, faculty and staff have until Feb. 1 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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

• Activating BruinCast in equipped classrooms
• Requesting Zoom Lecture Assistants
• Turning on closed captioning on Zoom
• Uploading videos through Kaltura on Bruin Learn to access auto-captioning
• UCLA Health IT guide for remote teaching
• UCLA Psychology IT guide to technology enhanced rooms
• CEILS Classroom Technology Guide
• UCLA Alternative Assessment Approaches
• Universal Design for Learning Recorded Workshop

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.

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.

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 Feb. 1, 2023

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 Library is open for winter quarter 2023. Libraries are open to BruinCard holders and the public.  Face masks are required for all visitors.

The Hammer Museum and Fowler Museum are now open to the public. Face masks are required for all visitors.