Dear UCR Students,
I am excited to officially welcome you to Fall Quarter 2020 at the University of California, Riverside (UCR)! My name is Dr. Christine Mata, associate vice chancellor and dean of students at UCR.
The beginning of the academic year is always an exciting time, but it is important to acknowledge that this year will be like no other. Make no mistake that you, our students, are no strangers to being the first to break barriers and rising to meet challenges. As we navigate this pandemic in a remote environment, I recognize that it will be a challenging time, but we will get through this together.
In order to navigate successfully, it is important that you receive information to support your success. I would like to highlight some health and safety expectations designed to keep our UCR community safe. My hope is that this message serves as a resource on the expectations we have of you. In addition, I would like to emphasize the resources available to aid you in a successful academic year. I want to ensure that you have the necessary information to make good decisions, keep yourself and each other safe. The health and wellbeing of our entire UCR community remains our number one priority. That’s why all students are expected to read and uphold the Keep Highlanders Healthy Pledge. The pledge creates a shared understanding of the expectations in our community and helps us hold each other accountable for the measures that will be taken to protect the community.
Health and Safety Expectations
For those students who will be on campus, guidelines and procedures are in place to help mitigate the spread of the virus. Protocols on face coverings, symptom monitoring, and physical distancing must be followed. Please be mindful of the following guidelines as we remain in a remote environment. For additional guidance, refer to UCR’s COVID-19 website:
• Avoid events with crowds or large groups of people.
• Stay 6 feet apart.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Wear face coverings any time you are out in public.
• Avoid touching your face covering other than to remove and clean it.
• If you have a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19, avoid contact with other people.
Please note that all in-person on-campus events have been suspended and will follow a remote platform until further notice. Student Organizations may not organize any in-person meetings, events, or other gatherings, either on-campus or off-campus while COVID-19 safety precautions are in place. You can review this information on the Student Life website. For further information on gatherings and campus operations, you can review this information here.
Additionally, some of you may be enrolled in one of our few in-person course offerings. Please review and adhere to any guidelines outlined by the course instructor and/or academic department. You can review health and safety expectations and plans outlined in the Instructional Continuity Plan by clicking here (Section II, 3a-f and Section III on pages 3-5).
Being a Good Neighbor
As a Highlander, you represent UCR both on and off-campus. We ask that you be considerate of your neighbors within the local surrounding community. We ask that you avoid large gatherings as this poses a health risk to you, those around you as well as the surrounding community. You can visit the Dean of Students website for more information on being a Good Neighbor.
Standards of Conduct for Students
The Standards of Conduct apply to all UCR students whether or not we are in a remote learning environment. The Standards prohibit behaviors including academic misconduct, disruption, harassment, disorderly conduct, and misuse of university computers or electronic resources. In this pandemic, it is critical that all students adhere to health and safety expectations outlined by the university. Failure to abide by guidance and processes issued by UCR programs and officials may be considered violations of the Standards. Visit Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Programs for a review of the Standards of Conduct.
Students who are living on-campus can review the Student Conduct Policies Handbook as well as Health and Safety expectations by visiting Residential Life Handbooks and Polices as well as links to testing, face coverings, guests, travel, physical distancing and self-quarantining.
Basic Needs
Basic needs are what we all need to survive and thrive. If for any reason you are experiencing a financial hardship or food and housing insecurity, please reach out to the Basic Needs team for assistance.
Our team of Student Affairs professionals are available to help you make the most out of your experience at UCR. The Office of the AVC/Dean of Students comprises various departments with multiple initiatives and support programs united by one common goal: To provide you with the most enriching UCR student experience possible. Visit the Student Affairs Virtual HUB of Resources to explore the opportunities the Division of Student Affairs has for you.
Remember, you can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by following public health guidelines, wearing face coverings and physical distancing, and refraining from in-person events or meetings. If we work together and each do our part to keep our campus healthy, then we get one step closer to creating more opportunities for our students to engage in-person. For up-to-date information COVID-related communications, please visit the UCR COVID-19 and Campus Return websites. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to deanofstudents@ucr.edu.