Coronavirus

To accelerate urgently needed breakthroughs in the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of California will provide $2 million in seed funding to scientists across the state to help jump-start their high-impact research projects.

Awards of up to $25,000 are available immediately, said Theresa Maldonado, Ph.D., vice president of UC’s systemwide Research and Innovation division. The goal is to help researchers begin work as soon possible, knowing that larger federal grants may take longer to be distributed. Learn more and apply for an award

In an open letter to the community, UC leaders write: Today we collectively announce that there will be no COVID-19 related layoffs for all career employees through the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2020.

Providing pay and health and welfare benefits during this period will allow employees to more effectively care for themselves and their families as we all support California and the nation by staying home and doing our part to reduce the spread of this virus. Read the full letter.

The University of California on late Tuesday, March 31, took a number of steps to temporarily adjust admissions requirements, to ensure that newly admitted and prospective students are not harmed by educational disruptions from COVID-19.

The measures include suspending the letter grade requirement for academic classes taken in winter, spring or summer terms of 2020; providing flexibility for students who need more time to meet registration, deposit and transcript deadlines; and suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for admission as freshmen for fall 2021. More details are available in this FAQ.

University of California President Janet Napolitano, in a March 27 statement, recognized Congress for working together to pass the emergency spending package, and said that the unprecedented spending bill would allow the University of California to begin to meet extraordinary challenges of the pandemic. Read her full statement.

The leaders of California's three systems of public higher educaion have united in a request for federal financial and regulatory assistance to help them manage the significant impacts that have resulted on their institutions and communities from the coronavirus outbreak. Read the letter to California's Congressional delegation from UC President Janet Napolitano, California State University Chancellor Timothy White and California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley.  

Join UC San Diego Health in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we can address this emergency and help those affected by it. There are many ways to get involved, including through donations of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Supplies. Find more details here.

In a letter to the UC Berkeley community, Chancellor Carol Christ said that the campus would postpone commencement, due to the public health threat posed by COVID-19. "We find ourselves in uncharted waters in having to make a decision about something as special as commencement. We all love commencement, and you all are certainly so very deserving of a meaningful celebration that honors all of your hard work and accomplishments at Berkeley," she wrote. Christ asked students to respond to a survey seeking their ideas for when and how to celebrate at a later date. 

The whole UC San Francisco community is working hard to ensure that it can continue to provide the best care to those who need it and the best solutions to this global pandemic. You can help with this effort. UCSF is accepting donations of critical supplies for frontline care providers, including protective equipment and sanitizing items. UCSF has set up donation sites at three locations, opening on Monday, March 23. They will be receiving donations seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please visit this UCSF page for more details.

UC leadership, in a letter to the California congressional delegation, provided an update on the university’s on-the-ground efforts to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19 and to ask for their continued partnership in addressing this public health and economic crisis.