UCLA, UC Irvine Moving Back To Online Teaching Following Rise COVID-19 Cases

The University of California (UCLA) and the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine) are moving back to online teaching.

Just when we thought things were getting better, we’re back to square one. On Tuesday, UCLA and UC Irvine announced that due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, classes would start back up online, ABC 7 reports. The announcement was sent out to all 10 system chancellors from UC system President Dr. Michael Drake. He added that all chancellors should develop “a plan for a January return to campus that mitigates public health impacts, responds to the unique circumstances facing your campus and maintains our teaching and research operations.”

“This may require campuses to begin the term using remote instruction in order to allow students to complete an appropriate testing protocol as they return to campus,” Drake wrote. “Given the differences in local conditions and campus operations across the university, the length of this remote instruction period may vary from campus to campus.”

Students at UCLA and UC Irvine can expect to learn from home for the first two weeks of the winter quarter, starting Jan. 3. Bruin community, Michael J. Beck, administrative vice chancellor, and Megan McEvoy, a professor of immunology and molecular genetics told students in a letter that they should expect to come back to campus no lated than Jan. 9 to participate “in a robust COVID-19 testing program that will help keep our community healthier.”

UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman said he and the school are doing all they can to make sure students and staff are safe in the ever-changing era of COVID-19. “While we recognize that change is a constant in this pandemic environment, we are committed to doing all we can to maintain in-person instruction for the remainder of the academic year. At the present time, however, we know it is not prudent to return to in-person instruction immediately after winter break.”