Winter: Remote instruction extended

Due to regional and campus COVID-19 positivity trends, as well as staffing and operational concerns, UCLA will be extending remote instruction through Friday, Jan. 28. We plan to resume in-person instruction on Monday, Jan. 31.

We want to emphasize that this decision should not be seen as a precursor to a fully remote winter term. We have every expectation that we will return to in-person instruction after the extension.

The extension will enable eligible members of our community to fulfill the booster requirement; it will help faculty, staff and students meet our testing requirements; and it will allow us to further stagger students’ return to campus. Modeling indicates the extension could help to reduce by 50% the number of students who would need to be placed in isolation or quarantine.

Testing: Students

Students who have already arrived on campus or in Westwood must follow testing protocols outlined in our Dec. 21 message and FAQ. We also urge you to remain near campus, limit your travel, avoid large groups and use caution and care when interacting with others. This will help us stabilize our community, reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 cases.

Students who have not yet traveled back to campus or Westwood can now choose to delay their arrival, if desired. As students arrive, they will need to follow these testing protocols:

• Take an at-home rapid antigen or PCR test from a provider of choice no more than 72 hours before arriving in Westwood and remain at home if positive. 
• Upon arriving in Westwood, take a test from a campus vending machine or distribution center.
• Three to five days after arriving in Westwood, take another campus test.
• Immediately isolate if a test result is positive.

Regular testing during winter quarter: Regardless of your vaccination status, you must test on campus at least once a week during winter quarter (although twice a week is strongly recommended).

Testing: Faculty and staff

Employees who have been working remotely and were planning to return to in-person work on Jan. 18 should extend their return date if appropriate and according to their department’s staffing plans. 

Those returning to campus should follow these testing procedures: 

• It is recommended that faculty and staff take an at-home rapid antigen or PCR test from a provider of choice no more than 72 hours before arriving in Westwood. 
• Upon arriving in Westwood, take a test either through the free COVID-19 campus vending machines and distribution centers, or a COVID-19 rapid test if available through your department.
• Three to five days after arriving in Westwood, take another test using the campus vending machines or a distribution center
• Immediately isolate if a test result is positive.

Regular testing during winter quarter: Regardless of your vaccination status, you must test on campus at least once a week during winter quarter (although twice a week is strongly recommended).

Note: Those who work in clinical settings (including dental and nursing clinics) must follow the COVID-19 protocols for health care settings. Those who work in non-clinical campus settings must comply with the relevant campus protocols (PDF). UCLA Extension and K-12 students should follow the guidance issued by their respective programs.

Vaccine boosters

In addition to getting vaccinated, getting a booster is an effective strategy for reducing the severity of COVID-19 — and is required by UC’s vaccination policy (PDF). To access UCLA facilities and on-site programs, all eligible students, faculty, academic personnel, staff, trainees and others must get booster shots as soon as possible.

Verifying your booster: Students should upload proof of their booster to the Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center’s electronic patient portal; employees should do so through the UCLA Symptom Monitoring Survey/Vaccine Verification System by Monday, Feb. 7. For more details on verifying your booster, see UCLA’s Jan. 20 message to faculty and staff.

The booster requirement applies to those who plan to work on site at least part or full time during winter. It does not apply to those working fully remotely or those who have an approved exception.

Other COVID protocols

In addition to these new procedures, all faculty, staff and students must continue wearing masks indoors. Departments can request upgraded masks that they can distribute internally to their faculty and staff from the UCLA Emergency PPE Store free of cost. We strongly encourage wearing masks in outdoor environments while among other people as well.

Additionally, everyone living, learning or working on UCLA properties must complete the Symptom Monitoring Survey before arriving on or going out onto campus each day, regardless of vaccination status.

We will continue to be in close contact with our public health experts to evaluate the situation over the next few weeks and communicate with the campus accordingly. If conditions change, we’ll evaluate potential adjustments based on our UCLA pivot plan (PDF).