Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
University Of California Announces Return To In Person In Fall
Some Chinese immigrants are fighting a plan to bring affirmative action to California's public universities like UCLA. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
()
The University of California announced on Monday that it will return to in-person instruction on all 10 of its campuses in the fall 2021 semester.
“Current forecasts give us hope that in the fall our students can enjoy a more normal on-campus experience,” said UC President Michael V. Drake in a written statement.
Drake, a physician who was appointed UC president last summer, made the decision after consulting with the chancellors of the 10 campuses.
His announcement didn’t include any re-opening details, such as safety measures and protocols and class offerings. That’ll be worked out by administrators, employees, and students at each of the campuses.
Support for LAist comes from
“We've been trying to get back to in-person sooner rather than later,” said Jeff Barrett, chair of the faculty senate at UC Irvine. He’s been part of reopening discussions on his campus.
He said it’s tough to predict what the pandemic will look like in the fall and what proportion of the population will have received one of the coronavirus vaccines by then, which makes a return to campus far from risk-free.
“We need to take care of our students who are at risk and also our faculty who are at risk," he said. "Many of the faculty who teach at the University of California are older, and consequently they are better targets for the virus.”
A UC Irvine spokeswoman said the campus will not require vaccinations to return to campus.
One adaptation being considered at UC Irvine, Barrett said, is to create “dual mode” courses in which most of the class meets in person, with an online component for students who decide not to attend in person. But that’s time-consuming for faculty.
The UC Student Association wants reopening plans to include input from vulnerable student populations.
“Are they going to consider unique situations of disabled students who wouldn't be able to return to a full in person presentation of the UC,” said UC San Diego psychology major Syreeta Nolan, who focuses on advocating for disabled students in her role as the student association’s officer for underrepresented students.
Support for LAist comes from
But Nolan and other students say the reopening announcement is welcome news.
“I miss the campus culture,” said UCLA senior and UC Student Association President Aidan Arasasingham, “walking down Bruin walk, seeing hundreds of people, that excitement, that energy of running into people.”
The announcement is bittersweet, Arasasingham says, because he’s graduating this spring.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist