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April 2, 2020

Hiring freeze guidance
We are writing to follow up on yesterday’s message regarding a campus-wide hiring freeze. What follows is our effort to answer some of the questions that we have received about academic and staff hiring during this period.
Instructor and Student FAQs for the Spring Semester 2020 Grading Policy
The campus has also received queries from students, instructors, and the public about the policy and instructional resilience. Over the past two weeks, faculty and staff have compiled the questions and composed answers to them. The result of this effort can be found in the following resources.

April 1, 2020

Campus financial impacts of COVID-19
We are writing today to share the latest information regarding the campus budget, our principles for decision making, and our initial recommendations.

March 26, 2020

A Wellness Message for Cesar Chavez Day
Tomorrow is Cesar Chavez Day, a holiday honoring the principles of fairness, social justice, and the struggle for equity in the workplace and all of society. As we continue to adjust to our new reality created by COVID-19, both with respect to work and our personal lives, it is more important than ever to pause and think about the broader values and personal meaning that this day represents.

March 25, 2020

Recognizing Exceptional Graduate Student Mentors
Announcing the 2020 recipients of the Graduate Division's Carol D. Soc Distinguished Graduate Student Mentoring Awards and the Graduate Assembly's Faculty Mentor Awards.

March 20, 2020

COVID-19 Campus Update - March 20
Updates related to COVID-19
Grading Policies for the Spring Semester of 2020
In response to the unusual and challenging circumstances that instructors and students are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we write to let you know that the Academic Senate has approved the following changes for the spring 2020 semester.
A Message of Gratitude
Expression of deep gratitude to each and every one of you for helping our campus navigate the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 18, 2020

Campus Directive During Bay Area Shelter In Place
Clarity regarding what members of the campus community can do in their work capacity (and when they should and should not come to campus to work) in light of previous campus messages and various shelter-in-place orders, including from Alameda County and the City of Berkeley. This memo supersedes all earlier communications, except the Executive Order regarding distance learning and research issued earlier today.
Executive Order regarding remote instruction and research
We write to provide clarity regarding who should and should not be coming to work at the campus to perform duties related to distance learning and research consistent with the procedures that the campus has now established for providing remote learning and research continuity.

March 16, 2020

URGENT COVID-19 Update: Moving toward greatly reduced operations
Following up on a campus wide message earlier today and in response to a rapidly changing environment around COVID-19 and the urgent need to practice social distancing, the campus is taking the following actions. These directives are consistent with and authorized by recently announced “shelter in place” guidance from several Bay Area counties, including Alameda County and the City of Berkeley.
Alameda County Shelter-In-Place Order
In light of Alameda County’s announcement advising county residents to shelter in place beginning Tuesday, March 17 at 12:01 a.m. through Tuesday, April 7, we are rapidly moving toward a “maintenance-only” mode of physical operation of the campus. Generally speaking, this means that all in-person instruction should cease. All instruction that can be delivered remotely should continue.

March 14, 2020

Confirmed case of COVID-19 at UC Berkeley
We have confirmed that a member of our campus community has contracted COVID-19. The individual is a graduate student who does not live on campus or in the city of Berkeley and has self-isolated in their city of residence. The individual is in good condition and has no serious symptoms.

March 13, 2020

Paid Administrative Leave for Employees with School Children Affected by Coronavirus Closures
Employees now granted up to 14 days paid administrative leave who have to stay home because their children's schools have closed due to coronavirus concerns.
Updated and Revised Policies for Remote Instruction Effective Saturday, March 14

Dear Faculty, Instructors, and GSIs,

We write to you today following the Chancellor’s earlier message to the campus, to inform you of some additional changes that will be made to the manner in which we will be delivering instruction for the remainder of the Spring Semester. 

Remote instruction through semester's end
Updates about the delivery of instruction and on-campus housing.

March 12, 2020

Update - Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities
After completing ten years of service, Anthony J. Cascardi is planning to step down as the Dean of the Division of Arts & Humanities in the College of Letters & Science at the end of his second five-year term on June 30, 2021.

March 11, 2020

Temporary Blanket Exception to Qualifying Exam Policy

Dear Deans, Department Chairs, Graduate Student Affairs Officers, and Head Graduate Advisors,

Important changes regarding COVID-19 and campus events
As part of our ongoing effort to take proactive measures to limit the potential spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community, today we announce new changes that will remain in effect at least through March 29.

March 9, 2020

Alternative instruction starting Tuesday, March 10
Campus is implementing the changes related to course instruction. These changes are effective starting Tuesday, March 10, and will remain in place through Spring Break, which ends March 29. A decision on what will happen on March 30 and beyond will occur at a later date, based on the latest information available.