Plans for in-person instruction for fall semester 2021

January 11, 2021

Dear Campus Community,

University of California President Michael Drake announced today in this message that the University of California is planning for a return to primarily in-person instruction systemwide in fall 2021.

This is exciting and represents light at the end of what has been a difficult and challenging time for all of us. We assure you that we will proceed toward this goal with our eye on what has been our number one priority all along: protecting the health and safety of members of our campus community. 

We will continue to strongly encourage prevention measures and will require and provide regular COVID-19 testing for anyone who will be on campus. We expect the COVID-19 vaccine will be more broadly available on campus and in the community between now and the start of fall semester, which will offer further protection against disease spread. And we will continue to work in close concert with and at the direction of local public health authorities.

We realize this announcement is likely to elicit questions and concerns along with a cautious sense of optimism. Our eventual recovery will most assuredly be a “new” normal. Our Recovery Management Teams will continue to work through issues over the next weeks and months and we will keep you informed every step of the way.

Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to preserve our mission of education, discovery and serving the people of California and the world. 

Sincerely,
Carol Christ
Chancellor
A. Paul Alivisatos
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost 

This message has been sent to all UC Berkeley faculty, staff and students