Jan. 28 - In-person instruction criteria, resources and advice
Section 1
Little pink Plumwood House for you and me: Morning light hits the chemical research facility. Photo by Matthew Feng
In this continuing series, UCI experts answer questions about COVID-19, vaccinations, variants or the future of work. Submit questions via email.
How did UCI decide to resume in-person instruction on Monday?
Members of the Anteater community have asked about the metrics being used to inform campus decisions during the pandemic, most recently about the Jan. 31 return to in-person instruction. According to a detailed UCI Forward memo, vaccination rates, masking policies, symptom checking, testing protocols, contact tracing, new case numbers and current/predicted positivity rates all combined to support the decision.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Dr. Albert Chang, medical director, Student Health Center, answers this question: Why is it important to get a booster?
Updated distribution centers for face coverings
UCI is pleased to provide quality face coverings for students, staff and faculty as the campus resumes in-person instruction on Monday. Distribution centers have been established for KN95s and surgical masks that comply with the updated executive directive on face coverings.
Campus resources for return to in-person instruction
Because every course is different, the first thing students should do before returning for in-person instruction on Monday is check with their instructors to determine specific course policies and what kind of flexibility is offered. Next, students should examine the list of campus resources and advice shared by Willie Banks, vice chancellor, student affairs.
UCI-led study links school suspensions and expulsions with inequality in early adulthood
How do high school students who are suspended and expelled fare later in life when compared with other classmates? A new UCI-led study highlights an important link between exclusionary school discipline and inequality in a wide range of young adult outcomes. Published in Educational Researcher, the findings provide the most comprehensive link between school discipline and young adult outcomes.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Friday fun fact
Access to technology: During the past academic year, 96% of graduate students had consistent access to laptops/computers and 80% had access to high-speed internet.
Cardona calls for 'reset' in US education system
Education stakeholders should take the opportunity now to "reset" practices and policies so school systems don't backtrack to pre-pandemic inequity, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said during a speech Thursday. He specifically encouraged unraveling barriers to high-quality education for several underserved student populations, including Black students, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities and English learners.
A second version of omicron is spreading. Here's why scientists are on alert
As the omicron surge starts to recede in parts of the U.S., scientists are closely watching another coronavirus variant spreading rapidly in parts of Asia and Europe. It's officially called "omicron BA.2," and this week scientists detected cases of it in several U.S. states, including California, Texas and Washington. February could be the breakout month.
What our poop tells us about the omicron surge
Besides data obtained through testing and positive case reports, public health officials monitor virus levels by examining the contents of waste in community sewage systems. “It seems like, in most locations, concentrations are stabilizing, which is very reassuring,” says Kara Nelson, a UC Berkeley environmental engineering professor, who is in charge of the COVID-WEB monitoring program.
EVENTS
Quick Bites - Nutrition Confusion & Social Media
Monday, 12:30 p.m. (sponsored by Center For Student Wellness & Health Promotion)
Mind on the Job: Managing Mental Health During Job/Internship Search
Monday, 4 p.m. (sponsored by Social Sciences Academic Resource Center)
International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding
Tuesday, 3:30 a.m. through Friday, 1:30 p.m. (sponsored by Environmental Peacebuilding Association, whose members include UCI School of Social Ecology)
Rule of the Robots: How Artificial Intelligence will Change Everything
Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. (sponsored by School of Business)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
13 Legal Experts on How Breyer’s Replacement Will Change the Court
Politico, Jan. 27
Cited: Howard Gillman, chancellor
What Makes Omicron Spread More Rapidly Compared to Other COVID-19 Variants?
Health, Jan. 27
Cited: Vladimir Minin, professor of statistics and associate director of Infectious Disease Science Initiative, and Philip Felgner, professor in residence of physiology & biophysics and director of Vaccine Research and Development Center
AI Chatbots Pose Ethical Risks. Here’s How One University Is Handling Those.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, Jan. 27
Cited: Tom Andriola, vice chancellor, information, technology and data; Patricia Morales, associate vice chancellor, enrollment management; and Bryan Jue, senior director, outreach and communications for undergraduate admissions
#UCICONNECTED
Dear Anteater, I think I’ve only recently discovered how easy it is to doubt yourself & give up. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always known how dangerous doubt can truly be, but college really reminds you about it. I’ve wanted to give up on school & other stuff so many times lately, & maybe you can relate. I hope you can find some comfort in this note & be assured that you’re not alone. Don’t ever let the doubt win. Fight against it. I can assure you something good will come out of it, even if it’s really hard to see right now. Much love, an Anteater
Alltruism (“all true”) is a project supported by the Barnes & Noble Scholarship that aims to create connections through community, compassion and the creative arts. The initiative was part of The Alltruism Project, and more letters can be found on Instagram.
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