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Information about fall quarter 2020

To: UC Santa Cruz undergraduate and graduate students

From: Interim Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer

April 29, 2020

We understand that many students have questions about campus plans for the fall 2020 quarter, and we want to share as much information with you as possible while we observe the progress of the current pandemic.

Similar to universities around the world, we are developing plans and making critical decisions about the coming 2020-21 academic year. We recognize that the situation is dynamic and evolving, and we will provide updated information as decisions are made.

Decisions about remote vs. in-person instruction
Currently, we intend for the fall quarter to start as scheduled. We are monitoring the local and state public health situation to determine when and to what degree we can resume in-person instruction. Some or all instruction for a portion or all of the 2020-21 academic year may be delivered via remote and/or online instruction as conditions dictate. At this point we do not know exactly when these decisions can be made because the public health situation remains uncertain. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make a decision about the fall quarter as soon as there is adequate information to do so. The health and safety of our students, staff, and faculty is our top priority.

Tuition and student fees for fall 2020
Tuition and mandatory fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction continues to be offered remotely for any part of the 2020-21 academic year. Mandatory university charges for tuition and many charges for student services continue to help cover ongoing operations such as the delivery of instruction and the cost of student services such as registration, financial aid, and remote academic advising. While we acknowledge that our campus, like other UC campuses, has changed aspects of our operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the costs that campus-based fees are intended to cover continue as we maintain operations and prepare for the recovery to full operations.

Student housing for fall 2020
Given the uncertainty of the ongoing public health crisis and the related decision about the manner of instruction for fall quarter, we want to provide you as much information as we can to help you make the best decision for you and your family. It is possible we will not be able to honor guaranteed housing for continuing students. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

I thank you for your understanding and patience during these challenging times. We will continue to inform you of the latest developments for the fall quarter and we are committed to providing students with the best educational experience possible.