To: All UCSC Students
From: Richard Hughey, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement; Peter Biehl, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
Subject: COVID-19: What to do during finals week
Dear UC Santa Cruz students,
As the spring quarter comes to a close, we write to provide guidance for completing your finals amid the rise in local COVID-19 cases.
To begin, we wish to remind everyone that the university strongly recommends the use of masks in all indoor settings. Free surgical masks are available at various campus locations. Doing all you can to mitigate COVID-19 spread is not only important to community well-being.: mitigation strategies such as masking could be the key to completing your final exams as scheduled.
Recognizing some may become ill with COVID-19 in the coming days, this message offers instructions about what to do if you are scheduled to take a final AND have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or test positive for COVID-19.
Note: If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and/or test positive for COVID-19, do not attend an in-person final. Instead, follow the instructions below:
If you have symptoms of COVID-19:
- Do not attend any in-person activities, including your final exams. Follow the instructions below about what to do if you are unable to take a final exam due to COVID-19.
- Wear a mask. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, test positive for COVID-19, or you are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you are required to wear a face mask in accordance with CDC and local public health guidelines.
- Isolate immediately. Follow these CDPH guidelines.
- Take a COVID-19 test as soon as possible.
- Take a PCR test. Contact the Student Health Services Nurse Advice Line (831-459-2591) during business hours to schedule a PCR test.
- Take a rapid antigen test. Residential students who have COVID-19 symptoms should contact their housing office to request delivery of a rapid antigen test.
If you test positive for COVID-19:
- Do not attend any in-person activities, including your final exams. Follow the instructions below about what to do if you are unable to take a final exam due to COVID-19.
- Follow these COVID-19 Positive Test Result instructions.
- Isolate immediately. Follow these CDPH guidelines.
- Residential students: Immediately self isolate using the CDPH isolation guidelines. Then, please inform the Campus Quarantine/Isolation Team of your results by completing this form.
- Non-residential students: If you reside off campus, isolate in your current location following the CDPH isolation guidelines. Do not wait to be contacted by Campus to begin isolation.
If you are unable to take a final exam due to COVID-19:
- Your instructor is your primary resource if you are not able to attend an in-person final due to isolation requirements. Reach out to them, as well any other designated members of the instructional staff, such as your Teaching Assistant, immediately.
- If you have tested positive using a Rapid Antigen Test or in an off-campus location, no formal notification will be sent to your instructor, so you are solely responsible for notifying them as soon as possible. If they ask for a formal notification, remind them that campus notifications are only issued after a student tests positive in an on-campus testing facility
- In some cases, instructors will have already shared specific options for students who are unable to attend an in-person final.
- Students may also request to receive an Incomplete (I) grade for the course. Instructors can assign Incomplete (I) when work is of passing quality but is incomplete. Students themselves must request an incomplete. If your instructor approves your request, you should confirm the exact requirements and deadline to complete the work. For spring 2022, Incomplete grades convert to an F/NP after December 9, 2022 for undergraduate students, or to a F/U after June 15, 2023 for graduate students, as listed in the 2022–23 calendar. Instructors may set an earlier deadline for submission of work.
- Students should be aware that an incomplete grade may impact graduation, major declaration, or prerequisite satisfaction.
Best wishes during finals week and into graduation and summer quarter,
Richard Hughey
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement
Peter Biehl
Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies
This message was sent to all students.
