UCI Forward

UCI Forward is our commitment to the well-being of our community as we ramp up campus operations. Working together, each of us doing our part, we can move UCI Forward.

October 7 - Updates on COVID-19

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TODAY’S CAMPUS UPDATES

UCI Zoom backgrounds

There are new pre-loaded UCI Zoom backgrounds available to the UCI community. Users must upgrade their Zoom Client to 5.3.1. Once the update is complete, the UCI backgrounds will be selectable in the Virtual Background menu. For questions, please contact OIT.

End of sequestration

The post-move-in sequestration period has ended and students living in campus housing may now move within your community, following all campus directives for COVID prevention. We hope you will enjoy getting outside and moving about the campus with a bit more freedom, but we urge you to continue to follow all public health guidelines issued by the campus.

Regular COVID-19 testing for on-campus students begins

COVID-19 testing for on-campus graduate student residents begins Oct. 12. Weekly COVID-19 testing for all student residents begins on Oct. 19 until further notice. Appointments, locations and new FAQs are posted for more information.

UCI COVID-19 NEWS AND EVENTS

UCI serves community with public health expertise

UCI is providing consulting services to private businesses to help them develop rules and procedures to keep employees and customers safe from COVID-19 as the economy opens up. “As the only program in public health in Orange County, we have an obligation to assist our community,” professor Karen Edwards said.

Regent and UCI alumnus Eloy Ortiz Oakley discusses his first-gen journey

Eloy Ortiz Oakley’s parents didn’t go to college, but today the UCI graduate (BA ‘96, MBA ‘99) leads the largest higher education system in the country. As chancellor of the California Community Colleges, Oakley oversees 116 campuses across the state that educate 2.1 million students, while he also serves on the University of California Board of Regents. He recently stopped by campus to speak with UCI about his journey to UCI, the challenges the California Community Colleges faced in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and tips for first generation students navigating their own college journeys.

Upcoming events

UC UPDATES

Flu vaccination executive directive revised – changes mainly pertain to students

The Executive Order requiring all faculty, staff, students and others accessing UC facilities to receive a flu vaccination was recently revised. The gist of the revisions pertain mainly to students and can be summarized as follows:

  • Updated order allows students to request religious accommodations, and spring registrations will not be blocked for noncompliance;
  • Vaccination is mandated for all students, faculty, other academic appointees, and staff  living, working, or learning at any UC location, unless they receive an approved medical exemption or disability or religious accommodation;
  • Vaccination is encouraged for all students, faculty, other academic appointees, staff and their families by Oct. 31.

There is also a revised set of FAQs for employees that includes some new questions.

President Drake welcomes the UC community in starting the academic year

UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. sends a message to the entire UC community.

GENERAL COVID-19 NEWS

This section curates noteworthy coronavirus news, trends and opinions. No endorsement by UCI is implied. Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and OC Register for students, faculty and staff
  

Orange County not meeting state’s metric

The state has released new health equity metrics as part of its guidelines to moving tiers. Orange County’s lower income population sits at 6.6% positivity and needs to drop below 5.2% before the County can leave the red tier.

Coast Community College District continues remote learning through spring

District officials for Coast Community College District schools announced distance learning will continue through spring semester.

Disneyland Resort launches pop up Halloween shop

Disneyland Resort celebrates Halloween with the release of seasonal treats and a Halloween pop-up shop located in the new Backlot Premiere Shop in Disney California Adventure. The pop-up shop will be accessed through Downtown Disney and offers seasonal merchandise, Halloween clothing, trading pins, home décor, and more.

Eli Lilly seeks emergency authorization of antibody drug

Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Co. is seeking emergency-use authorization to provide its antibody drug to high-risk patients with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

Federal COVID-19 stimulus may be coming

After President Trump called off relief negotiations last night, hours later he urged Congress to pass a different coronavirus relief package.

HOPE, INSPIRATION, LAUGHTER

Amid the heartbreaking loss of life and economic hardship wrought by the coronavirus, we recognize the need for stories of kindness, hope, courage and humor. 
  

Teenage chalk artist creating laughter with her ‘COVID Cartoons’

Soraya Young-Pen is a 17-year old sidewalk artist who up until a few months ago didn’t really know she had this talent. It is interesting that COVID is bringing out all of these hidden talents in people and for Soraya, it was sidewalk art.