Dear Campus Community,
We are writing to welcome you to the start of the Fall 2020 Semester and to inform you of important information and resources for this coming academic year.
This semester does come with challenges, and we have worked with many of you over the spring and summer to identify and address these challenges through careful planning. We want to thank you for your continued dedication, creativity, and flexibility.
Resources for Fall Instruction
On July 21, the campus announced Updated Plans for Fall 2020 In-Person Instruction to begin the fall semester with fully remote instruction. As you prepare for the start of instruction, we encourage you to take advantage of the following instructional resources:
All Campus:
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coronavirus.berkeley.edu (central campus website for COVID-19 resources and support, including information on instruction and other campus operations)
Students:
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Instruction FAQ for Students (Office of the Registrar)
Instructors:
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Instruction FAQ for Instructors (Academic Senate)
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Remote Attendance and Participation (Center for Teaching & Learning)
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Keep Teaching website (Research, Teaching & Learning Services)
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Instruction Planning and Policy Report (Administration & Academic Senate)
Academic Accommodations
As we start the fall semester, we call your attention to important campus policies and guidelines concerning academic accommodations for illness, disability, hardship, and other matters. The Academic Accommodations Hub is the student and instructor portal for support resources and academic policies, including key accommodation information and links to mental health resources, resources for survivors of sexual violence and sexual harassment, and more.
This Hub is located on the EVCP website and also can be accessed through bCourses by clicking “Academic Policies” in the navigation bar. It is also accessible via CalCentral. We hope that all instructors will provide a link to this webpage on their syllabi (https://evcp.berkeley.edu/programs-resources/academic-accommodations-hub).
Accommodation for Religious and Cultural Holidays
For religious and cultural holidays in which students may need academic accommodations, the Academic Accommodations Hub provides useful information; see Accommodation of Religious Creed.
When considering requests for accommodations, instructors should be mindful of APM 015 (Faculty Code of Conduct), which requires that faculty adhere to university policies, including those regarding class sessions and examinations.
Student Technology Equity Program (STEP)
Students in need of technical equipment for classes are strongly encouraged to apply for the Student Technology Equity Program (STEP). The program provides free loaner laptops, Wi-Fi hotspots with paid data plans, web cameras, noise-canceling headphones, and other technology to students in need. STEP will continue to accept applications on a rolling basis and will distribute hardware throughout the academic year, while supplies last.
Sincerely,
A. Paul Alivisatos
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Catherine P. Koshland
Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education
Oliver O’Reilly
Chair, Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate
This message was sent to UC Berkeley faculty, staff, and students.