(COVID-19): Campus Health Updates
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***Please Click Here for Official Campuswide Updates***
Registrar's Office FAQ Page | Official University FAQ Page
4/3/2020 - Daily COVID-19 Graduate Division Update
Dear Graduate Students and Post-Docs,
Well congratulations, you did it! It may not have been the smoothest transition or maybe you didn’t have any issues at all (if this is you, teach me your secrets), but either way you made it through the first week of spring quarter! You all deserve a restful weekend based on that alone.
Just remember, we’re in this together. Below is some information you may find useful.
Help with Online Resources for Teaching and Learning
Instructure (the maker of Canvas) will now handle all faculty and TA support for Canvas. This means that you have access to support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Canvas Support Hotline: 855-213-7130
support@instructure.com
The EEE team will still handle Canvas support for students, and will support the homegrown EEE+ suite of tools, including EEE+ GrandCentral. The EEE team can be reached Monday-Friday from 8AM-11AM, and 12PM-5PM at eee-support@uci.edu.
“Getting Started with Canvas” Webinars
OIT has partnered with the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI) to host a series of webinars that can help you get started with Canvas. Visit https://sites.uci.edu/teachanywhere/pedagogy/webinars/ to see the current schedule, or to view previously recorded sessions.
More Information on TOEFL and GRE Testing
ETS has expanded availability of the at home testing solutions for the TOEFL iBT® test and GRE® General Test to all locations where computer-delivered tests are normally available, with the exception of Mainland China and Iran. In Mainland China, ETS is working closely with the National Education Examinations Authority to accommodate test takers impacted by test cancellations, including adding test dates once regular testing resumes. ETS is working to offer at-home testing in Iran as soon as possible, and hopes to be able to share more good news very soon.
Free test prep – Applicants can access comprehensive test prep materials including real test questions. The GRE® Program provides two free simulations of the full test experience and other free materials on its website. The TOEFL® Program puts out a high-quality free online course on edX and shares other free materials on its website.
Fee reduction – GRE fee reductions available to eligible test takers can be used for all GRE tests, including the at home tests. Learn more.
At home resources and contact information –
GRE® General Test
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Institution-Facing Resources
- www.ets.org/gre/cv-update
- GREtests@ets.org
- +1-609-683-2002
- www.ets.org/gre/cv-update
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Test Taker Resources
TOEFL iBT® Test
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Institution-Facing Resources
- www.ets.org/toefl/cv-update
- TOEFLnews@ets.org
- +1-609-683-2008
- www.ets.org/toefl/cv-update
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Test Taker Resources
Fellowship Advising Appointments
Are you thinking about applying for a fellowship this fall? Now might be a great time to think about preparing these application materials, even though the deadlines are not for several months. You can start identifying fellowships and learning about application requirements, and sometimes thinking about things far in the future can help distract from the difficulties of today. Starting now gives you plenty of time to draft and prepare competitive materials for these prestigious awards and for us to help you craft those materials.
Don’t know where to start? Set up a virtual fellowship advising appointment with Dr. Kayleigh Anderson-Natale. Click here to request a meeting. Fellowship advising appointments can be spent:
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Identifying and discussing resources for finding appropriate fellowships
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Discussing strategies for drafting competitive application materials
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Provide feedback on fellowship materials content, such as appropriateness of proposed research, etc.
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Help to find answers to questions about specific fellowships
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
- Fulbright Fellowships
- Ford Fellowships
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
We also still recommend consulting with our GPSRC Writing Consultants for writing specific needs, such as help with grammar, structure, clarity, etc.
Dean’s Virtual Office Hours
As a reminder, I or someone from my senior staff will be available for virtual office hours for 30 minutes every day, Monday - Friday for as long as needed to answer any questions or concerns. All graduate students and postdocs are welcome!
You don’t have to have a question to stop by office hours, you can just come to chat. Today we had a couple of students stop by who just wanted to chat, and I got to learn about their research, and they got to learn about the career paths of two Grad Division staff. We also brainstormed some great ideas for supporting our students more broadly that we hope to roll out in the next few weeks. Thank you to them both for their ideas!
All you need to do is click this link to join the virtual office hours and you’ll be in: https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057. Below are our office hours for this week.
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Monday, April 6: 1pm – 1:30pm
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Tuesday, April 7: 11am – 11:30am
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Wednesday, April 8: 3pm – 3:30pm
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Thursday, April 9: 8:30am – 9am
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Friday, April 10: 3:30pm – 4pm
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Monday, April 13: 2:30pm – 3pm
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Tuesday, April 14: Noon – 12:30pm
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Wednesday, April 15: 11:30am – Noon
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Thursday, April 16: 9am – 9:30am
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Friday, April 17: 3:00pm – 3:30pm
Virtual Yoga and Meditation
Please join us for a virtual yoga and meditation class on Wednesday, April 8th from 10:30 am -11:30 am. The class will be live-streamed on UCI Graduate Division's Instagram page (@ucirvinegd) and facilitated by graduate counselor and yoga instructor Phong Luong.
The class is designed to allow for a full body stretch for beginners and fundamental breathwork. It is open to the wider UCI community. Mats are recommended, but not required!
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
Orange County Register, April 3, 2020
When can life resume after coronavirus? Widespread blood testing can hold answers, experts say
Scientific American, April 3, 2020
Why the Coronavirus Slipped Past Disease Detectives
Scientific American, April 3, 2020
Coronavirus Disrupts Vital Field ResearchIncluding Disease Transmission Work
The New Yorker, April 3, 2020
Wisconsin Braces for an Election Day Amid the Coronavirus Crisis
Orlando Sentinel, April 3, 2020
How to care for your mental health during COVID-19 pandemic
Orange County Business Journal, April 3, 2020
UCI Law Ups Pro Bono Work
Psychology Today, April 3, 2020
7 Great Innovations Responding to the Coronavirus
Orange County Register, April 3, 2020
Coronavirus lifestyle improves climate-change behaviors. Will it last?
The Washington Post, April 3, 2020
Should U.S. states be free to close their borders to other U.S. citizens?
U.S News & World Report, April 3, 2020
Why Young People Should Care About COVID-19
OPB, April 3, 2020 (Audio)
How Coronavirus Threatens The Recovery Of Some Who Struggle With Mental Health
Popular Mechanics, April 3, 2020
Virgin Orbit helps in the fight against COVID-19
In Closing:
First of all, wow that was a long article list. It’s exciting to see how much UCI is contributing to the education of the public on these important issues!
Now, I want to be clear… I am NOT a Yankees fan. But I did think this Derek Jeter quote was kind of amusing given our current circumstances:
“You know what I want to do? Wake up one weekend and not have to go anywhere and do nothing. “
So...it’s the weekend. You probably have lots to do. You are probably caring for yourself, your friends, your family. You are probably cleaning your home. You are probably studying or working. In the midst of all of that, though, try to rest. Be one with the quiet. Wake up one day this weekend and do nothing. You already don’t have anywhere to go. Give it a try. Do nothing. It may be the best thing you can do.
Thinking of you as I go to lay on the couch, look out at the sky, take my eyes off this cursed screen… and DO NOTHING.
On behalf of all of Graduate Division,
Gillian
Gillian Hayes
Kleist Professor of Informatics
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Dean of the Graduate Division