(COVID-19): Campus Health Updates
Section 1
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5/15/2020 - Daily COVID-19 Graduate Division Update
Dear Grad Students and Post-Docs,
Happy Friday! I am so happy to be able to give you some good news today. It sometimes feels like forever between times when I can actually do that. So, please do read today’s message for information on a big summer program we are launching in collaboration with the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI), CARES funding, and some changes we made with the support of the academic senate to protect you from some adverse events.
I mentioned in a previous message how glad I was that those of you in need have been reaching out and also that those who have summer funding or have other resources are being such generous community members with each other. I saw a message recently from a grad student at another school though that spoke to me about one of the risks of this kind of approach. Yes, it is true, we have fundamentally limited resources, and I want to get them to those most in need. However, when we rely on you to tell us you are in need, some of the most vulnerable will not reach out. A crisis makes it hard to file a form. We get that. So, to make some small steps towards remedying that, we are working to make as many of our processes as simple as possible. We are shortening and streamlining applications as much as we can. I also wanted to make sure all of you know that we in Grad Division are here to help you as are Students Affairs, DECADE mentors, grad program directors, and others in your local schools. If you think you need something, even if you are unsure, let us (or those listed above) know. We can help you. If you aren’t sure what form you need to file or what steps you need to take to get what you need, reach out. We can help you. And if you think you aren’t worthy of our help, you are wrong. We can and will help you as much as we can with the limited resources we have.
Now, on to the cheery stuff:
Call for DTEI Fellows
Apply Now
Here is the first funding opportunity that you may have already seen come through your inbox from VPTL Dennin. The Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation (DTEI), in collaboration with the Graduate Division, is pleased to announce a call for DTEI Graduate Fellows for Summer 2020. DTEI Graduate Fellows will work with faculty to develop high quality remote courses for the 2020-21 academic year. Fellows will receive training from DTEI in fundamentals of pedagogy and remote learning as well as specific tools that may be useful in creating a high quality remote learning experience.
Potential Graduate Fellow responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Canvas page development
• Assistance with lecture video construction
• Transition of assessments for a remote format
• Development of activities to facilitate students/student and student/instructor interaction
• Consideration and understanding of a broad range of pedagogical concepts
DTEI Graduate Fellows will be expected to engage in pedagogical activities an average of 20 hours a week for 10 weeks during the summer (which includes a one-week required remote training course to be held during the week of June 22nd). Fellows will receive a $5000 Fellowship and a Certificate in Remote Instruction.
Individuals interested in applying to be a DTEI Graduate Fellow must complete the application form, which includes background questions and gathers information on your prior teaching experience. Applicants must be a continuing graduate student (Master's or Ph.D.) who will have completed at least three quarters of successful graduate coursework at UCI by the end of Spring quarter 2020. Application review will begin on a rolling basis.
If you are interested in working with a specific course/instructor, please contact the instructor prior to submitting the application form. You will have an opportunity to indicate this course/instructor on the application, but it is by no means required for the application. We cannot guarantee a particular assignment but will do our best to accommodate such requests. Additionally, if your program has reached out to you specifically to apply to this program, please indicate this on the application form. Please apply even if you do not have a specific course in mind or have not been contacted by your program, and we will work to appropriately match Fellows with courses based on discipline and relevant expertise.
If you have any questions regarding the DTEI Graduate Fellows program, please feel free to reach out to Matthew Mahavongtrakul (mmahavon@uci.edu).
CARES Funding
Grad CARES funding is set to go out soon to everyone who is eligible via Financial Aid. It will go out in two stages, first to the FAFSA filers and then to the non-FAFSA filers, who will have to do an affidavit. For most Title IV eligible students, the amount you will receive--regardless of your degree level or other circumstances--will be $500. This amount is a pure pass through, which is to say that if you owe the university any money, the funds will not be applied against that debt. You will receive the full award for which you are eligible. Financial Aid will be in touch with you if you are Title IV eligible about this. Unfortunately, this funding, because it comes with strings attached from the US Government, and we cannot provide it to non-Title IV eligible students. We are, as always, exploring other options to support our students who are not Title IV eligible.
TA & Instructor Evaluations
Both Graduate Council and the Committee on Academic Personnel have endorsed a plan put forward by Graduate Division, OVPTL, and Academic Personnel to mark teaching evaluations collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will begin for Spring quarter and is expected to continue through summer session and at least Fall 2020. Both the online report view and the printable versions of teaching evaluation reports during this time will be marked with “This course was offered during the COVID-19 global pandemic in an emergency remote learning environment.” I want to really thank the student who brought the concern of other universities viewing these reviews out of context to my attention during one of my virtual office hours. You all coming to me and talking about these things is how we best make progress, and I really appreciate it.
Public Defenses
In light of the risks around Zoombombing and other concerns with remote presentations, we have secured a waiver from Graduate Council to SR935, which requires defense exams to be open to the academic community. As long as defenses are being conducted remotely, this requirement will be waived.
UCI Center for Medical Humanities: Bridging Isolation During the COVID Pandemic
By now we’ve all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of us more than others. Whether it’s loved ones passing away or family members losing jobs, this has been a hard time for all of us. The UCI Center for Medical Humanities wants to hear your story and how you’re feeling. It will not be shared outside of their group unless you give them permission. To share your story, please click here.
Graduate Career Support Provided by the Division of Career Pathways
The Division of Career Pathways has a variety of workshops to assist graduate students with their career development. From job search strategies, to enhancing your resume, to interview techniques, the Division of Career Pathways has numerous remote programs to get students ready for the job market. Click here to register and learn more! There are also a plethora of professional webinars that are of no additional cost to you. Click here to check them out!
Career Pathways also has several upcoming events that should be of interest to people seeking jobs and internships. Even though millions have lost their jobs in some sectors, in many others employers are still hiring. Surprisingly, the folks at Career Pathways told me just today that their STEM Virtual Career Fair has more employers than any they have held in the past. One thing I want to really emphasize (as a STEM person myself), is that companies that are STEM-oriented also hire humanists and social scientists and artists. So, you should consider attending even if you don’t come from a STEM discipline.
The UC Wide STEM Virtual Career Fair will be taking place on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, and is geared toward students seeking STEM career opportunities. On the following day, Wednesday, May 27, 2020, from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, we will be holding the UC Wide general Virtual Career Fair for non-technical positions. All students, from every major and all degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, postdocs), are encouraged to attend this two-day event, so register on CareerEco today!
You may participate in one or both depending on your interests. There is a separate registration link for each.
UC Wide STEM Virtual Career Fair - Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 9am-6pm PDT
Click here to see a list of employers and to register:
UC Wide Virtual Career Fair - Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 9am-6pm PDT
Click here to see a list of employers and to register:
REMINDER: Dean’s Office Hours
Just a reminder, I will continue to have my virtual office hours all throughout May. Please stop by, even if it’s just to say hello!
This week, sadly, I had to miss the virtual office hours for today, because I was in a meeting about opening the physical access to the libraries (Soon!!!! So Exciting! Watch your inboxes for news on the phased process).
The rest of the week was great as usual. Unfortunately, I had some students come this week who are struggling with some challenges. I don’t know that in a non-Covid world, I would have gotten to hear from them as quickly as I did. And so for that, I am incredibly grateful, and I am increasingly convinced that regular virtual office hours might be a good thing for Graduate Division even after this ends. I also had a fun time reliving old consulting days with a student thinking about becoming a consultant, and found out that our director of communications, Derrick, started his professional life out as a consultant too. I knew we had a lot in common!
So… please come see us. As always, I don’t always have all the answers, and I can’t always give you what you want, but I will always listen and be honest with you.
Dean’s Virtual Office Hours: https://uci.zoom.us/j/7277477057
Monday, May 18 9:00am – 9:30am
Tuesday, May 19 12:00pm – 12:30pm
Wednesday, May 20 9:30am – 10:00am
Thursday, May 21 9:00am – 9:30am
Friday, May 22 9:00am – 9:30am
Monday, May 25 No office hours due to holiday
Tuesday, May 26 9:00am – 9:30am
Wednesday, May 27 9:00am – 9:30am
Thursday, May 28 9:00am – 9:30am
Friday, May 29 10:00am – 10:30am
UCI IN THE NEWS - COVID-19 Article List
ABC7, May 15, 2020 (Video)-UC Irvine researchers to conduct antibody testing for Orange County
Business Insider, May 15, 2020-Some back-of-the-envelope math reveals the risk in relying on even the best antibody tests to tell us who’s had the coronavirus
Voice of OC, May 15, 2020 -Orange County Could See Great Depression Era Unemployment From Coronavirus Impact
Daily Pilot, May 14, 2020 -New training program could better protect Orange County nursing home workers and residents from coronavirus
Patch, May 14, 2020 -How Would Coronavirus Affect You? UC Irvine Makes Bold Prediction
My News LA, May 14, 2020 -Orange County Coronavirus Cases Up by 229
Huntington Beach News, May 14, 2020 -Marina High Student puts together a food/mask drive for vulnerable community members of Orange County affected by COVID-19
My News LA, May 14, 2020 -UCI Health Reports Development of Medical Predictive Too
Daily Pilot, May 14, 2020 -Virtual ceremonies, care packages & online yearbooks: O.C. colleges find creative ways to toast Class of 2020
The Seattle Times, May 14, 2020 -Study shows human speech creates long-lasting airborne droplets – a coronavirus transmission risk
Orange County Register, May 14, 2020 -Rigorous coronavirus antibody testing coming to Orange County
Daily Pilot, May 13, 2020 -Commentary: Patients with anxiety are faring fairly well but they may be avoiding underlining causes
McKnight’s, May 13, 2020 -Let’s talk about you: COVID-19 self-care tips for caregivers
Yahoo! May 13, 2020 -Surf’s up and so are new beach rules to prevent virus spread
The Street, May 13, 2020 -Bankruptcy courts ill-prepared for tsunami of people going broke from coronavirus shutdown
Diverse Issues in Higher Education, May 13, 2020 -Online Education Offers New Ways to Identify and Support At-Risk Students
In closing
I don’t know about you, but I had a rough week this week. Somehow the news of Orange County COVID-19 cases rising combined with just a lot of work nearly broke me. What kept me going this week was you. I knew we had to get the DTEI Fellows information out to you this week, and I knew we had to get the plan for CARES settled. It’s still not enough, and we will continue to chip away at the support we need to raise for you. But I wanted to say thank you to you all. Some days I am just so tired, and thinking about all of you counting on me is what keeps me going.
As MLK Jr. told us “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, keep moving forward.”
This week, you kept me moving forward. I hope some time I can repay the favor.
Sending you all my best, and hoping you have a great weekend!
On behalf of all of Graduate Division,
Gillian
Gillian Hayes
Kleist Professor of Informatics
Vice Provost for Graduate Education
Dean of the Graduate Division