Important Message from Interim Vice Chancellor Emily Galindo and Vice Provost and Dean Carolyn Thomas

Dear UC Davis students,

As California continues to experience the worst wildfire in state history, in Butte County, we are humbled and proud of the way Aggies have come together in support of those who are suffering displacement and loss.

Classes will resume on Monday, November 26. After missing seven days of instruction, we know that you will have questions about your return and how faculty will be handling the last two weeks of the quarter. 

First, and foremost, the academic quarter will not be extended and your finals will not be moved. Chancellor May submitted a request to the UC Office of the President for an exception to the minimum number of instructional days, and we expect formal approval next week.

This decision is the only way to ensure that your post-quarter plans do not have to be changed. It will, however, require flexibility on your part to ensure that you meet the learning objectives in your courses and prepare to advance in your majors.

Please check email and Canvas often this week for updates from your instructors. If you have any specific questions about how the content and due dates for your classes may have been modified, please contact your instructors directly.

We are counting on you to resume attending all of your classes next Monday and to engage fully in the required study that will be needed to complete all of your assignments and prepare for finals. The UC Davis library will reopen on Saturday, November 24.

Academic Senate has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions that outlines, among other information, what can be expected of instructors and students during and after the closure. Please read through it carefully.

In addition, Student Affairs provides many support services to students impacted by the lengthy closures, including:

• Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers (AATC) provides academic support to undergraduate students in biology, chemistry, economics, math, physics, statistics and writing across the disciplines. Subject workshops, content review sessions, office hours and drop-in tutoring are available throughout the day. Writing appointments can be scheduled here, and the Writing Studio will be open for students to walk in and work on writing. Practice problems, online videos and more resources are available. Please check the AATC website for support and services or call the AATC at 530-752-2013 for more information.
• Student Health and Counseling Services  (SHCS) offers both medical and mental health services, including mental health acute care services on the first floor of the Student Health and Wellness center, during normal hours of operation. If you have been impacted by these recent natural disasters and would like to speak to a counselor, please call 530-752-0871 to schedule an appointment. If you have health concerns, please call the SHCS appointment desk at 530-752-2349.
• Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations may wish to reach out to the Student Disability Center at 530-752-3184 for assistance.
• Case managers at the  Office of Student Support and Judicial Affairs  help to connect students with resources on and off campus including course arrangements, academic advising and housing, among other support services. If you would like to explore how a case manager can help you, please visit ossja.ucdavis.edu and enter an online report under “Tell us you are concerned about a student” or call 530-752-1128, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• If you are experiencing a hardship as a result of the California fires, please email Financial Aid and Scholarships. You can expect a response within 1-2 business days. Also, please visit the FAS Economic Crisis page for additional emergency resources.
• Beginning Monday, November 26, all of the many resource centers on campus, including Aggie Compass, will also reopen and resume normal hours and services.

This unprecedented fire has undoubtedly affected many in our Aggie family, and we urge you to seek any assistance you may need. We’re looking forward to having you back on campus this Monday, and we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and safe holiday.

Sincerely,

Emily Galindo
Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Carolyn Thomas
Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education
Professor of American Studies