Dear undergraduate students,
We are writing to follow up on Chancellor Christ’s March 16 message about fall semester planning and to provide additional details on what these changes mean for you and what you can expect on campus this fall. Additional information is available in the Fall 2021 Instruction FAQ for Students and the Student Affairs website.
In-person Classes
The default instructional mode for fall 2021 is planned to be in-person; however, we are planning for the first week of fall instruction (August 25-31, 2021) to be entirely remote. Students are expected to be in residence by August 25 to observe a one-week period for testing, vaccination for those who need it, and quarantine before the start of in-person classes.
The anticipated exceptions to in-person instruction are:
- Class sections with enrollments of 200 or more (discussion or lab sections associated with remote lectures of 200 or more may be offered with remote and in-person delivery options. Students unable to return to campus should select remote sections when available);
- Courses approved to be routinely taught in an online format (search for “Web Based” or “Online” courses under “Mode of Instruction” in the course schedule when it is released on April 18); and
- A small number of courses in which instructors have requested and received approval to teach remotely exclusively
While we fully expect to continue in-person classes throughout the semester, our plans will continue to be contingent upon public health conditions at the time of their implementation, and are subject to change. A plan is being developed to allow instructors to transition swiftly from in-person to online instruction if necessary.
As always, if you need accommodations for a disability in order to fully participate in instructional activities, please visit the Disabled Students’ Program website to apply for services.
Fall 2021 Schedule of Classes and Enrollment Appointments
The Fall 2021 Schedule of Classes and student enrollment appointment times will be available to view on Sunday, April 18 in CalCentral. Phase I enrollment appointments will begin on Monday, April 26. All Phase I enrollment appointments will begin prior to spring final exams and will end on June 11. See the Student Enrollment and Deadline Calendar: 2021-22 and the Fall 2021 Instruction FAQ for additional details.
International Students
We know that some international students may not be able to attend in-person classes in the fall because of their inability to obtain a visa and/or enter the United States. While we are advocating for the removal of government restrictions that apply to international students, you may, in the interim, still enroll in fall courses from abroad. The majority of classes will be offered in-person, but classes of 200 or more will be remote. Some courses will also be provided asynchronously.
International students should view the latest COVID-19 update from the Berkeley International Office (BIO) and contact BIO for additional information. International students are encouraged to consult with their department and college as well as BIO to evaluate your options if you are unable to come to the United States due to travel restrictions.
Housing
If you have not yet done so, we recommend you research housing options and make your housing selection as soon as possible. If you have applied for a Cal Housing option such as the residence halls and campus apartments, you will hear directly from Cal Housing with those details. At this time, occupancy levels in campus housing for 2021-22 have not yet been determined. The number of spaces available will depend on public health guidance from UC, state, county, and local public health officials. However, with COVID-19 vaccination well underway across the country, we are optimistic conditions will improve by the fall semester. Please refer to the Cal Housing website for the latest information.
For off-campus housing, Cal Rentals invites you to a virtual housing fair where you can speak with local property managers and landlords about availability, take virtual tours, and enter to win prizes. The fair will take place on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). To participate in the virtual housing fair, please register now.
Vaccines
Our plans are predicated upon reaching high vaccination rates, so it is critical that you get vaccinated when eligible. The vaccines authorized in the United States are safe and highly effective; side effects are extremely rare and these vaccines provide impressive protection from severe COVID-19 illness. Flu vaccination information and requirements for fall 2021 will be posted on the University Health Services website when available.
Thank you again for your continued flexibility and resilience over the past year, and we look forward to seeing you more in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Catherine P. Koshland
Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education
Stephen C. Sutton
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
This message was sent to all UC Berkeley undergraduate students.