August 17, 2021
Re: Fall Semester Instruction
To: All Campus
August 17, 2021
Dear Campus Community,
UC Merced will delay the start of in-person instruction until August 30. As you know, we faced a substantial shortage of student housing, exacerbated by the Merced Station construction delays. We have been able to offer additional on-campus housing and continue to work with students around their housing needs. This delay in physical course attendance will allow time to situate our students into late housing assignments. Students living on campus will hear from housing related to their move in schedule.
- Courses approved by the UC Merced Academic Senate already scheduled for online delivery will begin instruction on August 25, the official start date of fall semester instruction.
- The Academic Senate authorizes faculty to utilize online assignments, readings, videos, etc., as long as the delivery is asynchronous, to provide instruction for August 25-27. Instructors may also opt to just start their courses when in-person instruction begins on August 30.
- Instructors should provide clear messaging to students via CatCourses to students about expected course activities for the August 25-27 period.
- Students should check all their CatCourses course sites by August 25 and take note of course activities and assignments.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we begin our semester.
Sincerely,
Gregg Camfield
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Robin DeLugan
Academic Senate Chair
