On campus resources for Graduate Students

Dear Graduate and Professional Students:

While the past few weeks have brought unprecedented challenges for our campus and the global community, UCLA’s top priority remains protecting the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. As we have made decisions in the interests of health and safety, we recognize that limiting access to classrooms, research resources, peers and mentors affects your ability to stay on track with your courses, scholarship, teaching and professional development.

Thank you for your resilience and commitment during this time of rapid change and uncertainty.

We are writing to tell you about new resources that you may find especially useful at this time, and to share updates about continuing resources. The most current information about this public health crisis is always available at UCLA’s COVID-19 website, Bruins Safe Online and UCLA’s Twitter feed, which are all updated regularly. As new information becomes available in relation to these and other resources for the spring quarter, we will share additional updates.

Departments across campus have existing and new resources to support you personally and professionally. Among them:

• The Registrar’s Office has created a COVID-19 FAQ page that provides answers to frequently asked questions about fees and registration. It will continue to be updated as we receive additional information.
• Technology support. Students can check out long-term lending laptops, iPads and internet hotspots through the CLICC Lending Desk in Powell Library. UCLA is currently adding additional laptops and iPads to expand the resources available to students. If you need a device, please fill out this online service request form at the UCLA Library website. The form will prompt you to create an account, and once your request is processed, you will be given a specific day and time to pick up your device. Visit the UCLA Library website for additional information on remote services and other resources. You may also consider contacting your specific department for additional options for supporting your technology needs.
• Lost wages and the Economic Crisis Response Team. If you are a student employee facing financial hardship due to lost wages, please fill out the Intake Form for Lost Wages for Student Employees. We are exploring all possible options for support and will get back to you as soon as possible. If you find yourself in general financial distress, please fill out the ECRT self-assessment form on this same website. You will be prompted to enter your UCLA logon ID to complete these forms.
• University housing. UCLA Housing remains open and will continue to support students who want to stay in university housing until the end of their contracts. If you want to cancel your housing contract, there is no cancellation fee for early termination. If you cancel your contract and still have future years of eligibility, you will not lose your eligibility. For more information, visit the Housing COVID-19 information page.
• Off-campus apartment leases. If you have questions about how to work with an off-campus landlord, and you are a current, registered student, you can receive legal assistance from UCLA Student Legal Services. You can request a Zoom appointment by filling out this online form. Answers to frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and terminating an apartment lease are available on the Student Legal Services website.
• The Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars has published answers to frequently asked questions for F-1 and J-1 visa holders. That information and all recent communications from the Dashew Center can be found on the center’s website.
• Mental health. The Healthy Campus Initiative Center’s March 17 message provided information about mental health and social well-being resources. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is offering telehealth appointments and has temporarily suspended session limits. If you need support or have any questions, please call CAPS at 310-825-0768. Resilience in your Student Experience Center (RISE) is also available to support you with virtual mindfulness, yoga and other stress management resources.
• Food resources. The Community Programs Office (CPO) Food Closet and the Basic Needs Committee are exploring options to ensure that food closet users have access to food. The CPO Facebook page will be updated with more information once it is available. Bruin Café, located on The Hill, will be available during Spring Break for lunch and dinner, starting with dinner on Friday, March 20 for BruinCard Easy Pay or credit card transactions.
• The Arthur Ashe Student Health Center remains engaged with local, state and national health agencies in closely monitoring COVID-19. Guidance for students can be found on the Ashe Center’s website.
• UCLA Recreation has announced that all facilities will be closed until further notice. Additional details, including options to retrieve personal items from lockers, are listed on the UCLA Recreation website. Brief instructional videos to support your physical wellness can be found at UCLA Rec’s Fitwell site.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information regarding COVID-19 and making decisions about how best to manage this crisis, please call the Student Support Line at 310-825-3894, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If support line representatives are busy assisting another person, leave a message and they will call you back as quickly as possible. You may also email covid19@ucla.edu with any questions regarding UCLA’s response to COVID-19.

Our thoughts are with the health care workers and first responders who are at the frontlines in responding to the pandemic, and with everyone who is affected. UCLA’s legendary coach John Wooden reminded us, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” As we move through the next few weeks, let’s focus on what we can do for ourselves and our community.

Fiat Lux,