COVID-19: Department Updates & Resources

Department Announcement: COVID-19

With the ongoing concern about the spread of COVID-19, the Department of African American staff will be working remotely. Staff will continue to be available via remote access, and can be reached via email, phone, or Zoom meetings.

Please check this page for department updates and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flu Vaccination Requirement for UC Students, Faculty and Staff (updated August 25, 2020)

Effective November 1, 2020, all students, faculty, and staff living, learning, or working at any UC location must receive a flu vaccine. For more information, click here.

Update: Health Protocols for a Safer Return to Campus

As we approach the start of the fall quarter, here are key mitigation protocols and procedures in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus and facilitate a safer return for those coming back to the UCLA campus. Please be aware that while the campus is open to individuals who are engaged in essential campus operations, attending approved in-person courses or receiving care at UCLA hospitals and clinics, it remains closed to the general public at this time.

In accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Reopening Safer at Work and in the Community Health Officer Order (PDF), UCLA has developed a set of health and safety protocols and mitigation strategies for those who will be on campus this fall. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the documents below, which outline the critical actions we all must take in response to COVID-19 to enhance the safety and well-being of our Bruin community, including required asymptomatic testing of faculty, staff and students living, learning or working on campus.
Additionally, the campus maintains symptom monitoring requirements for faculty/staff (PDF), students (PDF), third-party contract workers (PDF) and essential visitors (PDF).

Office Hours

During this time, we will be holding virtual office hours to assist you with your academic and department needs. Please sign up for a time between 11am-1pm Monday-Thursday. Please sign up for a Zoom meeting HERE.

ATTENTION: Department African American Studies Revised Undergraduate Grading Policy

For this quarter,  the Department of African American  Studies will allow up to two courses as P/NP to be used to count towards your major/minor requirements.  Again, this will only be allowed for this quarter (Spring 2020) only.   A few things you should know about this option and new deadlines to change your grading status.
  1. If you are a double-major/double-minor I will have to make sure you are not overlapping these courses to ensure that I am adhering to your other units requirements.  I will be working with my colleagues to ensure that you each receive the appropriate credit towards your majors/minors.
  2. You will be able, for this quarter only, to change your grading basis until Friday of 10th week. ( see CAC website)

If you have any questions or concerns please schedule a ZOOM meeting with Eboni using the following link:  ZOOM

UCLA Resources

For more COVID-19 information for the UCLA campus community, click HERE.

► Faculty, staff and students can email covid19@ucla.edu with any questions regarding UCLA’s response to COVID-19.

This portal gives access to other counseling if a student is undergoing a current crisis (Mental health, thoughts of suicide, experienced assault, etc.)
While we are away from campus and CAPS is closed, there are still resources available so students may properly care for their mental health.

Peer Assistance and Wellness Support (PAWS) is a group dedicated to improving the experiences of students at UCLA through peer counseling. They offer confidential and private one-on-one sessions for those seeking a peer who will listen to concerns, help clarify thoughts, and work on overall wellbeing.

Counselors range from undergraduates to graduates, across multiple programs, and undergo training as part of their desire to give back to the UCLA student community. Services are open to any current UCLA student, are free of charge.

Resources for College Students

1. Food Resources

  • USDA National Hunger Hotline The hotline is a helpful resource for people seeking food assistance. Operated by Hunger Free America, they can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) (for Spanish).
  • LA Controller – Food Resources Map LA Controller presents this map of food pantries, LAUSD meal distribution sites, and farmers’ markets, along with a look at how accessible grocery stores are to Angelenos, to help residents locate food to meet their needs during this pandemic.

2. Housing Resources

3. Educational Resources

  • City of LA – Get Connected LA. The City of Los Angeles in partnership with the California Emerging Technology Fund and EveryoneOn is helping Angelenos find options for low-cost internet services, access to computers, and digital literacy services. Click here to search for services via your zip code.
  • Coursera – Take free classes from one of there 190+ partner universities and communities
  • edX – Access 2500+ Online Courses from 140 Top Institutions
  • Audible– Free Audiobooks Audible has made hundreds of titles free during the coronavirus crisis.

4. Additional Resources

Volunteering Opportunities

  • Office of the Governor – Californians for All-Volunteer Service Initiative
    • During these difficult times, Californians are coming together to help each other like never before. Governor Newsom has announced a new initiative to match interested volunteers with high-need opportunities to safely serve their communities. You can sign up to join at CaliforniansForAll.ca.gov.
  • The Red Cross – Urgent Needs & Requests
    • The Red Cross also strongly urges healthy, eligible individuals to give blood or platelets to help maintain a sufficient blood supply and prevent shortages. The Red Cross is taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of our volunteers and employees and ensuring safety protocols are in place at blood drives and all worksites to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
      • Donate Blood – The Red Cross now faces a severe blood shortage due to an unprecedented number of blood drive cancellations during this coronavirus outbreak. Healthy individuals are needed now to donate to help patients including victims of car accidents and other emergencies, or patients suffering from cancer requiring lifesaving blood.
      • Volunteer to help distribute free meals – Hundreds of volunteers are needed every weekday morning starting March 18 to help the Red Cross, LA County Office of Emergency Management and the LAUSD serve prepared meals to families and students affected by school closures.
  • LA Food Bank – Food Donations Needed
    Donate to food banks and volunteer to ensure our most vulnerable populations are still able to provide for their families. Much needed items include canned goods, peanut butter, toilet paper, antibacterial cleansers, and financial contributions.
  • L.A. Works – Virtual Volunteer Opportunities One of the most important things you can do for our Los Angeles community is to stay home. All L.A. Works non-essential volunteer opportunities have been suspended, however many essential services still need to continue  The hungry still need food.  The isolated still need companionship.  We want to let you know how to stay healthy and still come together (figuratively!) to support Los Angeles. Please consider virtual volunteer opportunities to help our non-profits.