UC Davis halts in-person final exams and bans large gatherings over coronavirus fears

UC Davis is canceling its in-person final exams for the winter quarter, telling students they can take such tests online or complete work in other ways as the university joins others nationwide grappling with how to address the coronavirus pandemic.

The university announced Tuesday that students can complete their finals work through take-home exams or other assignments, or by dropping the final exam and being graded on work they already have completed.

“For courses whose instructors decide not to avail themselves of one of these opportunities, the final examination must be conducted online,” the UC Davis news service wrote, adding that staff and faculty affected by the COVID-19 outbreak can seek time off to deal with the illness for themselves or family.

“Staff and faculty unable to work due to their own or family members’ COVID-19 illness, or because their children’s schools or daycare facilities are closed due to COVID-19, should use their available leave balances (e.g. sick leave, paid time off-sick or other accrued leave),” the university said. “Employees without sufficient leave time will be granted up to 14 days of paid administrative leave.”

The school also ordered a ban on most events expected to attract more than 150 people through the end of this month.

“Public health officials are advising people to practice ‘social distancing’ as a way to help protect themselves from illness, but that is not always possible in large gatherings,” UC Davis said. “Therefore, UC Davis administrative and academic units must cancel or postpone all events with planned attendance of more than 150 people from Thursday, March 12, through March 31, and offer flexible refund options.

“This applies to events (with some exemptions) at all UC Davis locations. Instruction is not included.”

Also not included are intercollegiate athletics events or performances at the Mondavi Center, which the school said will continue as scheduled.

“Refunds will be given to people who elect not to attend because of the coronavirus outbreak,” the school said, adding that events at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manatti Shrem Museum of Art are being canceled but that it will remain open for visitors.

Meanwhile, Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen announced Tuesday that the university is giving instructors the option of teaching their classes through online options, as long as the classes occur at the regularly scheduled class time.

“At this time, face-to-face class meetings are not canceled for those classes whose instructors do not voluntarily shift to synchronous virtual delivery,” Nelsen said in a message to the campus. “If in-person classes are suspended at a later point, the decision will be made after careful review of our local situation, which includes consultation with public health officials, civic leaders, and other higher education institutions.”

Nelsen added that “if new information or guidance becomes available, then we may have to adjust our plans on short notice.”

“We are conferring with the CSU Chancellor’s Office and other CSU campuses as we monitor the situation,” he said. “Sacramento State is maintaining normal operations at this time.

“That said, we encourage maximum flexibility and suggest that faculty or students who either should not or do not wish to attend in-person classes for COVID-19-related reasons should complete their work via alternate means.”

This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 4:31 PM.