Graduate Student Resources for Unprecedented 2020

Do you get all those emails from Grad division on a daily basis? If you
don’t have time to read them all here is a link to read them at your
leisure without screening through all your emails: https://www.grad.uci.edu/services/CampusHealthUpdates.php

CARES Act Direct Aid to Students

Graduate students all fall into one of three categories:

Not Title IV Eligible

Title IV eligible and filed a FAFSA – You should have already received your CARES
funds in your ZotAccount

Title IV eligible and did not file a FAFSA – You should have received an email
from Financial Aid telling you that the on-line CARES Emergency Grant Fund
affidavit for students that did not file a FAFSA is live:
https://apply.admissions.uci.edu/register/caresrequest

If you believe you are in category 2 or 3 but Financial Aid has not been in touch,
please contact them early next week.

Did you know?

Graduate Division wants to hear from you!

Anonymously, share with us:

* Your current stressors or concerns

* A program idea

* How can we best support you during this time?

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWWgqslui0uh8EBjQElnD9pN26jXOjfPUMItnQqpsVoLGulQ/viewform

Got a tax question?

https://www.fs.uci.edu/tax-information/

For questions regarding your 1098-T, contact the TRA Team at tra@uci.edu

For additional resources: https://studentaffairs.uci.edu/services-for-students/

Currently Phase 2 Reopening and Research has begun as of June 8th.

What this means:

• Approval. PIs must have approval to perform research during phase 2, which is limited to 30% on-site activity. If PIs have not already submitted their documents for approval, the appropriate forms can
  be downloaded and submitted on UCI Review. Submitted plans are reviewed on a rolling basis. Remember that no person can be compelled to return to campus during phase 2.
• Training. The campus has posted a formal COVID-19 training module. Even if phase 2 plans have been approved, PIs and all personnel under their supervision must take this training before returning to
  campus. To start the course, log into UCLC at www.uclc.uci.edu. Once on the UCLC home page, click on the orange box titled “Find A Course”, and search by title: “Returning to Campus.”
  Health Monitoring. Personnel are expected to self-monitor daily. Report incidences of COVID-19 positive tests and symptoms to Human Resources. Please see EH&S’s Research Safety Procedures to
  Reduce COVID-19 Transmission. The UCI Working Well™ Daily Health Check-In application has been developed as part of the new Working Well™ program. All employees who will be working on-site
  will receive regular communications from the application. We ask that PIs please send the names and UCInetID(s) of all employees who are or will be working on-site to your department administrators
  so that these employees can be added to the application. Once you submit your list, employees can expect to begin receiving daily emails within 72 hours.
• Deliveries. Research buildings will be locked during the day, but we have arranged for the McGaugh Hall loading dock to be the central point for receiving deliveries. It will be open and staffed on
  Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The delivery receiving staff will contact labs by phone and/or email when a delivery arrives. Please include the name of the lab with your orders, so
  the staff can make contact. Because there will be no refrigerated storage, PIs are responsible for checking on delivery of perishables and making sure they are picked up in timely fashion. The School
  will not accept responsibility for packages that are not retrieved. For large purchases, such as equipment, delivery to specific locations needs to be arranged directly with the vendor.
  PPE. Masks will be provided to returning lab groups. EH&S and Facilities Management (FM) will distribute 3 cloth face coverings per person based on the number of personnel you listed on your Phase 2
  Research Plan. We will do our best to get these distributed in a timely manner. If you are concerned about delays, contact Brian Paredes (brian@uci.edu) with BioSci’s FM. You may also order masks
  from EH&S, but if you do so, please inform Brian Paredes because masks are in limited supply. Campus is working on the release of a directive regarding masks; expect face coverings to be required
  under most conditions on campus. EH&S will acquire gloves centrally for the campus. Demand is high for gloves and they are on order.
• Cleaning and Sanitation. BioSci’s main labs in BS3, NS I & II, MH, SH, GH, Bonney, Qureshey have received a cleaning start-up package with three items: paper towels, hand sanitizer and spray
  disinfectant. PIs can reach out to Brian Paredes (brian@uci.edu) to coordinate additional supplies, as appropriate. Beginning Monday, June 8 FM custodial cleaning crews will clean common spaces in
  research buildings twice per day, including wiping down lab entry door handles. They will go into labs to perform routine cleaning as before and as described here. Additional custodial staff have been
  hired to manage the increased workload. If PIs do not want custodial staff to enter the lab, they can opt out by placing a sign on the laboratory door. After opting out, the lab will be removed from the
  schedule. Once removed, be forewarned it may be difficult to add the lab back to the cleaning schedule due to staffing issues. EH&S has drafted procedures for cleaning labs.
  Hand washing remains the recommended method for personal hygiene. We have, however, requested additional wall-mounted and free-standing hand sanitizer dispensers for common spaces, such as
  building entrances, hallways, lobbies and classrooms. Stocks are low, so many of these remain on order, and they will be installed when available.
  Signage. Campus reopening signage will be posted at building entrances, stairways, elevators, restrooms, and other common spaces starting the week of June 8 and continue until completed. These
  signs will provide instructions about occupancy and use of these shared spaces. Signs can be downloaded and printed for posting.
• Ventilation. UCI buildings have aircuity systems that monitor environmental parameters and adjust air supply and exhaust delivery based upon indoor contaminant levels and thermal load. Campus is
  not intending further modification of building ventilation.

Given recent events, recommendations from the Assistant Dean of Access & Inclusion
The Henry Samueli School of Engineering (Sharnnia Artis) are as follows:

Black Lives Matter Movement | Action Items

Have you ever wondered how Black students feel at UCI? We strongly encourage you to watch The 2%: Navigating UCI as a Black
Student: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRTIWvPEesM. This is a short film (~21 minutes) that was created earlier this year by
Iyanna Blackburn, UCI student, and features one of our own engineering students.

See the official action plan.
From the office of inclusive excellence:
https://inclusion.uci.edu/action-plan/

From the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory:https://cnlm.uci.edu/2020/06/08/black-lives-matter/

For all things Immigration related for International Students, visit:

https://ic.uci.edu/resource-pages/immigration-policy-updates.php

Well-being Services for UCI Employees Offered through the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute

• Free virtual well-being services for UCI employees

• The Susan Samueli Integrative Health well-being initiative is offering free virtual well-being services for UCI employees. Mindfulness and meditation, guided acupressure, stress management, biofeedback and relaxation techniques, and wellness education sessions are some of the available services. Appointments are required.