ESS updates in response to COVID-19
New Updates
March 30 Update
It’s very important to take care of yourself and each other. Here are some tips from UHS counselors on different areas of self-care and wellbeing.
March 26 Update
College of Engineering Spring 2020 COVID-19 FAQs
March 20 Update
Grading policy update: In light of the substantial disruptions to instruction caused by the novel coronavirus emergency, the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate has made changes to grading options for the spring 2020 semester. The key points are:
- The default grading basis for all undergraduate courses for the spring 2020 semester will be changed to Passed/Not Passed (P/NP).
- Instructors must continue to maintain and submit records of letter grades earned.
- Students will be permitted to change their grading option to letter grade until at least May 6, 2020 (the Wednesday of RRR week).
In addition, the COE Academic Senate faculty has approved the following:
- For undergraduate students: For the Spring 2020 semester, a course completed with a grade of “P” is permitted to count for any college or major graduation requirement as long as a grade of “C-” in that class would also have counted to satisfy that requirement.
- For graduate students: For the Spring 2020 semester, a course completed with a grade of “S” (satisfactory) is permitted to count for any college graduate degree requirement as though it were a graded course with a suitable grade, but will not be factored into GPA calculations.
The campus is expected to provide additional details about implementation of these policies by March 27. Students are welcome to reach out to their ESS advisers with any questions.
Please visit the Graduate Division’s COVID-19 information and resource webpage for the most up-to-date information and resources related to graduate students.
Student emergency needs fund
If you are experiencing unexpected financial hardships due to the COVID-19 situation please visit the Student Emergency Needs Fund page.
Undergraduate advising
ESS advisers will be available for online-only appointments beginning today and until further notice. When you sign up for an appointment during this time, your adviser will send you a bCal invitation to a Google Hangout before your appointment time.
Tutoring: Center for Access to Engineering Excellence
The Center will be closed until further notice; however, online tutoring is available via Google Hangouts, and student assistants will remain available via email to address any questions or concerns.
To join satellite tutoring:
- Access and view the CAEE Online Tutoring Schedule spreadsheet. This will give you access to the CAEE tutoring schedule and allow you to see which tutors are available to support you with a specific class.
- Access and view the Google calendar for CAEE Online Tutoring: This will give you access to:
- the tutor’s name and hours
- the tutor’s Berkeley email
- the tutor’s Google Hangout link, which you will click to access the satellite tutoring
Since we are all trying to accommodate these circumstances, we ask that all those participating in the Online Tutoring Services adhere to the outlined etiquette.
Online tutoring services etiquette
- Please understand that this format is new to us all, and we ask that you are respectful of the tutor and your peers as they transition into this setting
- If you are not directly working with the tutor at a given moment, please be mindful and mute yourself appropriately as to prevent distracting background noise
- Tutors will try their best to address student’s needs throughout a session, however, we ask you to please be patient while waiting for help, and respectfully make use of the chat feature when necessary
- If you notice a particular Google Hangouts tutoring session is very busy, view the CAEE Online Tutoring Schedule spreadsheet to find another tutor who may be tutoring the subject you need.
ESS peer advisers
ESS peer advisers will be available after Spring Break, beginning Monday, March 30. When they return, they’ll be available via Zoom at the following link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/j/2808424085. Peer advisers are available Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday 10am-5pm, as well as Tuesday/Thursday 7-9pm. You may also email the peer advisers at esspeeradvisers@berkeley.edu.
UHS counseling in ESS
Drop-in appointments will be via phone instead of in-person until further notice. Please see below instructions for accessing drop-in counseling via phone.
- Tuesdays 2-4pm: Call 510-643-7850 and ask for Dr. Christine Zhou
- Wednesdays 10am-12pm: Call 510-664-9124 and ask for Dr. Genee Jackson
- Thursdays 10am-12pm: Call 510-642-6722 and ask for Dr. Yi Du
If the line is busy, students should leave a message and the UHS counselor will call them back as soon as possible. For Students with urgent mental health needs, please call Counseling and Psychological Services at the Tang Center (510-642-9494) 10am-5pm, Monday-Friday. For after-hours crisis support, please call 855-817-5667.
University Health Services has mental health resources available online.
Career counseling in ESS
Wednesday afternoon career counseling in ESS is suspended until further notice. The Career Center is operating virtually beginning March 16, 2020. Services will be available electronically between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm (email, video and teleconference). For more details about specific services, visit their website or contact them via email.
Waiver of semester-out rule
For the Spring 2020 semester, the College of Engineering is waiving the semester-out rule for students who withdraw (drop all classes) after the eighth week of the semester. Please contact your ESS adviser if you have any questions or if you are considering withdrawing.
UC Berkeley library updates
The library has a Remote Resources for UC Berkeley Library Users site that highlights their online resources and services. It also includes important information on due dates, renewals, and recalls while they are closed – most importantly, they are asking people to hold onto print materials; they have extended the due date for all items due between March 16 and May 31 to June 1.
Basic needs
The Basic Needs Center is continuing to provide services during these challenging times. Students and staff may be facing increased vulnerability to basic needs insecurity during disruptions in school, work, transportation, and family care. This living document is frequently updated with resource information on access to food, emergency housing services, and wage/work accommodation issues.
What students should know about the coronavirus
In an interview with campus public affairs, John Swartzberg, MD, emeritus professor of public health at UC Berkeley, discusses what students should know about the coronavirus.