Spring Quarter tuition likely to remain the same, university offering paid administrative leave

Spring Quarter tuition will likely remain unchanged amid the COVID-19 crisis, despite demands from students that the university reduce tuition and fees. 

Tuition at UC Davis is used to pay the salaries of students and educators, but it also funds a vast host of payments that the university must make, including building maintenance, upkeep, utilities and debt services. 

With the suspended operation of the UC Davis campus, some students and parents feel that there should be a tuition reimbursement in exchange for services not being rendered — such as the currently closed ARC, which is supported by student fees.

The UC Office of the President (UCOP) said that, as of now, tuition will not be reevaluated. Students are still pursuing degrees, and this, UCOP said, is justification enough to maintain tuition. 

“Students are generally able to access all required instructional materials, complete their coursework, and make timely progress towards their degree,” said Sarah McBride, a media and communications strategist with the UCOP, via email. 

McBride also said students will continue to earn full credit for their coursework, and mandatory charges such as Tuition and the Student Services Fee will proceed to help cover delivery of instruction, other educational costs and the cost of student services such as registration, financial aid and remote academic advising. 

“The University has not changed its policies or practices related to refunds for these charges,” she said, reiterating Paul Jenny’s statements from the UC Regents’ March 20 meeting. Jenny is interim executive vice president and chief financial officer for the UC.

This, however, does not exclude the possibility of individual campuses within the UC evaluating refunds for other costs. Across the UC, petitions have sprung up demanding campuses reduce tuition — including one change.org petition demanding that UC Davis reduce Spring Quarter tuition.

Ehab Muhammad, a third-year chemical engineering major at UC Davis, is responsible for the change.org petition. 

“Why am I being held responsible for fees or services that I will not be using, and that I cannot use because of the shelter in place order?” Muhammad asked. 

Muhammad pointed out that, in accordance with Regents policy 3101, many of the fees outlined in the UC Davis financial statement go to social, recreational and cultural activities and programs — programs that the university cannot host this quarter due to the extenuating circumstances of late. The Regents policy is not a contractual obligation. 

UC Davis Vice Chancellor of Finance, Operations and Administration Kelly Ratliff said the campus is in “suspended operation,” not closed. 

“For the units I’m responsible for, the vast majority are still open or providing services — some remotely, some on campus,” Ratliff said. “Many faculty are still coming in and recording their lectures and we’re still opening every day, […] which means we’re still servicing those buildings, providing custodial support, doing tech support, and so that involves not just my organization, but IET and others.”

Another cost to the university is debt services. 

“For most of [the buildings], we still have ongoing costs,” Ratliff said. “We finance those buildings much like a mortgage — even if I’m on vacation or whatnot, I still have to pay the mortgage.” 

Although the campus is in suspended operation, all support staff and professors still need to be paid. 

“Our operating budget is mostly people,” Ratliff said. “The vast majority of our budget is about compensation for the faculty and staff at the university — and all those folks are still here and engaged in both instruction and research.” 

Some, like Muhammad, contest the value of remote instruction and say that it is not comparable to in-person lectures. 

“I’m writing lab reports on data that I never collected, based on equipment that I never used,” Muhammed said. “I will probably never be able to get any experience on that equipment in an academic setting, and that’s very disappointing.” 

Muhammad said online instruction is not as valuable as in-person instruction and therefore students should be compensated for this. 

“At the end of the day, we’re students, and our success is important,” he said. 

Paid administrative leave

As Ratliff said, most of the operating budget goes directly to faculty and staff. Given suspended operations across the UC, UCOP issued an executive order giving employees, including students, a one-time allotment of 128 hours of paid administrative leave. However, because 128 hours only amounts to 16 work days, the school continues to work on ways to compensate those who cannot work remotely. 

“What comes next after paid administrative leave is actually the most urgent thing that’s being worked on, and there’s conversation with the president and the university and the chancellors about what to do next,” Ratliff said. “What we will do as a university for these sorts of issues […] will be a university-wide response. We really are waiting for some guidance from the Office of the President about what comes next.”

All of this comes amid an announcement from UC President Janet Napolitano that “there will be no COVID-19 related layoffs for all career employees through the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2020.” The announcement does not detail how individual campuses will achieve this.

According to the Twitter account for the University Council-American Federation of Teachers at UCLA, however, “the commitment to no layoffs through June 30th does not apply to academic appointees, meaning that contingent teaching faculty and librarians are not protected by the policy.” UC-AFT, the union that represents UC librarians and non-Senate faculty, said via Twitter that it is currently looking to change that: “The contingent faculty who are lifting heaven and earth to keep teaching our students now must be reappointed after the crisis is over.”

Meanwhile, UC Davis is taking steps to avoid a financial crisis.

“We’re going to implement what we’re going to call a ‘vacancy management program,’” Ratliff said. “Both for student employees and staff employees, we’re looking for opportunities to redeploy people. But, the other thing is, just because of the financial uncertainty and the extra cost we’re experiencing because of the crisis, we need to slow down hiring.” 

The administration is making more stringent guidelines for the hiring process, sending potential positions through several committees before the opening is posted. 

“Any position that needs to go forward for recruitment has to be signed off on by the dean, vice chancellor or vice provost,” Ratliff said. “Then we’re going to have a separate central review committee to have one more level of review on those positions before they can be posted.”

Cost Breakdown: Utilities Savings

Under suspended operation, Ratliff said via email it is reasonable to assume that the UC Davis campus utility savings will be “about $200,000 per month.” 

This is not an exact number, Ratliff said, because the school has never experienced closures for this anticipated length of time in recent history. The estimate is based on savings experienced during the first two weeks of suspended operation. This amounts to a savings of about 10% of the utility budget ($2-2.5M per month). 

“Energy savings are not proportional to the decrease in population because our largest energy users on campus are the lab and animal spaces, which have to remain ventilated and conditioned 24/7 for safety purposes regardless of how many people are there,” she explained. 

Cost Breakdown: Expenditures of Online Transition

The other principal cost of this crisis is the transition to online instruction. According to Ratliff, the Information and Educational Technology department is “reporting almost $800,000 in additional expenses.” 

This comes from Zoom licenses, VPNs, laptops for students and faculty and other sources. In the haste of this transition, the university still has not been able to fully assess the cost of transitioning to remote instruction and suspending campus operations. 

“We are in the process of collecting additional expenses across the campus, but that data is not ready yet,” Ratliff said. 

Therefore, the exact number that students could expect to receive should the university take the unlikely step to provide refunds is unknown. When asked again for a more precise cost via email, Ratliff said it is “too soon” to make any determinations. 

Other Expenses

With the continuation of administrative leave or a comparable substitute to the end of the fiscal year, the cost of salary is not yet known or calculable. The UC Davis FOA office is currently working with the chancellor and UCOP to resolve this issue.

Ratliff said the administration is “in the process of collecting data about extra costs.”

It is unlikely that the university, in its transition to online instruction and fulfillment of UCOP guidance, will provide tuition refunds to graduate and undergraduate students. 

“If there are questions […] those prompts would be appreciated,” Ratliff said. “There are impacts all over the place, and there’s a lot of fear. This is having a big impact. Whatever we can do to communicate in a way that conveys more [information], I would love to get there.” 

Following Vice Chancellor Ratliff’s interview with The Aggie, the UC Davis COVID-19 FAQ for Students has been updated to reflect some of the additional information provided here. 

Written by: Alex Weinstein — campus@theaggie.org

UC says it continues contract negotiations with UC-AFT, is working hard to provide individual lecturers with support 

The UC’s handling of the shift to remote instruction reflects a lack of interest in “prioritizing student education and providing lecturers what they need to support their students,” according to lecturers from UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, UC San Diego and UC Santa Cruz who spoke at a University Council-American Federation of Teachers (UC-AFT) press conference held today.

Alison Black, an education studies lecturer at UCSD, said she was teaching her last class of Winter Quarter when she found out — through her students — that the university was moving to remote learning in Spring Quarter and that Winter Quarter finals were interrupted.

“I couldn’t answer any questions, because they found out before I did,” Black said. “Students, for the most part, found out about the instructional changes before instructors and faculty.”

Lecturers like Black, who are on the quarter system, had only the remainder of the last week of instruction for Winter Quarter, finals week and spring break to prepare for an online Spring Quarter.

Crystal Chang Cohen, who lectures at UC Berkeley, one of the two semester schools in the UC system, had to make the switch from in-person to remote instruction in one day.

She recalled being in class on March 8 and the next day receiving an email telling her not to come to class “because everything is going online.”

“We were struggling to go immediately online,” Chang Cohen said. “I keep hearing things from my students before things become official, which makes me feel so ill-informed, unprepared and stupid in front of them.”

The UC said decisions made regarding the dissemination of COVID-19 information are determined by each campus, in a statement from the UC Office of the President provided to The California Aggie via email.

“Each campus has its own COVID-19 website for its community, including students, with local resources and contact information,” the statement said. “Systemwide employees can find information and resources on UCnet […] and are encouraged to speak with their supervisor with any concerns.”

UC-AFT, which represents over 3,500 lecturers in the UC system, has been bargaining with the UC over COVID-19 protections since March 13. The union has also been in contract negotiations with UC since April of 2019, according to an FAQ and bargaining update on the UC-AFT website. The current contract protecting lecturers expired on Jan. 31, 2020.

Mia McIver, the chief negotiator for UC-AFT’s bargaining unit and a lecturer for the writing program at UCLA, said she hopes the UC will implement more standardization in its COVID-19 response.

“We want to have comprehensive emergency response plans for all campuses and contract extensions for all teaching faculty so they know that they can and should be preparing classes for the summer and fall,” McIver said.

This is particularly important, she added, because lecturers, who are on short-term, part-time contracts and often work multiple jobs to stay afloat, already face job insecurity, without a pandemic. 

According to a press release from the union published on April 6, UC lecturers teach over 30% of student credit hours. At UC Davis, around 30% of classes are taught by lecturers. 

“UC has historically been reluctant to invest in lecturers even though we are front-line educators primarily responsible for developing relationships with and teaching our students,” McIver said.

McIver also expressed concern about the inconsistency of resources from campus to campus, calling the available resources “collections of links to explore in [their] own time” and saying they are not targeted to what people need on an individual level.

The UC said in its statement that it has been working “very hard” with UC-AFT and individual lecturers to provide lecturers with the support they need.

“[This has been through] including resources for working at home such as addressing Internet connectivity, as well as using their empty office on campus if working at home is not feasible,” the UC’s statement said. 

The union, however, contested this in its press release, which centered the experience of UC Davis lecturer Jillian Azevado, arguing that the UC has not been taking lecturers’ job security, health and safety seriously.

Azevado, according to the press release, has asthma, and was recently told by administrators to go back to work at her campus office, which is a “small, shared room in which safe social distancing would be impossible” because she didn’t have a desk or a steady internet connection.

“While refusing to supply better Internet, UC negotiators expressed frustration that Azevedo kept disappearing from the Zoom call because of her weak Internet connection,” the press release stated.

Katie Rodger, the president of UC-AFT Local 2023 and a lecturer for UC Davis’ University Writing Program, said lecturers weren’t just asking for better equipment for the sake of it.

“Faster Wi-Fi, our own computers, better desks — these are essential tools,” Rodger said. “If [the] UC wants to claim it’s the greatest educational institution in the world, it needs to stand by that claim and implement the best educational infrastructure in the world.”

Rodger emphasized the fact that not every lecturer has an office in an accessible location, and that lecturers who are parents — including herself — cannot just leave their children.

Black said that working from home has been a “huge struggle,” as she has been working while also tending to her family’s emotional needs.

“The work-life balance is always emotionally burdening, and when I’m the instructor, I can’t lose it,” Black said. “I considered taking unpaid leave for the whole quarter.”

Though she tried to access faculty and staff mental health services, she said it takes weeks to get an appointment “if you’re lucky,” and that she hasn’t been able to take advantage of those services yet. 

Black’s department eventually helped her and her family relocate, but she echoed McIver’s wish for more standardized support from UC.

“We don’t have the resources we need to maintain stability and focus at the levels required for our success and our students’ success,” Black said.
In its statement, the UC said it would follow campus reimbursement policies, with requests for resources handled on a case-by-case basis to determine how it can best accommodate individual needs. 

“We are continuing to work with public health officials to take steps that prioritize the health and safety of the UC community while continuing to deliver quality educational services,” the statement said. “The University is dedicated to making sure UC instructors are successful in the remote learning environment.”

Josh Brahinsky, a lecturer from UCSC, called the university’s response “chaotic,” and said it bore parallels to the way the Trump administration responded to the pandemic.

“We are happy to do our work and make sure we do it well,” Brahinsky said. “{The] UC is recognizing that lecturers’ work is crucial, which is interesting. It’s new recognition, but they’re not giving us the support we need to make [our work] happen.”

Brahinsky pointed out that most of the lecturers in the call were taking care of their kids, were in their kids’ spaces or had their kids in the background while participating in the press conference. 

He said that UC management has tried to ask faculty and librarians to sign agreements to say they would not be responsible for childcare during work hours.

“For most of us, that’s completely impossible,” Brahinsky said. “Who are you going to hire? The kid down the street?” 

Rodger, who has two degrees from universities in the UC system, said it was hard to get “more Team UC than me.”
“I’m proud to be part of the UC system, but I’m just so appalled [at the UC response],” Rodger said. “If I had a student in the system right now, I would be furious at the lack of response on behalf of the students. I just want action. I want to see more leadership.”

Written by: Janelle Marie Salanga — campus@theaggie.org

“Virtual UC Davis” website now online, campus provides resources to increase Zoom privacy

In an email sent to faculty, staff and students on April 10, Chancellor Gary May announced that both Summer Sessions will be offered via remote instruction.

“Hundreds of courses will be offered, so summer will still be a good time to access high-demand classes for progress to degree,” May wrote in the email.

It is possible that in-person laboratory courses — which are currently being taught virtually, as per the UC Davis directive that all classes must be available remotely — may be available for Summer Session II, depending on public health recommendations, according to May.

Changes to graduate student grading were also announced. For Spring Quarter 2020, the Davis Division of the Academic Senate approved added flexibility for late drops, removed form fees for late drops and grading option changes and offered students until the last day of instruction to switch from letter to Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading. 

Instructors should contact their departments with questions about the remote learning changes, according to May, who linked to a guide created by the Center of Educational Effectiveness and Academic Technology Services and providing several remote assessment and testing options.

May suggested that supervisors “think creatively” about projects students could undertake remotely, sharing that the Internship and Career Center could help brainstorm ideas. He also shared information about available campus resources, announcing a “Virtual UC Davis” website, where students can find information about services still available, including Academic Assistance and Tutoring Centers, Campus Recreation and Student Health and Counseling services. 

The Division of Student Affairs, which organized the website, said that it anticipates that services will “evolve and expand over time,” and that information would continually be updated. 

“Departments within the Division […] have gone virtual to continue to support and empower students in ways that align with public health and safety guidelines,” it wrote. 

Other resources in the email included a letter and FAQ created by Minming Wu Morri, the UC Davis campus privacy officer, and Cheryl Washington, the UC Davis chief information security officer, to address privacy concerns around Zoom.

“Know that unlike many K-12 users or private citizens who use free Zoom, your Zoom is protected by UC’s contractual data security and privacy terms and safeguards,” the letter reads.

The updates follow May’s Wednesday announcement that the Spring Commencement of 2020 ceremony will be offered virtually, with the potential for an in-person ceremony later.

Written by: Janelle Marie Salanga — campus@theaggie.org

Laptops are still available for distribution during the first weeks of Spring Quarter

In response to UC Davis’ transition to online instruction platforms, efforts by the Information and Education Technology (IET) department and the UC Davis Library addressed concerns regarding equal access to technology.

Anita Nichols, the director of client success for UC Davis Information and Educational Technology, said frequently occupied campus computer labs served as inspiration for a student laptop checkout program prior to the campus’ implementation of suspended operation.

“Understanding that a certain percentage of students at UC Davis do not have laptops, and instead rely on the computer labs, IET and Undergraduate Education have been working closely to establish this program,” Nichols said.

The laptop lending program kick-started on March 16 and will continue to service students during Spring Quarter. Nichols said that 100 laptops have been distributed, and that the program receives nearly 25 requests per day. The funding for the devices originated from donations.

“Assistance came from numerous other campus departments and units, like Development and Alumni Relations, which heard about the effort and offered to cover the cost of the laptops from the Annual Fund, which is funded by donors,” Nichols said.

Nichols outlined the process for future students who wish to borrow a laptop. 

First, Nichols said the student submits a request for a laptop via the Service Hub at servicehub.ucdavis.edu. 

“They need to search for ‘Laptop Checkout’ or this link,” Nichols said. “The form includes a link to apply or submit a request online, including the best date and time to pick up, and reason for need. Upon approval, the student receives confirmation and location to pick up the laptop. After pick up, the student receives instructions on complete setup of the laptop and contact information to call for help, if needed.”

Hawanya Smith, a graduate student in math education, said she reached out to her professor because her laptop failed to relay audio during Zoom meetings. Her professor sent Smith the information about the IET and the library’s laptop loaning program.

Smith described the experience loaning the brand new Dell laptop as “very fluid and easy.” 

“When I went to the pick up location, there were instructions on the door,” Smith said.“I showed my ID through the window [and] social distancing protocol [was implemented], such as standing six feet away.”

This laptop checkout program may not continue for future Aggies. 

Nichols said the student laptop checkout program was implemented as an emergency resource during an “unprecedented event,” but UC Davis plans to evaluate the program’s success to determine its role in future operations. 

MacKenzie Smith, a university librarian and vice provost of digital scholarship, said the library has made significant efforts in recent years to increase online and digital services.

“The library’s vision is to be the academic hub of UC Davis, advancing research, education and innovation in a networked world,” Smith said. “We are committed to helping everyone at UC Davis get access to the information they need, from anywhere, any time. Laptops and networks are essential to that goal, particularly in a remote learning environment — including to use online library resources and expertise — so of course we want to make sure that no students are left out.”

Hawanya Smith said she hopes to see virtual learning become a future educational option at UC Davis for students with less schedule flexibility. 

“It does speak to the fact that UC Davis and other universities should consider distance learning as an option for students with hardships moving forward,” she said.

Hawanya Smith thanked the program organizers for providing the necessary resources for her continued academic success in the new quarter.

“It allows me to learn,” she said. “I can get on [my new laptop] and feel confident about learning. I want to thank those who were responsible for providing these laptops. I really want to tell them from the depths of my heart, thank you.”

Written by: Hannah Blome — campus@theaggie.org