November 2020
Gaucho Parents & Family Newsletter
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Hello, Gaucho parents & families!
UC Santa Barbara has been hard at work to adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19. With the leadership of our faculty and medical staff, our campus has developed a robust testing capacity with a quick turnaround of results. We're also proud of the important research contributions of our faculty, including these recent projects with immediate real-world applications that you can read more about in The Current.
As you continue reading through this month's newsletter, you will learn more about winter quarter planning, the latest COVID-19 updates and campus protocols, and the holiday travel guidance.
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Please note that all information shared in this email is subject to change.
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Parents & Family Weekend Gratitude
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Whether you participated during the weekend or plan to watch the recordings, we thank you! We are also thankful to our presenters and various campus departments who helped make this event possible.
All live events were recorded and are now available for viewing on our Parents & Family Weekend website.
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Planning for Winter Quarter
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As the Chancellor announced earlier this week, most classes will remain remote this winter quarter, and the university will be able to make a modest increase to the number of students living on campus. The university is watching national, state, and county trends closely and will continue to engage in the planning, facility modifications, and healthcare capacity building that will ensure that the campus can return to increased in-person classes and services when public health guidelines and expert advice permit.
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- Holidays: November 26-27 (Thanksgiving)
- Fall Quarter Instruction Ends: December 11
- Fall Quarter Final Exams: December 12-18
- Fall Quarter Ends: December 18
- Holidays: December 24-25 (Christmas)
December 31 (New Year's Eve)
January 1 (New Year's Day)
- Winter Quarter Begins: January 4, 2021
- Link to Academic Calendar
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COVID-19 Updates & Campus Protocols
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- Santa Barbara County has moved back into the purple tier, the most restrictive tier, to help slow the local spread of COVID-19. To stay updated on COVID-related news in Santa Barbara, please visit the Santa Barbara County Public Health website.
- Free COVID-19 testing is currently available until Wednesday, November 25 for all UCSB students regardless of symptoms or insurance. More information can be found in the November 20 message to students.
- COVID-19 testing for students with symptoms or recent exposure to a positive case is available at Student Health at no charge. Call (805) 893-7129 for testing appointments.
- UC Santa Barbara students who are NOT eligible for asymptomatic campus testing at this time can receive free testing through Santa Barbara County at the Goleta Community Center. Schedule online or call (888) 634-1123.
- For COVID-19 related questions, please contact the Campus COVID-19 Response Team at ucsb-covid19@ucsb.edu or (805) 893-3113.
- Links to additional resources for students can also be found on the Student Affairs website.
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As of November 16, UC Santa Barbara joined other UC campuses in piloting California COVID Notify, an anonymous and voluntary notification system that informs users of potential COVID-19 exposure through phone alerts. By collaborating together, UC campuses and the State of California hope to reach their goal of reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19. For more detailed information about the program and how to join, please click here or visit California COVID Notify.
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With the holidays quickly approaching, UC Santa Barbara has shared some travel guidance for both students and staff to continue keeping the UC Santa Barbara and Isla Vista community safe.
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- Residing in Isla Vista or the Santa Barbara area? Students and staff have been recommended to avoid traveling and stay in the area to prevent new exposures from entering the community or risking exposing family, friends, etc. while visiting.
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- Leaving the Isla Vista or the Santa Barbara area? Students and staff have been recommended to stay at the place they are visiting for the remainder of the quarter if they choose to travel.
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We know that missing holidays or family events is hard, but we hope you help us continue protecting the UCSB and surrounding communities.
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Student Resource Spotlight
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Recently, Career Services launched a brand new website! Peruse the plethora of career information and resources they have to offer. A special highlight is the new document review system for students to submit application materials and receive feedback on more than 30 checkpoints.
During Fall 2020, Career Services has remained accessible to students by continuing to offer all services remotely. If a student has a simple career-related question, drop-in hours are offered Monday through Friday from 1-4 pm in addition to individual appointments that can be scheduled here.
To amplify student success, Career Services has also created a YouTube playlist of On-Demand Workshops, which can be accessed at any time. They also have facilitated three industry-focused career fairs along with the recent Graduate and Professional School Day
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Despite the challenges and obstacles this year has presented, Gauchos are goal setters! We asked these UCSB students what they have their sights on this academic year. Here's what they had to say:
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Parent & Family Resources
Stay Connected and Informed
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