UC return to campus riven by conflicting pressures over in-person vs. remote classes

UC return to campus riven by conflicting pressures over in-person vs. remote classes

UC Irvine Provost [and Executive Vice Chancellor] Hal S. Stern said the university expects faculty to resume in-person instruction but that department chairs and deans have the authority to decide appropriate policies. He said campus adherence to vaccination, testing, masking and distancing protocols has been extremely high and positivity rates for campus tests have fallen from 17% at the start of winter quarter Jan. 3 to 3% last week. There was no evidence of any classroom transmission last fall, Stern said. “We believe the campus is safe and we encourage students to attend class,” Stern said.