University of California, Irvine (UCI) has cancelled its annual commencement ceremony due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. 

In a statement to students and their families on Friday, March 13, UCI’s Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Willie L. Banks Jr., Ph.D., stated that campus commencement celebrations have called off in order to ensure the safety of the Anteater community. 

His full statement regarding COVID-19’s effects on UCI housing, student life, and commencement can be found here. We also share it below:

Dear UCI Students,

I am writing as a follow-up to Chancellor Gillman’s email sent on March 10, 2020 regarding the change in campus operations to minimize the spread of COVID-19 to our UCI community. As the Chancellor mentioned in his message, the efforts we are undertaking are based on our concern for the public’s health and safety. We do not take these changes lightly and appreciate your understanding as we navigate this evolving environment.

Student Housing and Meal Plans

Students in all campus housing, including the American Campus Communities, are strongly encouraged to go to their permanent residence if they are able. If you are a financial aid recipient and decide to leave campus, federal law requires us to change your financial aid award.

For students that decide not to continue their room & board or rental agreements for Spring Quarter 2020, there will be no penalty to cancel your lease. A separate message to lease holders will be sent with instructions on informing us of your decision. You will need to inform us of your decision to continue or cancel your lease by Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 5 p.m. PDT.

Student Life

All events and student activities scheduled on campus with 100 or more attendees are cancelled until further notice. If an event is less than 100 attendees, event organizers are strongly encouraged to deliver the event in an alternative format. It is also important to note that gatherings of less than 100 attendees may also be inconsistent with the practice of social distancing if not properly organized. Therefore, we strongly encourage that all events, even those with less than 100 attendees, be delivered in an alternative format and, if not possible, canceled or postponed.

The UCI Student Center and Anteater Recreation Center remain open at this time. Student services such as the UCI Counseling Center, UCI Student Health Center, Disability Services Center, and FRESH Basic Needs Hub remain open to support students, but will be reassessed in early spring. While campus services remain open, students should know that offices may implement procedures to minimize contact, such as providing services remotely. We recommend that students visit their websites first for information on accessing services.

UCI Commencement

We are saddened to share that the UCI Commencement Ceremonies will not take place in the same way as previous years. We advise families not to make arrangements to come to the campus for the Commencement celebrations. We are actively looking at alternatives to celebrate our graduates in an appropriate manner. We understand that commencement is an important part of the UCI experience and we want to honor our students while still keeping our community safe. Graduating students should look for a separate message from the UCI Commencement office with details and information in the coming weeks.

Given the dynamic nature of travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, we advise students leaving campus for spring break that they take along any course materials they would need to keep up with classes that are being taught remotely from an off-campus location. We strongly advise students to refrain from non-essential travel during spring break.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. Information on COVID-19 will be posted on https://uci.edu/coronavirus/

Sincerely,

Willie L. Banks Jr., Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

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