Here’s how the University of California is helping high school students during COVID-19
Spring is ordinarily a season of new beginnings and great promise, and it’s no different in the education world. This is the time of year high school seniors receive college admissions letters and get ready for prom and graduation. Parents and families are reflecting on their students’ accomplishments and the momentous life changes ahead.
But these are not ordinary times.
In just the past few weeks, life for students and their families have changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. High school and university campuses are shut down for the foreseeable future. Advanced Placement and standardized tests are getting rescheduled. And graduation ceremonies have been canceled, delayed or moved online.
Understandably, California high school students – especially juniors and graduating seniors – are anxious about what all these changes mean for their college dreams. As president of the University of California, I want to reassure California students and families: We’ve got your back.
UC is taking swift action to ensure that this pandemic will not derail anyone’s ability to attend the university, including our newly admitted students and those who are hoping to attend UC in the near future.
That means we are temporarily waiving some of our usual admissions requirements, providing flexibility for students who need more time before committing to enroll in the fall and getting ready to adjust financial aid packages.
More specifically, following the UC Academic Senate’s recommendation, the University of California has temporarily suspended the letter grade requirement for courses taken in the winter, spring or summer of 2020 that are needed for UC admission, known as the A-G requirements. When making admissions decisions, the university uses a holistic review that looks at the whole student, not just letter grades, so those who receive a pass or credit in some of their classes would be just as competitive as before for UC admission.
In addition, we are suspending the standardized test requirement for students applying for fall 2021 freshman admission. Students are not precluded from taking standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT and submitting scores if they are able. UC will also continue to award credit for AP exams with scores of 3, 4 or 5, regardless of their changed content or format.
Second, our campuses will provide maximum flexibility to both freshman and community college transfer students who have been accepted for fall 2020 admission and need deadline extensions or deferment of deposits. UC will also provide flexibility for students and schools that are unable to submit final transcripts by the July 1 deadline. No student’s admissions offer will be rescinded for missing the deadline so long as their official transcripts are submitted by the first day of classes.
And finally, the University of California recognizes that families’ financial circumstances may have changed over the past few weeks, or may change in the upcoming months. UC campuses will work with students and families over the summer to review their eligibility for financial aid and adjust financial aid packages in light of this evolving situation.
The COVID-19 crisis hasn’t been easy on anyone, and we still face many unanswered questions about the future. But one thing hasn’t changed: UC’s unwavering commitment to this state and its people. Now – as always – the University of California will do everything in our power to ensure that the college dreams of California students become a reality.
Janet Napolitano is the President of the University of California, a system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, and three affiliated national laboratories.
