Important Fire-Related Resources for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Dear Faculty,
My heart goes out to our fellow Californians and their families regarding the devastating losses so many are experiencing due to the fires in Southern California. I am reaching out to draw your attention to an article in Dateline that includes important information and resources for our students, faculty, and staff who may be impacted by the fires. I am including the resource information below for easy reference and encourage you to share this with your students.
How UC Davis is helping
My heart goes out to our fellow Californians and their families regarding the devastating losses so many are experiencing due to the fires in Southern California. I am reaching out to draw your attention to an article in Dateline that includes important information and resources for our students, faculty, and staff who may be impacted by the fires. I am including the resource information below for easy reference and encourage you to share this with your students.
How UC Davis is helping
- The UC Davis Fire Department’s Brush Truck 34 was deployed Tuesday as part of a Yolo County strike team to assist with the Eaton Fire.
- The School of Veterinary Medicine, which leads the California Veterinary Emergency Response Team (CVET), is in communication with local agencies, response organizations, and the California Office of Emergency Services and prepared for deployment if needed.
- The Office of Student Support is directly contacting undergraduate, graduate and professional school students who have an address on record in the impacted areas to offer support and resources.
- Development and Alumni Relations is directing support for students to the Student Fire Relief Fund, established by the UC Davis Foundation Board in 2018. Funds are distributed to students who submit appeals through Financial Aid and Scholarships’ Basic Needs webpage. Donations to this fund can be made online.
Resources for faculty and staff
- Leaves of absence and flexibility: Managers are encouraged to offer flexible work arrangements, including remote work or leave accommodations. For guidance on individual cases, please consult Employee and Labor Relations (for staff) or Academic Affairs (for academic appointees).
- Emergency Assistance Programs: While contributions cannot be earmarked for fire relief, employees can access:
- The Staff Emergency Fund, which supports colleagues who need assistance moving forward.
- Donated vacation leave through the Catastrophic Leave Sharing Program, which allows employees to support colleagues in need by donating vacation leave or paid time off to support a specific colleague who has exhausted their paid leave due to a catastrophic illness or event.
- Mental health support: The Academic and Staff Assistance Program (ASAP) offers confidential, no-cost support for employees and their immediate families.
Resources for students
- Faculty and staff can submit a Student Support Referral (or students can self-refer) during crises, life traumas, or other barriers that impede a student’s success. Student Support Case Managers contact the student and help to coordinate support efforts across campus.
- The Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center provides students with crisis resources, such as emergency shelter, immediate food, and financial hardship support, as well as longer-term basic needs support.
- The Aggie Mental Health website provides information to access urgent help, counseling resources, Community Advising Network Counseling and group support.
- The Financial Aid Economic Crisis Support Team assists students who are experiencing a financial crisis.
- The Graduate Studies Emergency Grant Program provides support for graduate students experiencing unexpected challenges that impede their progress toward their degrees.
Wishing for the safety of those in areas affected by the fires and for those fighting the fires. Thank you to the Aggies who are stepping forward to help, and to all of you for the care you show to our colleagues, students, and entire Aggie family.
All the best,
Mary
Mary Croughan
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor