UCLA announces return to on-campus operations once heat wave passes

Administrative Vice Chancellor Michael Beck announced in a campuswide email Wednesday that UCLA plans to return to full on-campus operations Sept. 12.

The announcement came after a Monday campuswide email notified Bruins that several buildings would temporarily be receiving limited to no air conditioning, encouraging some classes to be held remotely instead.

[Related: UCLA announces some campus activities will occur remotely due to extreme heat]

The recent wave of extreme heat – featuring record-breaking temperatures in Southern California and expected to last until Sept. 9 – has strained the campus’ cooling facilities, which rely on chilled water, Beck said in the email. He added it was necessary to reduce the demand for this water in non-critical facilities.

Beck said in the email curtailing several cooling systems has been effective in allowing UCLA to continue to provide essential services at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital and other sensitive labs, research facilities and teaching spaces.

Beck also said in the email UCLA is working to avoid further limiting campus operations, adding efforts to monitor cooling water temperatures will continue.

“We acknowledge that this has been a significant inconvenience for those who normally work, learn or teach in the buildings where operations are curtailed this week,” he said in the email. “We thank you for your cooperation and support in this endeavor.”