University of California, Davis has released the following information for incoming transfer students regarding the cost of attending virtual orientation via Zoom and Canvas, in an email sent by UC Davis Orientation to incoming freshman and transfer students on August 11th, 2020:

"Participation in Aggie Orientation is mandatory for all new students. The fee to participate is $350 for commuters and $480 for residential students (meals & housing included) which covers all three parts: Aggie 101, Aggie Advising and Aggie Orientation." 

In the same email, the dates of orientation are said to be:

"AGGIE ORIENTATION: September 25-29".

The Student Housing contract states that the contract is active during the following dates:

"CONTRACT TERM: The term of this Contract shall be for the period beginning September 15, 2020 through August 31, 2021."

Additionally, according to the Policies and Fees document that is listed on the UC Davis orientation webpage, meals during orientation are only provided to those transfer students who are paying for a meal plan.

From all the information compiled above, two things are clear:

1) Incoming residential transfer students are being charged extra for orientation supposedly to cover the fees of housing, when the dates in which orientation takes place are already covered in the housing contract. Thus, students are essentially double charged for housing during orientation week.

2) The extra cost of orientation is supposed to cover meals as well; however, transfer students are only being provided meals if they're already paying for a meal plan. Thus, transfer students are not only being double charged for housing during orientation week, but for meals as well.

As incoming residential UC Davis students, we demand that the cost of orientation for all incoming UC Davis students be lowered to match the price of orientation for commuting students, since we are already paying for housing as stated in our housing contracts.

Additionally, as incoming transfer students, if we are going to be charged extra for meals, it is only fair that all transfer students are provided meals during orientation week, regardless of whether we have purchased a meal plan or not.