UC Davis will pay students not to travel during spring break

UC Davis is offering some students “grants” of $75 to encourage them not to travel during spring break this year amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

The program, which is a partnership between the university and the city of Davis, Calif., is accepting up to 750 applications from students to receive the funds, which can be spent at “selected Davis stores,” Gary May, the chancellor of UC Davis, said in a statement last week.

Students can purchase “supplies” in four categories using the $75, including “Get Active, Get Artsy, Home Improvement and Let’s Stay In,” according to May’s statement.

The university’s spring break is from March 20 through March 24. Applicants for the grant must be staying in Davis for the spring break and have a scheduled COVID-19 test during the week.

Colleges and universities across the country have either canceled their traditional spring breaks or offered a shorter break for students in an effort to discourage gatherings and travel during the coronavirus pandemic. 

California has confirmed over 3.5 million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, including 4,686 new cases Monday. The state has reported more than 54,000 coronavirus fatalities, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

The Hill has reached out to UC Davis for comment.