To All Members of the Campus Community:
Congratulations on a successful beginning of the fall semester. You are all working incredibly hard despite being displaced by COVID-19. Virtual classes and operations are not what any of us wanted for this fall, but I remain impressed and encouraged by your ability to adapt and thrive under such circumstances.
Now that the fall semester is underway, it is natural to wonder what will happen in the spring. Today, the California State University system announced that the Spring 2021 semester will be virtual, with very few exceptions for a small number of in-person classes. Of course, much can (and likely will) change in the coming months, but Chancellor Timothy P. White, in concert with the 23 CSU campus presidents, state and local agencies, and health officials, believes it is highly unlikely that conditions will improve enough to repopulate our 23 campuses. Health and safety continue to be our top priority, and while this decision will not be popular with everyone, I believe it is the right choice to keep our campus and our community safe.
While we cannot predict what will happen, we believe it is better to plan for a virtual spring than to hold out hope and force students and employees to scramble to prepare at the last minute. Now that the decision has been made, we will use the time to continue to improve our remote class delivery and virtual operations, and to reassess how to succeed despite diminishing resources.
I know that many questions remain. Will we have athletics and performances? Will we have Commencement ceremonies? When will facilities such as the AIRC or The WELL be fully open again? Will most employees still be teleworking through the spring? We do not know the answers to these questions yet, but we know how important they are for many of you. We will be transparent with our communication and continue to share decisions with the Hornet Family as soon as we are able. The COVID-19 pandemic is a dynamic situation that continues to evolve. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we all do our best to provide a high-quality education for our students.
Sacramento State will get through this pandemic, and we will endure as a Hornet Family. I know that many of you are facing significant challenges in your personal and professional lives, and I urge you to take care and to be kind to yourself. This is hard on everyone, and we are truly in this together. Thank you for all that you are doing. I am proud of Sacramento State, and I am proud of you. Stingers Up!