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CSU system to start spring semester with primarily online learning
The California State University system will continue with distance learning for the Spring semester, which begins in January, because of the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Timothy P. White said in a statement Thursday afternoon, Sept. 10.
“After extensive consultation with campus presidents and other stakeholders, and careful consideration of a multitude of factors, regarding the pandemic and its consequences, as well as other matters impacting the university and its operations,” he said, “I am announcing that the CSU will continue with this primarily virtual instructional approach for the academic term that begins in January 2021, and also will continue with reduced populations in campus housing.”
White said that this decision will give students and families “appropriate” time to plan and also gives the schools times to promote and publish course offerings in campus academic plans.
The CSU system is made up of 23 campuses, including Northridge, Los Angeles, Dominguez Hills, Long Beach, Fullerton, Pomona and San Bernardino. It educates more than 480,000 students each year.
White announced in May that the fall semester, which has already begun, would move online due to then-threat of “possible surges” of COVID-19 cases.
“This approach to virtual planning is necessary for many reasons,” he said at the time. “First and foremost is the health, safety and welfare of our students, faculty and staff, and the evolving data surrounding the progression of COVID-19 – current and as forecast throughout the 2020-21 academic year.
“Virtual planning is necessary,” White added, “because it might not be possible for some students, faculty and staff to safely travel to campus.”
Each campus, though, was allowed to follow its own plans for the fall semester.
Alex Garcia, a junior at Cal State Dominguez Hills, said he has been impressed with the virtual learning so far this academic year.
“It has been a lot different than last semester, when they had to scramble,” Garcia, who also plays basketball for Dominguez Hills, said. “I feel like the teachers are a lot more prepared and things have been going well so far.”
But, he added, it’s still not the same as in-person learning — especially for classes like chemistry, which currently lacks a traditional lab.
“It makes me really miss campus and being with my teammates,” Garcia said. “But it is still not safe, so there’s nothing they can really do.”
But when he will return to campus is an open question.
While the state as a whole has made progress in stemming the spread of the virus, there are still fears about cases, hospitalizations and deaths if large groups are allowed to gather too quickly.
Los Angeles County, for example, remains in the most critical tier, according to state guidelines, and is still weeks, at best, from being able to open K-12 campuses. LA County has several CSUs, including Cal State Long Beach.
Robert Garcia, Long Beach’s mayor, said on Thursday that his city — which can’t get into a lower tier without the county — was still weeks away from further reopenings.
It also remains unclear when it’d be safe for the CSUs to open campuses.
“This decision is the only responsible one available to us at this time,” White said Thursday. “And it is the only one that supports our twin North Stars of safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of our faculty, staff, students and communities, as well as enabling degree progression for the largest number of students.”