Campus community,
Sonoma State is committed to continuing to educate our students through this semester even as we navigate the shelter-in-place and other public health orders emerging during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given this rapidly changing environment, we have made two major decisions today to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff:
- Sonoma State will not resume face-to-face instruction for the remainder of the spring semester. All instruction will be delivered remotely. Due to the public health emergency, there will be no in-person labs, practica, service learning, clinicals or field experiences.
- SSU will postpone Spring 2020 Commencement and cultural celebrations. Please know that this was a very difficult decision, but also know we are not canceling, just postponing graduation ceremonies until it is safe to celebrate our graduates.
For students who live in the residence halls, please note:
- At this point, we expect to keep our residence halls open through the remainder of the semester.
- Sonoma County and many other counties in California are under shelter-in-place orders, so we encourage all students who have traveled to their home residences to please consider staying at home if it is safe to do so.
- Residential students who still are on campus and have a safe home to which to return safely should do so.
- We are developing a process for students to request housing and meal plan refunds for students who choose to move out. We expect that process to be in place next week, and we will communicate with impacted students as soon as possible.
The following campus facilities and services remain open:
- Dining services in the Student Center will be open for food pick-up for on-campus residents. Critical personnel required to work on campus also will be able to order food.
- The Student Health Center remains open.
- The University Library will remain open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for CSU-affiliated students, faculty, and staff who need access to computers for remote teaching and learning. Other services will still be delivered, but virtually (e.g. renewals, loan requests, research support, instructional services, e-access). Social distancing will be required. Also, we are aware that many individuals may need to use computers on campus especially after classes resume remotely on Tuesday, March 24. We will open additional computer labs if needed.
- Critically important services will continue to operate on campus, including the University Police Department; payroll; limited facilities, financial, and mail services; and emergency operations support.
All other SSU campus operations will continue remotely. In some cases, units may operate on a limited basis.
I know that these are difficult and unprecedented times for all of us. But we have been resilient before. I am confident that we will persevere with compassion for one another and our community. Thank you for following all public health orders and helping us keep our entire Sonoma State community healthy and safe.
With gratitude,
Judy K. Sakaki
President