May 12, 2020
Dear Campus Community,
Chancellor Timothy White, in reporting to the Board of Trustees about COVID-19 implications for the CSU today, stated that the planning framework for course delivery across the system will be primarily virtual for fall 2020. He noted that there will be some variability across campuses and limited exceptions “for in-person activities that cannot be delivered virtually, are indispensable to the university’s core mission and can be conducted within rigorous standards of safety and welfare.”
The Chancellor said this virtual planning approach was being made out of concern for the health and safety of students, faculty and staff across the California State University system and the entire state of California. More information about the chancellor’s remarks is available on the SSU COVID-19 FAQ page.
I know many of you are eager to know what this will mean for Sonoma State. As I pointed out in my campus update on Friday, I have appointed an Academic Continuity Planning Group and an Operational Continuity Planning Group to help us address the many questions we all have about campus operations in the fall. These include questions about what classes may be allowed to meet in person, how we will house students and whether staff and faculty will be allowed to physically return to campus in the fall. I look forward to hearing the advice and recommendations from these planning groups, which include faculty, staff, students and administrators. Please continue to monitor your email and the Sonoma State website for updates. We will address all of these questions by the end of the month.
In the meantime, let me assure you that Sonoma State remains open, vibrant and dedicated to our mission of providing an interactive and inspiring education for all of our students. I appreciate the dedication and hard work of all the faculty and staff who continue to support student progress and success in these unprecedented times.
Although we may be apart, we remain unified - as one Noma Nation. Continue to stay safe and well.
With gratitude,
Judy K. Sakaki