CSU Courses to Remain Primarily Virtual for Fall
This fall, California State University will be keeping most of its institutions' courses online, in response to the ongoing health and safety concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic. While there will be some variability across the system's 23 universities, "predominately there will be limited in-person experiential learning and research occurring on campus for the fall 2020 term," according to CSU Chancellor Timothy White.
The university plans to make exceptions for "teaching, learning and research 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," White explained in a statement. Possible examples requiring an on-campus presence include clinical classes in the health sciences, physical and life science laboratory classes, access to kilns and other unique art facilities, classes involving hands-on use of unique instrumentation, and others. Such courses would only take place when there are "sufficient resources available and protocols in place" to meet health and safety requirements, White emphasized.
Decisions on permitting in-person courses will be made in consultation with academic senates, associated students, staff councils and union leadership, White said, in accordance with local and state public health guidelines and governmental directives.
White's full official statement can be found on the CSU site.
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].