Enjoy Winter Break, Safely

December 11, 2020

Dear Campus Community,

As finals conclude and we prepare for winter break to begin, I wanted to take a moment to draw your attention to the message sent by our Safer Return Task Force earlier this week in response to the state’s Regional Stay Home Order and to offer a personal appeal to be safe and take care of yourselves, your loved ones and the communities where we all live.

While the much-anticipated availability of viable vaccines provides great hope, the current reality is that California and the nation are facing an unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths. We know what public health experts have advised — wash your hands, wear a mask, practice social distancing and stay home as much as possible — so I urge us all to do our part. The winter recess brings a welcome and deserved break from classes, work and campus activities, but it is certainly not the time to relax our attention to these important health measures.

As we look ahead to the Spring Semester, all courses will begin as scheduled on the academic calendar, although we expect to delay the in-person components of any classes formally approved for such activities. Provost Sylvia Alva will have details to share on those considerations next week. Additionally, you may have heard news from other CSU campuses regarding Spring Break. We have made no decisions at this point, and I will be consulting with the Academic Senate and Associated Students Inc. early in the Spring Semester on whether we will consider adjustments to the scheduled Spring Break. As always, the decisions we make will be based on our priorities to protect the health and safety of our campus community and advance student success.

Finally, like you, I was encouraged by the announcement from the Chancellor’s Office earlier this week that we are planning for a return to in-person coursework for the Fall 2021 term. I hope that the anticipation of being together on campus again provides additional motivation to stay safe and, for our students, to stay on the path towards your academic goals. No investment in your future holds greater value than a college education, and this fact will only carry more weight as we look to recovering from the pandemic.

I wish you good health and happiness during our winter break.

Sincerely,

Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President