Safer Return at Cal Poly Pomona

Start of Spring Semester - Temporary Three-week Move to Online Instruction

Date: 1/10/2022
To: Faculty and Staff
From: Provost - Vice President for Academic Affairs
Subject: Start of Spring Semester - Temporary Three-week Move to Online Instruction

Dear Academic Affairs Community,

A short time ago, President Coley announced a temporary move to remote instruction for the first three weeks of the spring semester, starting online on Jan. 22 and returning to in-person instruction on Feb. 12. This decision was made in the context of the rising rates of infection in LA County and California and is aimed at lowering the on-campus density during what public health officials project to be the crest of the omicron surge.

We are eager to return to in-person instruction on Feb. 12 and by taking this temporary measure we are hopeful that we will lessen the risk of greater impact to our community. The mid-February date was selected because public health experts have expressed confidence that the apex of the omicron spread will occur within January.

I am writing to provide additional information that is specifically relevant to Academic Affairs:

  • Faculty teaching in the spring semester will hold all scheduled class and office hour meetings virtually during the first three weeks of the semester. Classes should continue to meet at their scheduled days and times. Through an approval process, there may be a very limited number of exceptions. Anyone considering an exception to virtual classes, and requesting in-person instruction, must formally apply via an exception application that will be available through your college Dean. This application must be submitted and approved by the Department Chair, Dean, and Interim Provost by January 14th at 5:00 PM. Any approved exception will be notified on Monday, January 17th.
  • All faculty must have their courses available in Canvas. CAFE has several tutorials on the website for assisting faculty.  In addition, please know that CAFE will be hosting workshops in the next few weeks to assist and support faculty.
  • Faculty are welcome to come to campus prior to the resumption of in-person instruction. Faculty may use their office as they normally would, and faculty are welcome to teach (virtually) from the classrooms they have been assigned.
  • Faculty do not need an exception application to come to campus.
  • Faculty may continue to use on-campus facilities for research and creative activities, including labs, while taking appropriate precautions.
  • The Library will continue to be open as scheduled: https://cpp.libcal.com/hours/
  • Our February 12 return to campus will include a return to classes being taught in their scheduled instructional modality. We will not be permanently changing the modality of any scheduled spring classes.

Additionally, I want to accentuate a few points made by President Coley in her announcement:

  • The campus remains open. All offices and services are open and will remain accessible and staffed to support our campus community.
  • Vaccinations — including booster shots — remain the most effective tool in preventing infection. We will announce shortly the details on an upcoming, on campus, vaccination/booster clinic that will be available for students, faculty, and staff. Please also take note that the CSU has updated the system-wide vaccination policy to include a vaccine booster shot. You may upload your record for verification via MyHealthPortal.
  • Free COVID testing continues to be available on campus at the CLA Paseo, by appointment or walk-in, for both voluntary and mandatory testing. Unvaccinated students and employees coming to campus must test weekly.
  • With the more highly contagious omicron variant, LA County Public Health recommends wearing higher grade masks, such as N95 or KN95. These masks are available on campus at no cost.

As always, the university will continue to monitor local health conditions and follow our University Risk Response Plan, which prioritizes health and safety while also protecting and supporting our mission of student success. 

I am especially thankful to all our staff who are keeping continuity of service in the division during this period when students and faculty interaction will be virtual. Temporarily moving to virtual instruction lowers the density on campus and keeps everyone safe during this surge. Many of our staff are partially telecommuting, keeping operations going so all of us can have a smooth return to an in-person community. Thank you, Academic Affairs staff team.

I am aware that this continues to be a challenging time and I appreciate your understanding and commitment to our campus community. Please continue to keep yourselves safe and I wish you the very best to the start of the spring semester.

Kind regards,


Iris S. Levine, DMA 
Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs