Spring 2022 Instructional Update

January 25, 2022

Dear Campus Community,

I would like to thank you for your continued vigilance and commitment to ensuring the health and well-being of our campus community as we continue to respond to the evolving conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, we continue to commit to prioritizing the instructional needs of our students while remaining responsive to our region's ongoing case counts and adjusting our plans as the science warrants. In an effort to safeguard the health and safety of our campus community, and in consultation with ASI leadership, the executive committee of our Academic Senate, the Fresno County Department of Public Health and our Campus Preparedness team, we will extend virtual instruction through Feb. 4.

The Fresno State campus, with all of its offices and resources, will remain open and accessible to students during this time.

With adherence to our campus public health guidelines, we are confident that we can resume in-person instruction on Feb. 7. I am proud of our campus-wide effort to prioritize the health and well-being of our campus community through increased vaccination rates, masking mandates and the availability of on-campus vaccination clinics and a COVID Testing Center. With a vaccination rate of 90%, our campus community is well positioned to ensure a safe and healthy environment that prioritizes student success while balancing our responsibility to the community at large.

At the start of the spring semester, certain courses were identified and approved for on-campus instruction. Those classes that are currently meeting in-person will continue to do so.

Remote Work

In accordance with divisional operations and feasibility, each vice president will continue to provide direction on which staff members may be able to work remotely. In addition, all employees are strongly encouraged to obtain a negative COVID test within 24 hours of returning to campus, regardless of their vaccination status.

Change in California Department of Public Health - Isolation/Quarantine Guidelines

In accordance with updated CDPH guidelines, students, faculty and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 may return to campus after five days of isolation if they remain symptom-free for 24 hours and test negative for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test, available through the testing center.

Additional Resources

Our COVID-19 website has been updated and is a valuable resource for current policies and recommendations. Our COVID Testing Center remains free for our entire campus community, and we strongly encourage you to visit our testing center website and take advantage of the easy and convenient testing available. We previously released campus messaging regarding our updated masking requirements, and booster vaccination policy, as well as additional COVID-19 guidance and resources. Please refer back to our most recent communications in campus messages for additional details.

While we are extending the virtual learning environment by an additional week, it is important to remember that classes are not canceled. I have every confidence that our faculty will continue to provide meaningful instruction and guidance during these next few weeks, as we transition from virtual to in-person instruction. I’m also confident that every member of our campus community will continue to prioritize the academic success of our students.

Extending virtual instruction is not something I prefer, and I realize that there are different opinions on this within our campus community. Yet, based on the data and feedback from our health care providers and trusted guidance from the Fresno County Department of Public Health, I feel confident that this decision is necessary to keep our Bulldog family safe.

Sincerely,

Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, Ph.D.