Temporary three-week move to online instruction for start of spring semester
January 10, 2022
Dear Campus Community,
Happy New Year and thank you for your continued diligence in keeping our campus community safe and our university thriving.
Since my message to campus a week ago, we have continued to closely monitor COVID-19 infection rates in the region and across the state, as well as our own testing positivity rates. In light of the recent wave of infections, and following the information shared in a convening by LA County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) for institutions of higher education last Friday, we will move to temporary remote instruction — with limited exceptions — for the first three weeks of the spring semester, which begins Jan. 22. We will resume in-person instruction on Feb. 12.
Even though we are temporarily moving to online instruction, the campus remains open. All offices and services are now and will remain accessible and staffed to support our campus community.
We ardently held out hope that we would be able to kick-off the semester in a primarily in-person modality. We still anticipate that 70 percent of our classes will be in-person for the spring semester. Truly, so much of the Cal Poly Pomona experience depends on the opportunity to engage directly with one another. That said, our ongoing commitment to health and safety necessitates the temporary delay in our in-person teaching and learning. Based on guidance from public health experts, this temporary delay allows us to significantly decrease campus density during what is expected to be the crest of the surge caused by the Omicron variant. Barring any further direction by LACDPH, we will proceed with the approved in-person classes starting Feb.12.
For Students
Vice President for Student Affairs Christina Gonzales will convey further information in a forthcoming message regarding residence life, student activities and resources.
For Faculty
Provost Iris Levine will communicate further with academic divisions to provide information pertinent to faculty research and teaching, including limited exceptions for in-person instruction.
For Staff
Extending to Feb. 12, we will continue to utilize our flexible remote working tools to adjust the scale of our in-person operations while continuing to provide services and advancing the university’s mission. Divisional vice presidents and managers have the flexibility to use temporary remote work agreements to support increased levels of remote work where it is appropriate and operationally feasible.
I take this opportunity to remind you that free COVID testing is available on campus at the CLA Paseo by appointment or walk-in. With the more highly contagious Omicron variant, LACDPH is recommending that students and employees wear higher grade masks, such as N95 and KN95, that offer enhanced air filtration and protection. These higher grade masks will be available at no cost to students and employees. I encourage you to take advantage of these safety resources, as each of us has an individual and collective responsibility to limit the spread.
Please also take note that the CSU has updated the system-wide vaccination policy to include a vaccine booster shot. Represented employees will not be subject to disciplinary action related to the booster requirement until the CSU has completed the meet and confer process with our unions. You may upload your record for verification via MyHealthPortal. Likewise, I’m pleased to announce that we will hold a vaccination/booster clinic on campus later this month for Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty and staff. Please continue to visit the Safer Return website for the latest information on our response to the pandemic.
Thank you again for your ongoing resilience and patience in what continues to be a uniquely challenging time for our university and for the communities where we live. Throughout this pandemic, we have always made the safety of the campus community our utmost priority. I am hopeful that by taking this temporary measure our spring semester will be all the more rewarding when we can once again be together.
Sincerely,
Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President