Most SDSU-IV classes to remain online for fall
CALEXICO – Classes at the 23 campuses that make up the California State University system, including the San Diego State University campus in Imperial Valley, will continue to be conducted predominantly online through fall semester.
The decision was announced Tuesday during the CSU system’s board of trustees meeting.
CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White told the board the system-wide virtual approach will allow for variability across the campuses, but that CSU courses, especially lecture-type courses, would primarily be delivered virtually. He said only instruction and activities that cannot be delivered online will be conducted in-person, and with strict standards for safety and welfare.
“It would be irresponsible to wait until summer to plan for virtual learning across the curriculum,” White said. “It is wise to plan now and over the next several months for enriched training and virtual learning environments and to be able to pull back again in the fall as in-person circumstances might be further allowed. It would be irresponsible to approach it the other way around.”
In an email message sent to the university community Tuesday afternoon, SDSU President Adele de la Torre announced campuses would be rolling out a plan for fall 2020 called SDSU Flex.
“With all lecture-based instruction intended to occur online in the fall, our SDSU Flex model will offer maximum opportunities for students to remain fully engaged with their faculty, staff members, peers and SDSU alumni — no matter their physical location,” de la Torre said. “It also provides flexibility to our faculty, reducing the number of courses that may be needed to transition to fully virtual in the event of a second wave of the virus. Our model will also provide extensive time for faculty to prepare and modify their courses for the fall, in ways that differ drastically from the emergency move this spring.”
De la Torre said SDSU Flex calls for “high customization and will allow the maximum amount of flexibility to our community as COVID-19 conditions change in the future.” She said planning will be informed by updated guidance from CSU and expectations that physical distancing and certain other county, state and federal restrictions will remain in place.
She said the university will offer certain lab, art studio and performance-based courses in person, including clinical offerings required for licensure, while continuing to offer lecture-based instruction online. Decisions on in-person instruction will be made in coming weeks in concert with faculty, public health experts, facilities experts and the CSU system, she said.
Through its Flex program, de la Torre said SDSU will:
1. Expand existing, customized training for faculty members around course design and teaching, which will also address accessibility and inclusivity, to ensure quality education.
2. Significantly expand online activities and student support services, and also maintain “robust financial aid” for students.
3. Carefully open the campus in phases based on specified guidelines. This would begin with faculty who need to return to their research or creative work in on-campus facilities.
4. Continue to collaborate with county public health officials and to advocate the return of research and instructional faculty to campus as soon as circumstances permit.
“As we continue to develop SDSU Flex, our priority will continue to be to share information in a timely and transparent manner,” de la Torre said. “We know that our current students and their families need to make personal decisions soon, which will require decisions to be made about individual courses by our faculty and colleges. Following the announcement from the CSU today, we will continue, and with greater specificity, to engage in course-level planning.”
With more information and projections now available regarding COVID-19, SDSU administrators and faculty are better prepared to adapt to the situation and not be caught flat-footed.
“We now have the benefit of improved projections from global, federal, state and county health agencies, and all warn of a significant fall
resurgence,” de la Torre said.
Noting that no major medical breakthrough is expected soon, she added, “Ultimately, we cannot gamble that testing and treatment will be so substantially improved by August that we may
return to full or majority in-person classes, and therefore position ourselves for another large and emergency move away from campus, if required by the county or state.”
Nevertheless, the challenges will not stop
the university “from investing fully in the classroom, technology, testing, and health and safety infrastructure necessary to ensure we can deliver in-person courses and experiences in fall for those areas that most need it,” de la Torre said.