THE

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY
O F F IC E

O F TH E

C HA N C E L LO R

September 10, 2020

BAKERSFIELD
CHANNEL ISLANDS

To the Faculty, Staff, and Students of The California State University:

CHICO
DOMINGUEZ HILLS
EAST BAY
FRESNO

On May 12, 2020, I announced that our planning approach for the fall 2020 term
would result in courses primarily being delivered virtually, with limited exceptions
for in-person activities that cannot be delivered virtually, are indispensable to the
university’s core mission, and can be conducted within rigorous standards of safety
and welfare.

FULLERTON
HUMBOLDT
LONG BEACH
LOS ANGELES
MARITIME ACADEMY
MONTEREY BAY
NORTHRIDGE

SACRAMENTO
SAN BERNARDINO
SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO
SAN JOSÉ
SAN LUIS OBISPO

SONOMA

After extensive consultation with campus presidents and other stakeholders, and
careful consideration of a multitude of factors – regarding the pandemic and its
consequences, as well as other matters impacting the university and its operations –
I am announcing that the CSU will continue with this primarily virtual instructional
approach for the academic term that begins in January 2021, and also will continue
with reduced populations in campus housing.
Allow me to share some observations from the past four months, and summarize
the rationale for continuing this approach in the new year.

POMONA

SAN MARCOS

The COVID-19 era presents significant and varied challenges to our health and
welfare, to our economy, and to the way we sustain a vibrant university – one that
embraces inclusive excellence while fulfilling the CSU core missions of teaching
and learning; of discovery and innovative contribution; and of engagement with
and service to the communities, state and nation we call home.

In retrospect, making this consequential decision approximately three and one-half
months before the start of the new academic year provided valuable time for
thousands of faculty and staff to participate in professional development to
continue to provide an engaging, challenging and supportive virtual learning and
discovery environment for our students. The value of this professional development
takes on even greater significance when one considers that less than seven percent
of CSU in-person course offerings from fall 2019 are being delivered in person in
fall 2020.
The early decision enabled students and their families to plan appropriately, and I
am pleased to note that preliminary fall term enrollment numbers are strong across
the system, with a few exceptions. This is quite gratifying, and it will be to the
great benefit of our future alumni and the state of California in the years and
decades ahead.

STANISLAUS

401 G OLDEN S HORE • L ONG B EACH , C ALIFORNIA 90802-4210 • (562) 951-4700 • Fax (562) 951-4986

 CSU Faculty, Staff, and Students
September 10, 2020
Page 2

So, as I have said before and will say again, I offer my heartfelt thanks to our faculty, staff,
students and leadership across the 23 campuses and in the Chancellor’s Office for their
resilience, engagement, adaptability and unwavering commitment to our relentless pursuit of
inclusive excellence.
This powerful demonstration of sheer grit by the CSU community is especially
commendable, because it occurred – and continues to occur – as we all adapt to and cope
with the many added stressors – health, social, economic – in our daily existence.
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge those among us who themselves or whose loved
ones have been or will be affected directly by this disease. To them, I offer my personal
support, understanding and well wishes – along with those of the entire CSU family. And to
those who have lost a loved one or friend, I offer heartfelt condolences.
As we turn our attention to 2021, there are practical operational reasons for making a
decision now. I will outline just two. First, although we have just begun the fall term on most
campuses, academic plans must soon be finalized for the term that begins in January 2021.
Starting in a few weeks, campuses publish course offerings for the new year, students make
their course selections, and campuses make appropriate adjustments to their course
inventories to meet student demand.
A second reason for deciding now is that the CSU accrediting body – WASC – requires each
campus to seek authorization for courses offered in the virtual space with online and
distance-learning technology. This authorization requirement was waived by the U.S.
Department of Education for fall 2020; however, that waiver expires at the end of December
and will not be renewed. To meet this requirement, campuses need to commit to their
January academic schedules in September and October 2020.
Put another way, there are compelling and compulsory administrative factors that require us
to decide now how to best proceed in January 2021.
Another important aspect of the rationale for this decision comes from analyzing the facts
about the pandemic itself. We know far more about it now than we did back in May. The
virus continues to spread. There is no vaccine and there likely will not be one widely
available any time soon. The summer increase in infections that was forecast in the spring
happened as predicted, and it was larger than expected. While cases and hospitalizations are
starting to stabilize in most of California’s counties, it is plateauing at a number that is
approximately 40 percent higher than what we experienced in the spring. A larger wave
continues to be forecast for the period between October and December, coupled with
seasonal influenza; this will undoubtedly be a daunting challenge for us. (I cannot stress
strongly enough that each of us should get a flu shot soon, certainly before the end of
October.) A subsequent wave of COVID-19 cases in or about March 2021 is also still
projected.

 CSU Faculty, Staff, and Students
September 10, 2020
Page 3

Testing infrastructure is still a work in progress in California and at the CSU, and testing
remains very expensive to conduct repeatedly and meaningfully with rapid results – both of
which are necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The governor has announced that
California recently contracted with a third party to increase testing capacity. That program is
anticipated to begin in November, but will not be at capacity until March 2021.
And there remain some seasonal dark clouds that could hamper or delay control of the
pandemic. During the recent Labor Day weekend, there was widespread socialization that,
sadly, often did not comport with public health directives. California has entered what has
thus far been a horrific fire season, and the number of evacuations that will force people into
congregate temporary housing could lead to another COVID-19 spike. And we are testing the
willingness of a fatigued populace to continue with physical distancing, hand washing and
face coverings for the long term until a vaccine is available and can be administered at scale.
To summarize, the disease continues to spread. While the current mitigation factors do make
a difference, in the absence of a vaccine and of sufficient, cost-effective, timely testing and
contact-tracing infrastructure, we are not able to return to a normal, principally in-person
schedule in January 2021. And there are seasonal factors that threaten to accelerate the
disease’s progression, rather than slow it.
The combination of these compelling administrative factors – the need to publicize course
offerings and enroll students now, and the required authorization process with our accrediting
body – together with the state of COVID-19 prevalence, the absence of a vaccine, and an
insufficient testing and contact-tracing infrastructure, lead us to the regrettable but necessary
decision that the academic term that begins in January 2021 will be primarily virtual, similar
to that of fall 2020.
Also like the fall term, there will be variability across campuses depending on their unique
and particular circumstances. In some cases, it may be possible to slightly increase the
amount of in-person instruction that we are doing currently, because we are learning to do it
effectively and safely. In other cases, there may be fewer in-person opportunities.
A subsequent communication will come to campus presidents from the Chancellor’s Office
outlining a streamlined path forward. Our plans will comply with all state, federal and local
public health directives.
We have learned from experience that announcing this decision now will allow faculty and
staff to continue or start professional development to be even more effective in the virtual
space. We also know that deciding now will allow our students and their families time to
plan appropriately.
This decision is the only responsible one available to us at this time. And it is the only one
that supports our twin North Stars of safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of our
faculty, staff, students and communities, as well as enabling degree progression for the
largest number of students.

 CSU Faculty, Staff, and Students
September 10, 2020
Page 4

Importantly and joyously, in the months ahead, campuses will be formulating plans for their
commencement celebrations, and will be communicating those plans with graduating
students in a timely manner.
Let me close by again thanking you and acknowledging that our resilience is being tested.
But I see evidence every day that we are more than up to the challenges, now and in the
journey ahead. And I see evidence that we are courageously doing the right thing – for the
moment and for the short- and long-term future of our beloved university. Indeed, we have
shown courage to do the right thing – even when it is unpopular.
Please continue to take good care, be safe and stay well.
Sincerely,

Timothy P. White
Chancellor