Students of all 23 California State University schools – including Fresno State – will receive instruction mainly online during the upcoming Fall 2020 semester, according to CSU Chancellor Timothy White.
In a Cal State Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, White announced a plan for classes to remain online into the fall, with the exception of in-person classes that cannot be delivered in any other fashion. Such classes include clinical nursing classes and interactive science courses, as discussed in the meeting.
“Our university… is a place where 500,000 people come together in close and vibrant proximity,” White stated. “That approach, sadly, just isn’t in the cards now.”
Earlier today, infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warned a Senate committee it would be “a bridge too far” for in-person classes to resume before a vaccine was widely available, and that “the consequences could be really serious” if certain checkpoints were skipped in reopening schools and businesses.
Incoming Fresno State student – and current Clovis West senior – Noah Galvan was left at a loss for words when the news came out.
“It will be harder without a professor there in-person,” Galvan said. “I know there will be online resources, but I’m a little bummed I won’t get to meet new people face-to-face.”
Last week, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro sent an email to students detailing a Fall 2020 Planning Task Force that will focus on “developing a conceptual plan” by May 22 on how to proceed with administering classes either completely or mostly virtual. President Castro and his cabinet will review the plan before announcing a decision on fall instruction in early June.