Dear SDSU Community,
San Diego State University is making additional campus changes given coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns. No confirmed cases exist within the SDSU community. As the university moves toward full virtual instruction, new changes detailed below are meant to help prevent possible spread of COVID-19 while continuing our educational mission.
Also, SDSU administrators are working today in consultation with local public health officials
and the California State University (CSU) system to identify additional, proactive
measures that may be adopted. Considerations will be informed by several major announcements
that occurred late last night:
- The White House decided to implement travel restrictions from 26 countries in the Schengen area of Europe (which does not include the United
Kingdom) to the United States.
- Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California public health officials on Wednesday issued an updated policy on gatherings
to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19, encouraging that gatherings should be postponed or canceled across the state until
at least the end of March. This decision applies to non-academic spaces, such as auditoriums,
stadiums, arenas, cafeterias as well as outdoor spaces.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated travel warnings in European countries to level 3 (the country list is available online) while the U.S. Department of State is now advising U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19.
The university, which remains open, will communicate any additional decisions as soon as possible.
The following are the most recent SDSU decisions adopted out of an abundance of caution.
Face-to-Face Instruction
Tomorrow, Friday, March 13, is the last day for face-to-face instruction for Spring
2020. An exception will be offered for lab classes only; SDSU will conclude all lab course face-to-face instruction by Friday, March 20.
The university will pause all face-to-face instruction, with the exception of labs,
during the week of March 16-19 to expedite the move to virtual instruction. Classes currently offered in the virtual
space will continue to be offered via virtual platforms. There will be no pause to
these classes that have already made the shift to virtual instruction.
This decision supersedes the previous announcement regarding the move to virtual instruction
effective April 6.
Faculty and staff should continue coming to campus for work. SDSU remains fully open; the campus has not closed. Please share this information with
your colleagues and students.
Students may contact the Economic Crisis Response Team by emailing [email protected]sdsu.edu to request assistance for food, housing, technology or other resources, or if they
are not able to connect to courses virtually.
Student Housing and Spring Break
As students are making spring break plans, we will support those who choose not to
return to campus and opt to complete their academic semester from a distance. Students
may also choose to stay after spring break through the end of the semester and will
continue to receive support, as the campus will remain open.
SDSU student residents who would like to move out should notify the Office of Housing Administration
& Residential Education by emailing [email protected]sdsu.edu. Students who choose this option will be reimbursed for the remainder of the spring
term for both their housing and meal plans.
Move-out support will be offered beginning Thursday, March 19. We ask that students please also email [email protected]sdsu.edu if they choose to leave earlier than that date. Student residents will be hearing
from Housing directly and asked to share information about their preferences so that
we may coordinate move-out accordingly.
Campus, Athletic Events
Explore SDSU, GradFest and Student Success Fee Programs are among the cancelled and, effective
today, all non-essential public events on campus scheduled between March 12, 2020
and April 8, 2020 must be cancelled or postponed.
SDSU has also decided to cancel the opening event for the March 21 Native and Indigenous
Healing Garden.
Also, today, the Mountain West Board of Directors suspended all spring sport competitions
indefinitely. In conjunction with that decision, SDSU and the Athletics department have immediately suspended game competition for its spring
sports, and is suspending all team activities, including practices, this weekend.
Fans who have purchased advanced tickets to spring sports may receive a refund by
contacting the San Diego State ticket office at 619-283-7378.
Commencement
Regarding May commencement ceremonies, SDSU will make a decision regarding any changes to the traditional format no later than
March 20. No plans currently exist to cancel commencement. Any changes will be communicated
at a later time.
Students Called Back from Europe
SDSU has suspended all study abroad programs in European countries and is advising that
all students currently remaining in Europe return to the United States as early as
possible, and go directly to their permanent residence. Students are being told to
return to their permanent addresses and to follow U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention guidelines to self-quarantine for 14 days after leaving a country affected by COVID-19.
We encourage you to continue visiting the university's COVID-19 web page for information and updates. This is a time to be attentive, prepared and engaged
regarding the steps we need to take as a community as we care for ourselves and one
another.
Adela de la Torre
SDSU President
Salvador Hector Ochoa
SDSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Mark Wheeler
University Senate Chair
Christian Onwuka
Associated Students President