April 22, 2021
Dear Campus Community,
Today, the CSU announced that it will be joining the UC system in requiring vaccinations for students, faculty and staff who will access campus facilities this upcoming Fall 2021 semester. The requirement will be conditional upon full approval of one or more vaccines by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which could be realized in the coming weeks.
As we’ve discussed during our recent series of Town Halls for faculty, staff and students, as well as shared via campus global messaging, one of our primary planning assumptions for the Fall 2021 semester was that recurring testing or proof of vaccination would be required for students, and to the greatest extent possible, faculty and staff.
While our initial approach was to focus primarily on recurring testing unless proof of vaccination was provided, this new requirement places the primary emphasis on proof of vaccination, and we anticipate that testing will be utilized to address exemptions based on medical or religious grounds. As such, while vaccinations will now be required, the primary role of vaccinations or testing in our Fall repopulation plan remains the same.
One of the other points we’ve covered in our Town Halls is that while we have good clarity on our planning assumptions, there are a host of logistical details that need to be finalized – and our vaccination and testing protocols are at the top of the list.
Moving forward, we will be working closely with the CSU system office for guidance and clarification on issues such as exemptions, verification, enforcement, as well as the CSU’s consultations with the California State Student Association, the CSU Academic Senate and labor unions.
Please know, we will provide timely updates as soon as we have more detailed information. We also have additional Fall Planning Town Halls scheduled for faculty and staff on May 3, 4, and 5.
As recently announced by the State, vaccinations are now available for all individuals 16 years and older. Vaccination appointments are available by visiting MyTurn California, and you can also check with your healthcare provider or local pharmacies such as Ralphs, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Albertsons or Vons. You can learn more about the benefits of the vaccine by vising the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
As we’ve also discussed in numerous forums, conditions are changing rapidly and are extremely fluid. This decision is a significant step in our commitment to a safe return for the Fall 2021 semester and our continued work in promoting student success. We will be in touch with new information as soon as it becomes available.
Returning to our campus following a global pandemic will naturally present each of us with challenges. Thank you in advance for your part in understanding and meeting them.
Sincerely,
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
Interim President