BY PAWAN NAIDU
Turlock Journal
Local university students were getting ready to head back to the classroom in a little over a week when they were informed they would have to wait a little bit longer.
Stanislaus State is delaying a return to in-person instruction and repopulation until Oct. 1. Instruction will resume on Aug. 23, however, classes that were planned to be in-person or hybrid instruction will begin virtually and transition to in-person on-campus on Oct. 1.
According to a letter from university president Ellen Junn, the reason for the delay is because the university was “informed of several confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 on campus.”
“This cautionary move allows more time for the Stan State campus community to provide proper documentation for (1) vaccination, (2) documentation for exemptions and (3) documentation of testing. It also allows the campus to monitor the changes related to the Delta variant, which has infected both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people,” Junn said.
Younger people have increasingly been significantly affected by COVID-19 across the state with 70 percent of new cases coming from individuals younger than 49 as of Aug. 11, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Students were scheduled to move-in this week are still able to “ONLY IF students coming to campus can show evidence of: (1) confirmed vaccination status; (2) documentation of exemption status; (3) if exempted, they must also provide ongoing testing status.”
Students who wish to make changes to their move-in date should contact the Housing and Residential Life Office at (209) 667-3675 or housing@csustan.edu by Aug. 18.
Students, faculty and staff are still required to complete the COVID-19 Self Certification where they must provide proof of vaccination, documentation for exemption or proof of a negative test. The form is located in the myStanState student center.
This decision was made in consultation with public health agencies, and Junn indicated there may be possible exceptions for some classes.
“We are in close consultation with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA), Public Health Services of San Joaquin County (PHS) and the Chancellor’s Office, and they are in support of this decision. The Provost’s Office will work closely with deans, department chairs and faculty to consider some limited possible phased-in exceptions for some classes.”
For some students, the delay is putting a pause on beginning their full campus experience.
“Last year was really hard due to COVID and this was supposed to be my first experience on campus at the university level,” said junior Dominique Nicole.
Regardless of her disappointment, Nicole said she understands the need to protect each other.
“I do think it’s worth it, but it’s still disappointing none the less.”
Resources are available for students while they navigate through remote learning on the Stan State website at csustan.edu.
