On Tuesday, February 24, the ASI Board of Directors had their weekly meeting to discuss the plans for the fall 2021 semester. Provost Kimberly Greer came to talk further and answer questions about what could be expected going into the semester.
Greer first started out by quoting Chancellor Dr. Joseph I. Castro, “We are still committed to returning to a majority of in-person courses in fall 2021. Of course that is contingent upon conditions enabling us to do so.”
Greer continued to discuss what would be needed in order for our campus community to meet in-person. The biggest impact would be how many people could fit into each classroom.
“That requirement really reduces the capacity of the classrooms that we have,” Greer said, adding, “So right now what we’re doing is we’re reassessing our classroom capacity.”
They are also working on making other rooms that were not used as classrooms in the past into classrooms to give more room for students and teachers. With the library opening back up, we are able to use some of those spaces as well for study spaces and classrooms.
The board of directors then began to ask Provost Greer further questions about fall 2021. These included questions about housing, sports, and procedures that are needed to be on campus.
Krishan Malhotra, ASI Governmental Relations Coordinator, asked if teachers and faculty needed the COVID vaccination in order to be on campus. Greer responded that there is no requirement, but masks must be worn at all times on campus.
Melannie Castellanos, SC Chair, had concerns about if there will still be online classes for those who cannot make it to the campus for face-to-face courses.
Greer stated, “We also know that if we are offering courses face-to-face or lab face-to-face courses, we are going to have other options for students who might not be able to do face-to-face course[s].”
Castellanos then asked about what areas would be social spaces, specifically the library. Greer stated that the library would be one of the main spaces for studying, however, that does not mean it will be the only place. They are currently looking at outdoor spaces and smaller spaces all over campus for the convenience of the students.
Malhotra had questions about housing and if the process has changed. Dr. Christine Erickson, Vice President for Student Affairs, answered the question by stating that the current regulations on housing have not changed.
Erickson stated, “Right now it’s one person to a bedroom with a door, with very few exceptions, and so that significantly lessens our capacity.”
With the push towards going back into classrooms, Anisa Saechao, Director for Athletes, asked about athletes and what it will be like in fall 2021. Greer had no information regarding the situation at this point.
With all these questions answered by Greer, there is still a chance that these answers could change in the future. As we continue further into the spring semester, we will have a clearer understanding of what to expect in the fall semester.
The spring student government elections are coming up! Keep an eye out for the dates if you are interested in becoming a part of the student government.
