Escalated COVID-19 mitigation efforts effective 3/17

Dear campus community,

Efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are escalating here in the Bay Area and across communities statewide. San Francisco and surrounding counties have issued shelter-in-place orders that allow some exceptions for educational institutions for the purpose of facilitating distance learning.

Effective Tuesday, March 17, the University is significantly reducing the population on campus by limiting on-campus operations to necessary offices and moving the vast majority of staff and faculty to working using remote modalities. .

We are moving Downtown Campus operations to the main campus. Students, faculty and staff will not have access to Downtown Campus from March 17 to April 7. During this timeframe, the Estuary & Ocean Science Center at Romberg Tiberon Campus will have minimal operations.

San Francisco State University’s main campus remains open to staff and administrators needed to maintain critical operations and for students or faculty who need access to laptops, computers and Internet connectivity. Critical on-campus operations include our residential halls and offices serving staff and students who need to be on campus.

Services across the University will be sharply curtailed. Many University buildings will be closed. Details about services will be forthcoming as they are determined. Please continue to monitor email and the COVID-19 website for updates and information.

Instruction

Remote instruction will continue through the end of the spring semester. In addition:

• Students and faculty should continue preparing as they have been. Instructors are encouraged to use flexible formats and schedules in order to meet essential student learning outcomes through alternative means.
• Many classes have launched or will launch successfully this week, while some faculty may need additional time to prepare for a remote semester. Faculty requiring additional time should contact their dean.
• All faculty should consult the Instructional Continuity site for guidance and support.
• Faculty are expected to contact their students immediately with details specific to their classes.
• Faculty should begin closing their research facilities and collecting necessary items from their offices within the next week. Instructions will be forthcoming.

Employees

Offices are reviewing plans now for minimal staffing levels. Supervisors will share altered work plans and schedules with staff by this evening.

• Altered services and work schedules are expected to be effective Tuesday, March 17, and will be revisited April 7.
• Staff members should remain in regular contact with their supervisors.
• Student employees who can work remotely should.

Residential Students

Our residence halls must remain open to house students who have no alternatives, but services will be sharply curtailed.

• Students who remain can expect that they will be moved to another building as we continue to respond to this evolving situation.
• Students who have alternative housing should make plans to leave as soon as possible. While there is no need to take all your belongings, students should take essential items with them. We will arrange later this semester to ensure that you get your belongings when circumstances allow.

Events

All events are canceled through May 31. Commencement is postponed. Details will be forthcoming.

We are working steadily to meet the acute emergency in a rapidly changing crisis. We will share details as soon as they become available.

With deep gratitude for all that everyone is doing,

Lynn Mahoney, Ph.D.
President