With the coronavirus pandemic rapidly evolving, Cal Poly Pomona will continue virtual instruction and remote work through the end of the spring semester, as announced by CPP President Soraya M. Coley on March 17 through a university-wide email. The remote instruction will apply for all classes, including laboratory, studio and activity classes.
For precautionary reasons, CPP announced on March 11 that the university would be having a brief pause of in-person instruction. Though there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus at CPP, President Coley explained in a follow-up email that the university felt the need to extend the virtual instruction period to “assure the safety of our Bronco family and the larger community.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, California State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White announced the suspension of his retirement and will continue his position through fall 2020, according to a March 20 CSU press release.
“The challenge of teaching a performance ensemble course, where the act of playing music together is required for the success of the course, is nearly impossible to recreate online,” said Rickey Badua, the director of CPP bands. “We are looking at creative ways to engage performance students remotely through focusing on individual musicianship. For example, I may … have students send in recordings of (themselves) playing for assessment.”
(Christina Manuel | The Poly Post)
The switch to virtual instruction seems to be just as complicated for students.
“This is my first year at CPP, and I no longer can have the real college experience I was looking forward to,” said Kyu Hyuk Lim, a first-year student with an undeclared major. “All my professors have been posting updates and online assignments all at once. It’s been very overwhelming and I’m anxious that this change will harm my academic performance.”
Commencement will also be postponed until further notice. On March 17, the university stated on its official website that it is “actively looking at alternatives to celebrate our graduates in an appropriate manner.”
As well, because of the online switch, students can request a prorated refund for their parking permits by dropping off the permit at the Parking and Transportation Services or mailing it to the university. The refund amount will differ depending on the date the parking permit was dropped off or mailed in.
Services still open on campus with modified hours and/or schedules:
University Housing Services will remain open for residents that require housing, but residents are advised to return home as soon as possible. Residents living in the freshman dorms and suites who wish to cancel their housing contract for the remaining term will be prorated after completing the Petition to Cancel form, which has been sent out to all residents via email.
Village residents can also cancel their license agreement by submitting a cancellation form.
Residents will also need to submit an Appeal to Charges form, as sent through email, to waive the cancellation fee and request a prorated refund of rent.
Centerpointe Dining Commons, Innovation Brew Works and Starbucks are currently the only three dining locations open on campus, as announced through the university’s COVID-19 page. Although walk-ins are allowed, customers are highly encouraged to order for pick-up and delivery through the Grubhub app.
The Student Health Services will remain open during its regular business hours, but all new appointments must be made through the phone.
The Counseling and Psychological Services will be conducting all services by phone. Workshops and group meetings are also postponed until further notice.
The University Library is limiting hours of operation — from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The facility will only be open to CPP students and faculty, and book rental periods are extended to May 22. Only the second floor and computer lab will be open for those who need access to computers.
Operating hours for the Bronco Bookstore have also been modified to Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rental books can be returned at any time before the due date at the bookstore or can be shipped to the store, to arrive by May 15. Visit the Bronco Bookstore website for more information on shipping instructions.
The Bronco Recreation and Intramural Complex, commonly known as the BRIC, and the Bronco Student Center will remain closed through the end of the semester.
For a full list of services both open and closed, visit https://www.cpp.edu/safety/coronavirus/offices-services.shtml.
COVID-19 on a global level:
The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to escalate in the United States with 15,219 confirmed cases and 201 deaths nationwide as of March 21, according to the World Health Organization.
COVID-19 has now spread to all 50 states, with West Virginia being the final state to confirm a positive case.
On March 13, President Trump declared a national emergency, releasing $50 billion in federal funds to help combat the fast-spreading virus.
In addition to travel restrictions and nationwide school closures, major states, including California, are temporarily pausing dine-in services in food and beverage venues. Gyms, gambling venues, theme parks and theaters are also expected to make appropriate changes to accord with social distancing standards.
To combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus, the Treasury Department is proposing to issue two rounds of direct payments to American taxpayers as part of its $1 trillion plan, with the first check issued starting April 6 and the second during mid-May.
According to the proposal, the payment amount would be tiered based on income level and family size. Though the plan is yet awaiting its approval by Congress, it also includes funds to stabilize airlines, distressed sectors and small businesses.
In California, there are currently 1,224 confirmed cases and 23 deaths as of March 20 at 2 p.m., according to the California Department of Public Health.
To limit the spread of the virus, the state has determined that large group gatherings should be postponed or canceled until the end of March.
Los Angeles is facing a sharp increase of infected residents with 351 confirmed cases and four deaths as of March 21 at noon, according to the L.A. County Department of Public Health. The Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Pomona will open its doors on April 1 to house individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 as a quarantine effort for L.A. County.
Food, housing services and medical care will be provided and will be open until May 31.
In efforts to slow the spread in both the city of L.A. and the state of California, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a “Safer at Home” order on March 19 to cease all operations of nonessential businesses.
Businesses exempted from the order are strictly limited to food services, shelter services, social services, gas stations, financial institutions, hardware stores, healthcare services, transportation services and media outlets.
Operating businesses must institute social distancing standards and prioritize sanitation.
“Each one of us is a first-responder in the crisis, and Angelenos understand that we have to make big sacrifices right now to save lives,” said L.A. Mayor Garcetti during his press briefing. “This isn’t forever, and we’ll get through it together.”
The order will be effective until at least April 19. All L.A. residents are asked to stay at home, and group gatherings are limited to less than 10 people.