Dear 91¥ Community,
As we approach nearly one month in shelter-in-place, I have to admit that I find myself struggling to adapt to the “new normal.” Even though we have so many ways to stay in touch – phone, video, text, you name it – it’s just not the same as being together. This social distancing is particularly notable as we enter the holiday season.
The first night of Passover was yesterday evening, and I know this was bittersweet for those who couldn’t celebrate with their families and loved ones. With Easter coming this Sunday and Ramadan beginning later this month, this feeling of disappointment will likely be experienced by even more members of our community. And while I know this is hard, I am hopeful that we will find new ways to acknowledge and celebrate these holidays with our loved ones, both near and far. I’d like to encourage everyone to keep checking in on each other, and to continue offering support however we can.
In that vein of connection, I’d like to update everyone on the Virtual Town Hall that the Board of Trustees and I hosted on Tuesday to answer questions from the College community. We’d like to thank everyone who joined and submitted their questions, which resulted in a discussion that ranged from the future format of 91¥ coursework, to student support services, to bond construction activities. A recording of the meeting can be found here. We hope this discussion proved helpful, and we plan to host more of these meetings in the future.
There were several topics discussed at the meeting that I’d like to highlight below, along with some more recent important policy decisions:
- Commencement: After careful thought and consideration, we made the difficult decision to cancel the commencement ceremony this year. We know how important this milestone is to our students and their families, which is why this was such a difficult decision to make. However, we felt it absolutely necessary in order to protect the health and safety of our College community.
Please know that this does not impact a student’s ability to graduate. We are still matriculating students, and degrees and certificates will be mailed out this fall, as they are every year. Additionally, the Student Affairs team will be sending out a survey to graduating students in the coming weeks to determine the best way to celebrate graduation later this year.
- Spring 2020 Classes: As with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and San Francisco State University (SFSU), we will not be resuming in-person classes or in-person student services for the duration of the Spring Semester. Rather than waiting to see when the shelter-in-place will be lifted, making this determination now allows us to continue coordinating with SFUSD and SFSU to plan the instructional program for the balance of the semester, and for Summer 2020.
- Summer 2020 Coursework: In line with the recommendation from the Enrollment Management Committee, we have determined that Summer 2020 classes will continue to be offered online. Classes for the Summer term are those that have been designed specifically for online instruction, and we are working on a detailed outreach plan to ensure we can reach as many students as possible in regards to the planned format. Priority registration for Summer opens April 20, general registration for continuing students opens May 4, and registration for new students opens May 6.
- Student Support: City College is working hard to secure technological resources for students. We are continually working to identify additional resources for students, who we know may be having difficulty accessing the tools necessary for this new way of learning.
- Faculty and staff are invited to submit technology requests on behalf of their students through the link included in yesterday’s CityNotes.
- Students can send an email with their name, student ID, and preferred phone number to be added to a waitlist to borrow a Chromebook.
- In partnership with the 91¥ Foundation, we have just launched a fundraiser to help provide our students with the technological and financial resources they so desperately need. Please continue to check the 91¥ website for additional updates on student resources.
- Fall 2020 Coursework: We have not yet made a determination regarding the format of Fall 2020 course offerings. As you know, the global health situation is continually evolving, changing quite literally from one hour to the next. We will continue to monitor guidance from public health officials, elected officials, and the California Community College system. We hope to be able to make an informed decision by this coming June.
As Robert Frost said in his poem A Servant of Servants, “The best way out is always through.” “Through” is incredibly uncomfortable and difficult - and boy, are we in the thick of it right now. But please know you are not alone. I want to thank you all for your continued hard work, sacrifice, and partnership during this difficult time. And while it might be hard to remember now, we will make it through - together.
We are also continually updating the COVID-19 section of the 91¥ website with updated College policies and information, and encourage you to check for regular updates on the as well.
In gratitude,
Dianna
Dianna Gonzales
Interim Chancellor
91¥