Cal Poly is working on three different scenarios for the fall quarter that could allow for the possibility of students returning to campus for some in-person classes.
This comes after California State University Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday that the 23-campus system will continue to hold most instruction online in the fall, with the exception of courses that must be held in person, such as clinical nurse training and science lab research.
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong sent a message to students and staff on Wednesday, outlining the university's planning process for the fall quarter.
"I sincerely wish that I could give you a more definitive plan for the fall, but the truth is no one can predict the conditions we will face four months from today," Armstrong said. "The best we can do is hope and plan for the best, while also preparing for contingencies should circumstances change."
Those contingencies include options for in-person learning opportunities, if allowed.
In what Armstrong is calling "Scenario A," approximately 15% of the university's classes would be offered in-person. Those would include courses in majors such as engineering, music, agriculture, theater, architecture, chemistry, and others.
In "Scenario B," classes would be all virtual.
In "Scenario C," the start of fall quarter would be delayed by a few weeks if that were to allow the university to be able to offer some in-person courses.
Cal Poly's plans depend on which stage of the state's reopening plan San Luis Obispo County is in when it's time for fall quarter to begin. President Armstrong says Stage 3 of the state's plan would allow for\ the return of students to campus. SLO County is currently in the early phase of Stage 2.
Currently, fall quarter is scheduled to start on September 17, with class registration opening on June 14.
Armstrong says the university will have "definitive information" on fall quarter by August 26.
To read the full message from President Armstrong, click here.
