COVID-19 challenged us in ways never before experienced. Now, we must plan for a safe return to campus and resumption of normal operations. Here, we present that roadmap toward "repopulation" in the form of policy statements, related frequently-asked-questions, and other resources.
LATEST UPDATES
Site information refreshed on June 29, 2020
President Conoley reflects on safely reuniting the campus (June 23, 2020)
President Conoley offers update on planning underway to Reunite The Beach (June 12, 2020)
New fellowship to assist with alternative instruction (June 1, 2020)
CARES Act delivers aid to students (May 18, 2020)
Plans and Related FAQs
Academic Planning and Instruction
What are the university's plans for fall 2020?
Fall semester will rely primarily on remote instruction as we continue to monitor and respond to public-health guidance. Some in-person learning and hybrid classes will still be possible through appropriate safety precautions.
How has the university adapted to offering alternative instruction?
The university has an Academic Continuity plan that has provided a framework for offering primarily remote instruction during the pandemic.
Athletics
Will Beach Athletics teams compete this fall?
No decisions have been reached, but we remain hopeful about the ability of teams to compete this fall.
Building Access
Are university buildings open?
Many buildings on campus have been closed in light of our primarily virtual environment. An online map has been developed to help illustrate specific closure information.
How can faculty and staff access closed buildings?
If you need the exterior door to a building unlocked, please call the University Police Department (UPD) at 562-985-4101. Please exercise social distancing while the UPD personnel provide this service. Upon leaving the building, please make sure the door latches behind you. We need all of your help to keep our facilities safe and secure.
Is the university cashier open?
The cashier window is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. All of Student Financial Services is available by phone or email Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m.
Is the Student Recreation and Wellness Center open?
While SRWC works towards a timeline for reopening, please visit the SRWC website for information on virtual workshops and programs. For questions and inquiries, SRWC can be reached at (562) 985-0775 and asi-srwc@csulb.edu.
Is the bookstore open?
The CSULB bookstore will be open with limited hours beginning July 6. Books, supplies and Beach gear may be purchased in person or may be ordered online for pick-up or shipping. Faculty are encouraged to use electronic texts. There are several options available through the bookstore for purchase and online delivery of electronic resources.
Commencement 2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, May 2020's Commencement has been postponed, likely until late fall, when public-health guidance may permit these types of events. We hope to be able to announce plans in early August.
Employment Issues and Employee Rights (for Staff)
Find out more about sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
When will staff return to working on campus?
Those staff members not already working on campus will likely begin to return once “Safer at Home” orders are modified. Human Resources has posted a series of frequently asked questions as a resource.
Does the university offer leave programs for those unable to work due to COVID-19?
The CSU and the U.S. Department of Labor have implemented COVID-related leave programs that may be available to some employees. Please contact Staff Human Resources at COVID19-Staff-Info@csulb.edu for more information.
Enrollment
May students defer their admission to a different semester?
No, at CSULB admission is offered for a specific semester. Any change in a student’s plans would require a new application.
May students elect "Credit / No Credit" grading?
Policies regarding grading are available on the Enrollment Services website.
Events and Meetings
May students, faculty, and staff reserve on-campus facilities this fall?
Students and employees may not reserve on-campus facilities for events and meetings being held before January 1, 2021. Requests for exceptions may be reviewed by the appropriate divisional vice-president.
May outside, third-party organizations reserve CSULB facilities this fall?
Outside organizations may not reserve on-campus facilities for events and meetings being held before January 1, 2021. Requests for exceptions will be reviewed by the vice president for Administration and Finance.
Will performances and visual-arts events be held on campus this fall?
No performances or visual-arts events will be held on campus prior to January 1, 2021.
Health and Safety Protocols
Are there any special procedures required for employees coming to campus?
Should you need to come to campus, enhanced social-distancing protocols went into effect on Thursday, April 16. These new protocols include symptom checks, face masks, and physical distancing.
Housing and Residential Dining
Applicants for student housing for fall 2020 will be notified of the status of their application by mid-July. No more than 1,000 students will be accepted into student housing in order to achieve required physical distancing. All rooms will be single occupancy.
Residential dining will be take-out only, with preparation by staff instead of self-service by residents.
For more information, please visit the Housing and Residential Life website.
How are applications for housing being assessed?
Priority will be given to applicants who are experiencing homelessness; Guardian Scholars; receiving applicable services from the Bob Murphy Access Center; receiving in-person instruction; or participating in programs such as Presidential Scholars and Beach Athletics.
What health protocols will be adopted to help ensure safety?
In addition to having all rooms be single occupancy, all shared restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected twice daily. High-touch spaces will be cleaned daily, including door handles and other surfaces. Masks will be required outside of rooms, and guests in the residence halls will be restricted. There are detailed plans in place in the event that a resident becomes ill, which are designed to help ensure the health of other students.
Library
While it is likely that the library building will remain closed during fall 2020, services are still being provided remotely.
A pickup service is offered for physical media. Users should email their list of items with name, campus ID and a contact phone number. Circulation staff will contact patrons with pick up instructions when items are ready. Due dates will be extended until the building is open. The two book bins in front of the library and the one in front of the McIntosh Building are open for book returns. All others are locked. Borrowing of physical materials is temporarily suspended for books and media using CSU+, LINK+ and BeachReach.
Use OneSearch and/or Databases to access articles. BeachReach interlibrary loan of electronic articles is available. Information about other digital eMaterials is available on the library website.
What resources are available to support online instruction?
A number of websites offer information on Library Support for Online Learning including a Video Tutorial Collection and other online education tools.
Is library instruction available in coordination with individual faculty and their librarians?
Yes, library instruction may include email/chat consultations, research assignments developed by librarians and faculty together, instructional videos posted on the web, and/or Zoom meetings. Librarians can be added as instructors to BeachBoard and can assist with research assignments through that medium, if arrangements are made in advance between the librarian and instructor.
Student Support Services
While many physical offices are closed, staff are working remotely and continue to serve students. Consult the website of the office you are wishing to contact for details. A few special notes:
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is has moved to remote telehealth services following the State of California and health directives. CAPS counselors are available over the phone for crises and emergencies. CAPS current hours are Monday through, from Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During those hours, you can call 562-985-4001 and ask to speak to a counselor. After hours and on weekends, you can call that same number and follow the instructions to connect to a counselor 24/7.
Student Health Services continues to support students via telehealth and in-person services. The SHS remains open for telehealth services Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-person visits are available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC) will continue to support virtual and on-campus accommodations based upon individual student accommodations needs, including those that are related to disability and COVID-19. BMAC can be contacted for support at bmac@csulb.edu or 562-985-5401.
The Basic Needs Program is offering virtual case management. Details about Cal Fresh, the Student Emergency Intervention and Wellness program, and the ASI Beach Pantry, which operates is operating a drive-thru pantry every Friday, is available on the website.
The Dean of Students and CARES Team are available for virtual support, advocacy, and consultation. Students can email studentdean@csulb.edu or call (562) 985-8670. CARES Referrals can be submitted at www.csulb.edu/cares.
Student Life and Development will continue to support all student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, Leadership Academy, and club sports through virtual formats. Trainings will be offered to clubs and organizations regarding how to offer virtual facilitation of meetings and programs. To contact an SLD advisor, visit the SLD website at www.csulb.edu/sld.
The CSULB Career Development Center is providing virtual student and employer services, such as appointments, workshops, on-campus interviews, and information sessions through Zoom and phone. Please continue to access, schedule and RSVP to events through CareerLINK and we will be in contact with further instructions and details.
SOAR & Parent/Family Orientation are online for Summer 2020. SOAR can be reached at (562) 985-5515 and soar@csulb.edu.
For Veterans Services, students who are currently attending CSULB and receiving benefits will not have any change to their benefits this semester.
What should students do if they need to come to campus but cannot safely do so?
Students who cannot safely travel to campus due to COVID-19 concerns should contact the Bob Murphy Access Center (BMAC), which continues to serve students virtually. Students who are not currently served by BMAC but who are eligible for accommodations due to a previously undisclosed disability (i.e., a medical condition) will receive temporary accommodations for the full semester, and as they work to obtain documentation to fully establish their disability-related accommodation. For students who do not meet the requirements for a disability-related accommodation but need an exemption because they are unable to come to campus due to COVID-related concerns (e.g., living with a family member who is immunocompromised), BMAC will provide a letter acknowledging the student has contacted their office, but will not require documentation nor register the student with BMAC. In both cases of students who are unable to safely travel to campus due to COVID-19 concerns and those who require accommodations, students will receive a letter outlining their exemption from coming to campus to provide to their instructors. Should CSULB not be able to accommodate a student with a course in a fully virtual modality, the student will be instructed to work with their academic advisor and/or Assistant Dean to determine how best to adjust their course schedule.
Where can students find more information about available services?
Beyond information on various university webpages, Student Affairs has also created a comprehensive guide to campus and community resources available to you during this time. The guide includes links and phone numbers for food resources, financial resources, housing options, health and well-being resources, and more. Use the table of contents to navigate the 50+ pages of resources available around Southern California. They have also posted information on COVID-19-related resources as well as a reference sheet of Student Affairs programs and services.
Are there any programs that provide financial assistance to undocumented students?
The university has been working to make support available to those who do not qualify for federal CARES Act funds. Contact Student Affairs for more information. In addition, California is providing one-time state-funded disaster relief assistance to undocumented adults who are ineligible for other forms of assistance, including assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and pandemic unemployment benefits, because of their immigration status.
Travel
Is Study Abroad available to students?
Study abroad programs have been suspended pending further analysis.
May faculty and staff travel on academic and university business?
Travel has been suspended through June 30, 2021. Requests for exceptions should be presented to the appropriate dean or division vice-president. If travel is deemed essential, it will be forwarded to the president for final approval.
Tuition and Fees
Will tuition be adjusted for the fall semester?
Tuition is established by the CSU’s Board of Trustees. At this time, there is no type of adjustment planned as instruction is being offered and academic credit is being earned. Of note, at CSULB approximately 77% of the university’s operating funds support compensation for faculty and staff who are working hard to deliver instruction, student services, and related operations.
Will campus-based mandatory fees such as the Student Excellence Fee, health fee, or University Student Union fee be suspended this fall?
No. Charges such as the Student Excellence Fee and health fee provide support to programs that students continue to benefit from, even if those services are, in many cases, temporarily provided remotely. In the case of the USU and its Student Recreation and Wellness Center, while Associated Students, Inc. — an organization separate from the university — may have seen some reductions in day-to-day maintenance costs during our predominately virtual environment, there are ongoing costs related to facility upkeep and staff compensation for programs that continue to run remotely. More importantly, the USU fee, for example, should not be viewed as a usage fee or what's termed a "fee for service." Rather, past student referendums in 1994 and 2007 committed the CSULB student body to make ongoing payments on building projects that have 30-year construction loans. So while the current pandemic temporarily does not allow for use of those facilities for safety reasons, there are payments that must continue to be made. In fact, in the past, students elected to begin paying fees for facilities that had not yet been constructed knowing instead they would benefit Beach students in the future. That obligation continues today. Further, we are proud of CSULB's role as an accessible pathway for social mobility and personal empowerment. Over 71% of Beach students receive some form of financial aid, and over 57% of students have these particular campus-based fees paid in full through their financial aid awards.
WiFi and Technology
Where can students access WiFi?
Students may access campus Wi-Fi in public spaces on campus as long as social distancing is observed. A map of on-campus Wi-Fi coverage is available online.
Are laptops available to students?
If a student needs a Chromebook loaned to them, they should call 562-985-5587 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or visit Brotman Hall 377 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.).
Is technology support available?
The Technology Help Desk continues to provide support services through email, an online request form, or by telephone at 562-985-4959. Live technology support by phone is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After-hours BeachBoard support is available by pressing “0” when reaching the helpdesk voicemail greeting. Service requests via email are monitored throughout the day and after hours. Our Division of Information Technology has created a webpage outlining technology options for working remotely. With increased use of the video-conferencing tool Zoom, it's important to keep in mind some important safeguards to prevent the new phenomenon of “Zoom-bombing.”
Will a computer lab be available this fall?
The university is planning a space for student access to desktop computers that provides for physical distancing and appropriate disinfecting of surfaces.