Dear Campus Community,
I hope that each of you are well. On Monday, our President’s Weekly publication was emailed to all students, faculty and staff. I am writing you today to share more recent updates with you.
Summer Semester
Fullerton College will not be offering any in-person, face-to-face instruction this summer term. As you know, our summer semester class schedule was posted last week. The summer schedule was developed in consultation with our faculty department coordinators, deans and vice presidents, and originally included both face-to-face and online offerings. The schedule was developed with the guarded hope that perhaps some classes could be offered in a modified in-person format (with appropriate social distancing) in order to meet the educational needs of our students.
Recognizing the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic and campus closure status as we looked ahead to summer, the following language was inserted in the class schedule at the time of publication: “Due to the COVID-19 health emergency and possible continued social distancing restrictions, the means of delivery for courses listed as in-person may change to remote instruction, which may require a computer and Internet access. If this happens, you will be notified prior to the start of instruction.” Given the latest communication from Governor Newsom, we have decided to deliver instruction this summer session either remotely or online.
I want to thank members of our President’s Staff and Faculty Senate Executive team, as well as our deans and faculty department coordinators for their ongoing work with faculty on these issues. While a final decision about fall has not yet been made, discussions are occurring about the possibility of using remote and online instructional modalities. A decision will be communicated as soon as possible and well in advance of our fall registration period, as we continue to receive new information and guidance from state and local officials.
Student Support – Financial Support
Fullerton College has two opportunities in place to provide financial support to our students. The first is to offer student emergency grants in partnership with our Fullerton College Foundation. To date, 59 grants of $250 have been distributed to students, for a total of $14,750. In the past few days, donations totaling an additional $8,500 have been received. I know that many families are struggling in these challenging times. If you are in a position to help, please know that your support is greatly appreciated. For more information, please visit: https://www.fullcollfoundation.org/. The other opportunity is funding from the federal government in the form of the CARES Act. Our staff have been researching the compliance requirements so that we can initiate payments to our students as soon as possible, in accordance with federal guidelines.
Student Support – Food Insecurity
Fullerton College is addressing student food insecurity by working with Pathways of Hope, and all Fullerton College students can access the Pathways of Hope Hub of Hope, located at 611 S. Ford Ave in Fullerton. In addition, the college is partnering with Sodexo, our food service provider, to distribute bags of grocery items each Friday, beginning April 24. The Hungry Hornet Drive-Thru will operate with strict social distancing and safety protocols in Parking Lots A and 8, north of Chapman Avenue. I want to thank Vice President Rod Garcia for leading this effort with support from many other staff.
Student Support – Technology Resources
In response to a student survey we conducted about student needs, Fullerton College has purchased 1,700 laptops to help students complete their remote learning while social distancing requirements continue through the spring semester. Some of the laptops have arrived and the remaining laptop shipments are arriving later this week. As the laptops are prepped for distribution, our plan is to notify the students in need directly and then distribute the laptops while observing strict social distancing and safety protocols. In order to ensure that our students have access to reliable Wi-Fi, Fullerton College has recently installed upgraded hotspot technology near the 1700 Building, and we will be allowing students to access the campus parking lot just north of Sherbeck Field, with strict social distancing practices in place to ensure the safety of students and staff. In addition, we are providing students with information about free Wi-Fi access offered by local providers, and are going to be distributing hot spot technology that students can utilize away from campus. I want to thank our Director of Academic Computing Technologies (ACT) Co Ho and our outstanding team of classified professionals for all of their efforts to make these options possible.
Upcoming President Open Forum (Town Hall) and President Office Hour
I want to thank each of you who attended my President Office Hour on zoom last Friday. As a reminder, this Thursday at 9 a.m. I am hosting a President Open Forum, and I will host a President Office Hour on April 30 at 9 a.m. The details can be found in our President’s Weekly publication. I invite you to participate if your schedule permits.
Thank you for all that you are doing to help our students and each other in the midst of the challenges we have faced. I am so proud to be your colleague and I look forward to reuniting on campus in the future.
Greg Schulz, Ed.D.
President
Fullerton College