Dear Fullerton College Community,
Last week at the President’s Advisory Council meeting as well as the President’s Open Forum, we shared important details about Fullerton College COVID-19 Gradual Return Planning. I would like to share these details more widely through this communication.
The health and safety of our campus community continue to be our top priorities. We continue to monitor information and guidance from Cal/OSHA, Orange County Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, we closely monitor the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus and the extensive contact tracing data at Fullerton College.
COVID-19 statistics are trending in the right direction statewide, in Orange County, and at Fullerton College. The mandatory vaccination policy established by the NOCCCD Board of Trustees on August 24, 2021 provides another layer of confidence in our planning for a gradual return to campus.
In addition to monitoring COVID-19 statistics and guidance, we are closely monitoring the needs of our students, the needs of our employees, and the needs of the communities we serve. At Fullerton College, our students have demonstrated a great deal of perseverance and resilience during this time. Our faculty, classified professionals, managers, and hourly staff have risen to the challenge and have gone above and beyond to educate and serve our students. However, not all of our students or teammates have done well in the remote environment and thousands of students have struggled to stay in school over the last two years, especially low-income, first-generation students of color.
Our gradual return to campus is so important for our students and the communities we serve, but it must continue to be done safely. As we gradually return to campus, we will more closely align with our K-12 partners, such as Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Anaheim Union High School District, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District, and Brea Olinda Unified School District, who have 100% returned. In addition, CSUF has also returned to a majority of courses and student services offered in-person and on-campus.
With this context in mind, here are some important details about gradual return to campus planning at Fullerton College.
Continue COVID safety steps through October 31, 2021
- Students and employees are able to upload vaccination documents or request an exemption on myGateway.
- All individuals are required to wear masks indoors. Faculty are encouraged to consult with their dean if they have to remove their mask for an instructional activity while maintaining social distancing. Please refer students who request an accommodation for masks to the Disability Support Services.
- Fullerton College will continue the Student Check-In. Students are required to take a health self-assessment, available on the Fullerton College Mobile app, and have their temperature taken before starting their class. This will be required each day they attend a class. Students are provided color coded wristbands for the day of the week when they exit the Student Check-In.
- Fullerton College will continue the Employee Check-In. All employees, who work on campus, must complete employee check-in procedures for each visit. All classified professionals and managers are required to work on-site two days a week. Please contact your Immediate Management Supervisor and Human Resources to request accommodations.
- Students will continue to have access to online support services. Support Services will remain in remote formats, including Zoom video conferences, live chat, remote counseling services, and phone calls.
- Fullerton College will continue to pause the Quiet Study Space in the Library until October 31, 2021. Students are encouraged to utilize the free laptop loan program, wi-fi, hotspots, and other technology. Requests can be made by filling out a Technology Request Form. Students may use outdoors areas of the campus and are encouraged to practice social distancing.
- Fullerton College will continue free daily hot meals and weekly groceries.
- Fullerton College will allow modified in-person services and events on a case-by-case basis. President’s Staff approval will be required.
- There will be NO facilities rentals in Athletics through December 31, 2021.
- Athletics will allow spectators for indoor and outdoor venues, following strict safety protocols, such as wearing masks indoors and social distancing both indoors/outdoors.
Proactive Steps beginning November 1, 2021 through the end of the fall semester
- Student Services will open for in-person, on-campus support services on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fullerton College will provide students with in-person AND virtual support services.
- Students and employees on-campus must have completed verification process for vaccination documents, be approved with an exemption, or complete weekly COVID testing.
- Unvaccinated students and employees will be required to complete FREE weekly COVID testing in order to be on campus.
- Fine Arts will resume facilities rentals following strict safety protocols and verifying vaccination status or recent negative COVID tests.
- Athletics will allow spectators for indoor and outdoor venues, following strict safety protocols and verifying vaccination status or recent negative COVID tests.
- All individuals are required to wear masks indoors. Faculty are encouraged to consult with their dean if they have to remove their mask for an instructional activity while maintaining social distancing. Please refer students who request an accommodation for masks to the Disability Support Services.
- Fullerton College will continue the Student Check-In. Students are required to take a health self-assessment, available on the Fullerton College Mobile app, and have their temperature taken before starting their class. This will be required each day they attend a class. Students are provided color coded wristbands for the day of the week when they exit the Student Check-In.
- Fullerton College will continue the Employee Check-In. All employees, who work on campus, must complete employee check-in procedures for each visit. All classified professionals and managers are required to work on-site two days a week. Please contact your Immediate Management Supervisor and Human Resources to request accommodations.
Spring 2022 Expectations
- All individuals are required to wear masks indoors. Faculty are encouraged to consult with their dean if they have to remove their mask for an instructional activity while maintaining social distancing. Please refer students who request an accommodation for masks to the Disability Support Services.
- On Friday, January 21, 2022, Convocation will be held in-person and on-campus.
- Commencement will be held in-person and the location is TBD, due to the facilities improvements at Sherbeck Field.
- Fullerton College is creating a Spring 2022 schedule of classes that will bring back to campus around 2/3 of in-person instruction. In order to achieve this goal, full-time faculty, including counselors and librarians, will have on-campus weekly assignments that will serve our returning student population.
- Student Services areas will be open to students four days per week and provide students with in-person AND virtual support services.
- Fullerton College will provide students with a FREE parking pass, FREE student ID card, and FREE laptop loan program.
- Fullerton College is completing a cost analysis of the FREE hot meal program. We anticipate approximately 8,000 students on campus during the Spring 2022 semester.
- The Chris Lamm and Toni DuBois-Walker Memorial Food Bank will reopen to serve students in-person on campus.
As we “Return to the Hive,” we will exercise caution with the health and safety of our campus community as the top priority. The guidelines shared in this email are subject to change based on student enrollment and/or demand for student services and COVID-19 safety guidelines. We will continue to provide ongoing communication as information changes through the Return to the Hive website, email, social media, News Center and the President’s Weekly.
With appreciation,
Gil
Gilbert J. Contreras, Ph.D.
Interim President
Fullerton College
321 East Chapman Avenue
Fullerton, CA 92832
Phone: 714-992-7001