Sonoma State University to keep most classes online during fall semester

Sonoma State University will continue holding classes online until the end of 2020 as part of an extension of distance learning California State University Chancellor Timothy White announced Tuesday for the nation’s largest four-year university system.

The decision to further remote instruction as the main way to educate about 480,000 students at 23 schools statewide signals that much of life will continue to be restricted, even as California’s 58 counties each push toward reopening.

SSU may be able to host more face-to-face activities than other universities based on infection rates in the community and the ability to socially distance on a campus that typically serves 9,000 students, said Paul Gullixson, a university spokesman.

The decision to adopt a digital-first approach allows individual campuses more flexibility than reopening with a possible shutdown looming should another coronavirus outbreak occur in the fall.

“It’s more responsible to move forward with the plan to be all remote,” Gullixson said. “You could adjust if the circumstances allow in the fall, rather than the other way around of scrambling to dial back.”

During an online meeting of the Cal State board of trustees Tuesday morning, White said there will be exceptions for in-person classes that can’t be replicated virtually and could be done safely without violating local public health orders or social distancing rules. He pointed to clinical classes, essential physical and life science labs, creative arts, hands-on experiences with unique instrumentation and senior capstone projects as examples.

In the early part of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sonoma County, SSU suspended in-person classes March 12 and later extended the distance learning through the end of the spring semester. The university had put off a decision on the fall semester as some California schools, including Santa Rosa Junior College, had moved forward with an extension of distance learning through the end of the year.

Judy Sukaki, Sonoma State president, said last week she expected to make a decision by the end of the month to provide students clarity before they have to commit fall tuition and housing fees by early June.

You can reach Staff Writer Yousef Baig at 707-521-5390 or yousef.baig@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @YousefBaig.