This message originally appeared as an email to the campus community that was sent out on Friday, August 7.

Dear Campus Community,

Thank you for your patience as we continue to plan for and respond to the ever-changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am writing to share some new information and let you know the next steps in our planning for fall quarter.

As you may know, we have been waiting for California Governor Gavin Newsom and state public health officials to release guidance for higher education. Those guidelines were released this afternoon, and you can find more details at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR20-187.aspx.

While we are cautiously optimistic that the governor’s guidelines will permit Cal Poly to continue with our plans to allow the return of some students and personnel to campus, we are waiting for final approval of our fall plans from the California State University Chancellor’s Office. This includes the number of students who can live on campus. As soon as we have that CSU direction, we will share more information with you. University Housing plans to reach out to residential students next week -provided CSU guidance has been received - with more information about specific housing assignments and move-in times.

As our plans are finalized, we will post more information on a new website that we have created to serve as a resource for the fall quarter planning - including more information about housing. Please visit calpoly.edu/roadmap.

Please also continue to check the campus Coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.calpoly.edu, which we update daily with confirmed case numbers and other important health advisories and information related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We are also asking all faculty and staff members to complete a COVID-19 awareness online training program, “COVID-19 Information for the Workplace,” on important safety and prevention information. Faculty and staff, please check your Cal Poly email for a link to the learning activity. Please note: This is not an indication or expectation that you return to work on campus. Cal Poly Corporation has also assigned the training to employees actively working remotely and on campus, and Associated Students Inc. is requiring it for all active full-time, intermittent, or student staff who are working on campus or remotely.

Students will receive similar information during the SLO Days and Week of Welcome (WOW) orientation programs.

Please know that we are updating our plans and responding as quickly as we can, as we receive additional guidance and direction from our local and state public health partners and the CSU. Thank you again for your flexibility and understanding, and we will be in touch again just as soon as we have more information to share.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey D. Armstrong

President