This past semester was a unique semester. It was challenging. However, I know that our students, faculty and staff are also unique.

Now, that the spring semester has concluded, the college is looking to the future and assessing how we will teach and operate in the coming year. We recognize that our county will still face COVID-19 in fall and possibly next spring. As a result, I made the decision earlier this week to conduct our fall semester primarily online and via correspondence education with exceptions for a limited number of “impossible-to-convert” courses and programs.  I made the decision based on scientific data, information on a timetable for development of a vaccine, and a possible resurgence of the virus in the fall and, more importantly, to meet our mission while still safeguarding the health and safety of our faculty, staff and students.  

I know some students may be considering dropping out or taking some time off school amid concerns that they will not get the same type of on-campus experience they may have wanted. While this is regrettably true, I still encourage students to continue taking classes.

I believe that, in this COVID-19 reality, CR’s high quality and affordable courses will be a great option in the fall for many families — and not just those with limited resources as a result of the economic recession.  I understand that, in these uncertain times, students need stability, structure and an opportunity to engage in meaningful reflection about the personal and professional life path they should pursue. CR is designed to provide a nurturing, supportive environment that provides students an opportunity to address the challenges of their lives.  

I also want to stress that the fall will not simply be a continuation of the rapid transition we were forced to make last semester. CR has a long history of quality online education, and a great deal of thought and planning has gone into making sure the classes students receive in the fall will meet or exceed the academic standards set by our accreditation bodies and that students have come to expect from CR.

It is critical to us that we keep in mind the obstacles some of our students may encounter. CR wants to do its part to encourage students to keep progressing toward their academic goals. In addition to offering free tuition for fulltime students next year, we are introducing a plan that will encourage students who had “stopped out” to return to CR. We will waive up to $1,500 for the completion of a Chancellor’s Office approved Certificate of Achievement, or up to $2,000 for the completion of a Degree. To be eligible, at a minimum, students must have last attended CR during the spring 2019 semester or before, they must meet with a counselor, enroll in 6-9 credits, and complete their FAFSA.

In addition to the determination about instruction in the fall semester, we are discussing plans for athletics and a return to onsite work for staff who are currently working remotely.  We will coordinate our plans and restrictions with health officials since all preventive protocols will need to followed. There will be more information about this in the near future.

Lastly, I know there are many questions about our budget reductions and layoffs. In times of financial uncertainty, our goal is always to protect our core mission of bringing quality degree, certificate, and transfer opportunities to our students. While layoffs may be unavoidable, I am confident that they will not impact student’s educational goals or level of instruction. The impacts and effects of all layoffs will be negotiated with the classified union leadership.

I know that these are unsettling and challenging times for all of us. I also know that CR is meeting these challenges with good data, deliberate decision-making, and with the interests of our students foremost in mind.

I want to stress again, how profoundly thankful the Board of Trustees and I are to the faculty and staff who worked tirelessly to transition our face-to-face classes to the distance education and correspondence modality during the spring term. Their success in addressing the challenges posed by the pandemic was phenomenal.