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Cal State Fullerton Says Fall Semester Will Start Online
California State University, Fullerton announced this week that it is planning to begin the fall 2020 semester online, making it one of the first colleges to disclose contingency plans for prolonged coronavirus disruptions.
"Our plan is to enter [the fall] virtually," said Pamella Oliver, the schools provost, at a virtual town hall. "Of course that could change depending on the situation, depending on what happens with COVID-19. But at this point that's what we're thinking."
The public institution in Southern California also said it hopes to resume in-person learning when it's safe to do so.
Oliver, who made the announcement Monday, said she asked faculty to start planning for fall virtual classes now, citing the pain felt this spring when the university was forced to transition to online classes.
"Having to jump quickly, without having in-depth plans added to the difficulty."
College enrollment was already on a downward trend before the pandemic, making it a competitive field for college recruiters — every student they sign up counts. The big question is: Will students still enroll if college is all online? And will colleges that were already in dire financial straits survive the outbreak?
RELATED STORIES:
- The University Of California Will Suspend Payments On Student Loans That It Holds Through September 30 (BuzzFeed News)
- The University of California Just Made It (Temporarily) Easier For Students to Enroll
- UC System Significantly Eases Admissions Requirements For Fall
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