Cal U to go remote for fall semester

California University of Pennsylvania has joined a growing list of universities that will offer only remote learning for their students this fall because of concerns over the possible spread of covid-19.

“Throughout the summer, my leadership team and many others planned for our return to on-campus operations … in the sincere belief that we could reopen responsibly this fall,” Cal U President Geraldine Jones said in a video message to Cal U students, faculty and staff.

The university, which will start classes on Aug. 24, has about 7,300 students, both living in campus residences and commuting. Some classes will be offered online, but most will use real-time remote learning that allows students and professors to interact virtually on a regular class schedule.

Residence halls will be closed for the fall semester and student activities will be held virtually and most employees will work off-site, the university said.

California Borough Mayor Frank Stetar and Dr. Richard Martin, borough administrator, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Offering fully remote instruction throughout the semester provides a degree of certainty to students, employees and their families in an uncertain time, Jones said. The university, under the governor’s orders, joined other schools in the state in closing in mid-March because of the spread of covid-19.

More than 6,000 covid-19 cases have been tied to colleges nationwide, even before most schools have begun holding classes, according to a recent survey published in The New York Time, Jones said. It has become apparent in recent days that even the best on-campus experience presents too great a risk, she said.

Craig Smith, president of the Cal U chapter of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and Universities Faculties, could not be reached for comment. The statewide faculty unions said in mid-July that a membership survey found that three-fourths of the respondents did not believe they could safely return to teach a classroom of students.

Cal U is one of the 14 universities in the state system. Edinboro, with about 4,600 students, will offer only 15% of its classes in-person.

Slippery Rock, which has 8,800 students, will offer 80% of its classes online and about 20% in-person, said Robb King, Slippery Rock spokesman, with specialized classes in-person that can not be offered online. The original goal at Slippery Rock was to have 50% of its classes offered in-person, King said.

Clarion, West Chester, Millersville and East Stroudsburg are opting for a remote delivery of education to its students.

Indiana University, however, still plans to have students come to campus this, as announced earlier this summer, said Michelle Fryling, an IUP spokeswoman.