Cuesta College suspends classes, switches to online education amid coronavirus outbreak
Cuesta College is suspending its classes as it makes a transition to online instruction.
President Jill Stearns sent a campus-wide email Friday afternoon stating that the decision was made in alignment with the effort of San Luis Obispo County schools to “reduce the spread of coronavirus.”
The community college will suspend classes at campuses in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles on Monday through Wednesday as students and faculty members are trained on using online systems and technologies for instruction, Stearns said.
“Cuesta College will move to online course delivery beginning Thursday, March 19,” Stearns wrote.
The decision was made by the college’s planning team in coordination with Cuesta College Federation of Teachers, the faculty union.
Stearns wrote that no identified cases of COVID-19 have been identified in San Luis Obispo County, but Cuesta’s decision was prompted by heightened measures to protect the community.
School districts countywide announced temporary closures of campuses Friday.
San Luis Obispo County Health officer Penny Borenstein said in a press conference Friday that 37 local patients have been tested, without any positive results thus far. Borenstein expects a local coronavirus case in the future, and has declared a public health emergency.
“I appreciate the calm, student-centered, perspective that has guided decision-making,” Stearns said.
On Thursday, the community college canceled all “non-essential gatherings and events” indefinitely, citing directions from the SLO County Public Health Department to reduce large gatherings.
This included all sporting events, music concerts, theater performances and campus visits at both campuses.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 5:55 PM.
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