Cal Poly is moving to virtual finals due to first case of COVID-19 in SLO County
Cal Poly will switch to online finals next week to finish out the 2020 winter quarter, the San Luis Obispo university announced Saturday.
University President Jeffery Armstrong cited the first confirmed case of coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County as the reason for the switch.
“We’re encouraging faculty to be flexible in assigning their final grades in light of this extraordinary situation,” an email sent to the Cal Poly community read.
Prior to the first confirmed case, Cal Poly had advised professors to hold digital finals but did not require them to do so.
The start of Cal Poly’s spring quarter classes has been delayed to April 6 and the first two weeks of instruction will be held virtually. Cuesta College has also made the move to virtual instruction.
Although Cal Poly’s classes will be held virtually, the campus remains open.
Employees will still be expected to go into work because there are no known cases at Cal Poly at this time, the university said. Employees who are feeling ill are encouraged to stay home, however.
“Every reasonable effort will be made to be flexible to the many demands our employees face while keeping the campus operating,” the email read. “Appropriate administrators are encouraged to maintain university operations while supporting alternate work arrangements and de-densifying the work place.”
While Cal Poly’s campus remains open, most local school districts in the area have closed, which may pose a problem for some employees.
At this time, children may not be brought to campus in accordance with guidance from the California State University Chancellor’s Office.
The university email said employees could use accrued leave if impacted by this policy and are unable to find childcare. Departments are also encouraged to find ways to work remotely and be flexible.
