Campus Ready

The landscape of college life has changed dramatically this year. In order to adapt to this change, the fall semester has been re-imagined so we can have a safe return to campus and support the success of our students.

Here’s what you can expect for Fall 2020:

Important Dates

Monday, Aug. 24: Virtual instruction begins
Sept. 8 - Nov. 6: Limited face-to-face instruction
Monday, Nov. 9: All classes return to virtual instruction  
Nov. 23 - 27: Fall Break (on-campus residents who leave for break will not be allowed to return to the residence halls) 
Dec. 14 - 18: Finals week

For an overview of the fall semester, see the Academic calendar, Activities & Deadlines calendar, and the Green & Gold calendar. 

COVID-19 Cases

As you may have seen in earlier announcements, we have had members of the campus community test positive for COVID-19. For these and any future cases, the University and Humboldt County Public Health will work together to help isolate individuals and determine if contact tracing is necessary. The University will also provide information about any new cases by the end of each day and post the total number of cases on the Campus Ready website. 

Health & Safety

The university has put in place health and safety measures based on health guidance from CDC as well as state and local health guidelines:   

Humboldt Social Responsibility Commitment: All members of the campus community are expected to follow the Humboldt Social Responsibility Commitment. It’s a promise to protect everyone on campus and in the North Coast community.

Physical Distancing & Face Coverings: The campus community is expected to stay 6 feet apart from each other whenever possible. Everyone must wear a face covering at all times indoors on campus, and outdoors anytime they cannot maintain a 6 foot distance from others.  

Quarantine: Anyone returning from travel outside of Humboldt County must quarantine for 14 days. For students living on campus, that means as soon as they move-in, they must stay in their room at all times, except to get food from the J or the College Creek Marketplace or go to the Bookstore. 

Testing for COVID-19: On-campus residents will be tested as soon as they arrive on campus and will be tested at the Student Health Center (SHC) multiple times during their 14-day quarantine period. The SHC will continue offering optional testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic students, and will periodically test student-athletes based on recent guidance from the state.

Campus Repopulation: While some faculty, staff, and students will be on campus, it’s important to remember that campus remains closed to the public. The number of people allowed on campus is strictly limited to keep overall density low on campus so we can continue to offer the limited face-to-face instruction. Students living on campus will have their own rooms, as well.

Wellness Self-Check: Each day before coming to campus, everyone, including students, is required to do a wellness self-check, including taking their temperature. The CDC considers any temperature over 100.4 F to be indicative of illness. Thermometers were given to students living on campus and are also available for free from vending machines in College Creek and Jolly Giant Commons. 

Daily Operations: High-touch surfaces and communal areas will be sanitized and disinfected frequently. Furniture has been spaced out to ensure physical distancing. Building signage will remind people of health and safety protocols, with green check mark stickers on desks, restroom stalls, and other places on campus to indicate areas that are available to use. 

Building Access: In order to keep campus density low and to reduce the spread of COVID-19, access to buildings on campus is restricted to people on the Fall 2020 essential personnel list. Essential personnel must be approved through the Humboldt Environmental Health & Safety process during the pandemic. Learn more in the Return to Work guide.

Dining: The J and the College Creek Marketplace will be offering only grab-n-go and take out options in sanitized, reusable containers.  

Related Guides: Health & Safety | Residential Life & Housing | Dining Services

Academics and Student Resources

Course Instruction: Most courses will be offered virtually either synchronously (at set days and times) or asynchronously (coursework is completed during flexible time periods), and a limited number of courses will be offered with face-to-face instruction between Sept. 8 and Nov. 6. 

Course materials/textbooks will be listed in your class schedule in Student Center by Saturday, Aug. 22, and the syllabus for each course will be accessible in Canvas before the first day of class. Contact your instructor for further information if needed.

Technology Needs: If students need a computer or WiFi access for coursework, let Information Technology Services know by completing this form.   

Resources: Students will have access to several academic, cultural, and health and wellbeing services and resources, including the Academic & Career Advising Center, the Learning Center, Centers for Academic Excellence, the Student Health Center and Counseling & Psychological Services. Most services and activities will be offered virtually, with a few exceptions. 

Athletics, Events, and Activities 

Athletics: Cal Poly Humboldt’s athletics conference—the California Collegiate Athletic Association—suspended Fall sports competition. A limited number of student-athletes will return to campus and be under strict supervision and limitations as they navigate through athletic facilities, receive proper medical treatment, and return to permissible practice/workout routines.

Events: To align with Humboldt County Public Health guidelines, Humboldt will not be hosting any face-to-face events by departments and organizations. 

Activities: Because staying connected with the campus community will be especially important this semester, Humboldt is offering a variety of virtual programs and activities. Be sure to check Humboldt’s Virtual Quad for things to do.

Related Guides: Academic Support |  Athletics | Class Instruction & Technology | Events, Activities & Meetings |  Student Life & Support Services 

Employee Information

Telecommuting: Most Humboldt employees will continue to telework, with the exception of personnel approved to teach in-person courses, engage in certain research and creative activities, and support essential business operations. 

Training: All employees, including students, who work on campus are required to take Humboldt’s COVID-19 Social Distancing Guidelines training.

Paid Leave: Multiple related paid leave options are available to help employees who are affected by COVID-19. Review the chart of leave options and details on pandemic-related benefits and leave.

Related Guide: Working from Home & Campus

Please remember these guidelines, policies, and procedures are subject to change, so watch your Cal Poly Humboldt email and check campusready.humboldt.edu for updates.

This is a challenge. But we can do this if we work together. So thank you for taking personal responsibility so we can all keep learning, keep teaching, keep working, and keep safe.