The library has been closed since March 19/photo by Robert Rios
The few campus services that were open sporadically the last two weeks–including the Toro Computer Lab and the CSUDH pantry– are now closed until further notice.
CSUDH President Thomas A. Parham announced the closures of the lab and panty, along with services that were available in the Loker Student Union, in a 9:17 p.m. email last night to the campus community.
“Until further notice, the Toro Computer Lab, Toro Food Pantry, and services within the Loker Student Union are closed,” Parham wrote in his email. “In addition, campus facilities that are not in use or essential will be locked and remain so. However, please understand that although we are limiting access to our physical campus, the university remains operational, with instruction continuing in a virtual environment, and student services and ongoing business conducted via alternative means, where possible.
In addition to the closures, Parham also wrote that in light of the federal stay-at-home guidelines extended to Apil 30, CSUDH’s “summer sessions will be offered using alternative instruction modes of delivery.”
And there is a possibility the shadow of the coronavirus may extend even into the fall semester, per Parham’s note after the summer session note that: “Our Academic Affairs and Student Affairs teams will work on a transition strategy to support our fall 2020 incoming class.”
The closure of the computer lab, which is on the first floor of the campus library, will further impact those students who do not have reliable access to computers at home or wi-fi off-campus. That concern is far more acute at the high school level, but it’s a reality at CSUDH as well; in his email, Parham said the school’s laptop loaner program remains in effect. For information visit techloaner.csudh.edu,
As far as the closure of the pantry which had been moved into the meditation room in the LSU and re-opened last Wednesday, Parham said the campus basic needs program is ” working hard to explore alternatives. In the meantime, numerous community resources are available on www.csudh.edu/student-support/food-shelter/food-resources.
Here is the full text of Parham’s email, which was sent last night at 9:17 p.m.,
Dear campus community,
Throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, the safety and well-being of the Toro community has been our main priority. We must continue to protect each other by supporting local, state, and national efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, as we have done thus far with all the adjustments made to sustain some campus operations and provide essential services. However, even those are now changing.
Consequently, in consultation with the Chancellor’s Office and based on current public health data, we are now taking added measures to reduce the number of people coming to campus.
Until further notice, the Toro Computer Lab, Toro Food Pantry, and services within the Loker Student Union are closed. In addition, campus facilities that are not in use or essential will be locked and remain so. However, please understand that although we are limiting access to our physical campus, the university remains operational, with instruction continuing in a virtual environment, and student services and ongoing business conducted via alternative means, where possible.
We fully understand the services provided by the lab, pantry, and union are vital to our campus community, and we are actively looking at different delivery methods to ensure that those most in need of food and technology are not further disadvantaged during this health crisis.
One way we can support students who have been using the computer lab is through our Technology Loaner Program, which offers computer and mobile hotspot devices for checkout. We are currently developing a method for distributing hardware while maintaining appropriate distancing recommendations, and will have a system in place shortly. Interested students should visit techloaner.csudh.edu for more information.
For food pantry clients, our Basic Needs program is working hard to explore alternatives. In the meantime, numerous community resources are available on www.csudh.edu/student-support/food-shelter/food-resources.
The decision to close these student services was not made lightly. Their importance to our students is the very reason that they have remained open on campus for so long after many other services have been moved off campus, and/or closed. However, in light of the continuing seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have been advised to make this difficult decision.
We will continue to provide updates on this situation as it develops, and will provide additional resources for affected students as soon as they become available.
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ADDITIONAL UPDATES
With federal stay-at-home guidelines extended until April 30, the university will move forward with the following plans for summer:
- CSUDH’s summer sessions will be offered using alternative instruction modes of delivery.
- Our Academic Affairs and Student Affairs teams will work on a transition strategy to support our fall 2020 incoming class.
Thank you for your continued patience and understanding, and let us continue to do all we can to keep ourselves and our community safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.
President
