Fresno Pacific goes to distance learning amid COVID surge. Plan has some campus activity
Fresno Pacific University announced that students will return to distance learning this week.
Classes commenced distance learning on Wednesday, Jan. 19, and will continue to study from home through Friday, Feb. 4. Students should expect to return to in-person classes on Monday, Feb. 7.
“As the surge of the Omicron variant continues, we see local trends in increased cases of COVID-19 mirrored among our students, faculty and staff,” school President Joseph Jones said in an email announcement sent to students, faculty and staff.
Lab classes will continue to meet in person during the Jan 19- Feb 4 period.
Residential students will be able stay in their campus accommodations.
Certain main-campus facilities including the Dining Hall, Commuter House, Steinert Campus Center Lounge, Intercultural Learning Center, the Academic Support Center, and Hiebert Library will remain open under COVID health protocols.
Anyone who comes on campus is expected to wear a mask and social distance.
Although vaccines are recommended per the university’s COVID-19 news and information website they are currently not required for students.
“We recognize that moving classes to a virtual format is not easily done by faculty or students and this decision was not taken lightly,” Jones said. “However, over the past week in particular, FPU has seen increases in positive tests among students, faculty and staff that impact instructional delivery and other functions on the main and at some regional campuses.”
Fresno Pacific University joins other California universities in returning to online learning after the surge of the omicron virus.
Previously, Fresno State announced its students would also begin the spring semester studying online and are expected to return to in-person classes on Jan. 31.
“Fresno County continues to report rapidly increasing numbers of cases, which have prompted great uncertainty regarding the more infectious Omicron variant,” Fresno State President Jiménez-Sandoval previously said.
Omicron variant in Fresno
COVID-19 infections have been rapidly rising in Fresno County. The county added 2,141 new cases as of Tuesday.
“We are seeing more cases than we have seen any time during the pandemic,” Fresno County Health Department Family Physician John Zweifler previously said. “Omicron is probably the most infectious viral disease that we’ve encountered in recent memory.”
Health officials continue to recommend that all those who can get the COVID-19 vaccine to get vaccinated and to continue to wear masks.
