Fall 2021 Planning

Dear Colleagues,

We write to you with an update on fall 2021 planning. Since last year, both colleges and the district have been heavily engaged in planning for in-person instruction in an effort to prioritize the health and safety of our academic community while addressing the myriad pedagogical and operational challenges presented by the pandemic. Working in collaboration with local and state public health professionals, and following discussions with our student leaders, academic and classified senate presidents, administrative teams, participatory governance groups, and others, we have made the decision to continue offering the majority of our courses and services in a virtual format for fall 2021.

This decision is consistent with all Santa Clara and San Mateo County community college districts, which will also continue to operate in a primarily remote environment this fall. Our decision has been influenced by many factors, but the current uncertainty around vaccine distribution, virus variants, and rising infection rates in other parts of the country, coupled with the timing constraints associated with the fall course scheduling process requires us to make this decision now. Many of our students are concerned about registering for in-person classes before getting vaccinated, given that a majority will be among the last Californians eligible. In addition, while vaccinations are required for most students in high schools, the UC and CSU systems, and private institutions, community college students in California are not required to demonstrate proof of vaccination to enroll.

This fall will serve as a bridge to our full return to in-person instruction and campus life. We plan to slowly expand on-campus operations with the return of administrative and classified professionals in late summer and throughout the fall, with an expectation of an unrestricted return in spring 2022, provided we meet the following four criteria:

1. Santa Clara County moves into the orange tier of the State of California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. This policy establishes four increasingly restrictive colored tiers (yellow, orange, red, purple) that are assigned by the state to each county based on a variety of COVID-19 metrics. In conjunction with additional county guidelines, this blueprint establishes a number of requirements that the district must adhere to in order to operate on-site.
2. Compliance with applicable county and state requirements for in-person activities including but not limited to:
   • Social distancing requirements
   • Occupancy limits
   • Employee prevention plans
   • Cleaning standards and requirements
   • HVAC filtration and ventilation standards
   • COVID-19 case reporting and investigation requirements
3. Our employees have all had an opportunity to be vaccinated. We remain cautiously optimistic that the federal government will be able to meet its goal of providing vaccinations to all adults by June 2021. Employees choosing not to be vaccinated for religious, medical, or other acceptable reasons should consult the Human Resources Department for appropriate guidance, and;
4. The district has met and conferred with our collective bargaining units regarding the timing and process for a safe and collaborative return to campus.

Together, our district has done an exemplary job of providing for our students’ holistic needs during this difficult time, and while our enrollment is down, retention has exceeded expectations. Thank you for your important role in this endeavor. By thoughtfully and safely planning for a full return in spring 2022, we are confident that our district and its colleges will continue to meet our community’s needs. Please accept our sincere gratitude for your care and support of our students, and each other.

Respectfully,

Bradley J. Davis
Chancellor
West Valley-Mission Community College District