Welcome Back
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to welcome you back to the spring 2021 semester. I trust that the holiday break provided you a respite from the demands of a very busy academic year. Perhaps more than ever, we all needed time to rest and reflect upon the relationships that sustain us, here at the colleges, at home, and in our communities. This week the journey begins again as we prepare our students to Zoom purposefully in the direction of their dreams at our virtual graduation ceremonies in May.
We are in the midst of pandemic, political tumult, and an inflection point for racial justice but through it shine the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and administrators. We are a community that values everyone’s contributions, that is enriched immeasurably by the diversity of talents, backgrounds, and ideas of our colleagues. I am thankful for the good work that we do every day, helping our students to change their lives and achieve their dreams.
Again this semester, most college and district administrative offices will operate remotely as we have done since the beginning of the pandemic. As we prepare for another semester of remote work, I encourage all employees to communicate with their manager regularly should they have any questions regarding telecommuting schedules, supplies, technology, ergonomics, or other needs.
In as much as we are focused on meeting our students’ needs this semester, I know many of you are interested in whether we will return for in-person instruction during the fall 2021 semester. As you know, the health, safety, and well-being of every member of our community guide our decision-making during this pandemic. Planning at the colleges and district over the last year has been focused on a return to campus in the fall, however we had hoped by now to have more thorough vaccination of students and employees, greater clarity regarding county health directives, and a better understanding of the new strains of the virus. Such ambiguity on a matter of public health makes a final determination difficult. Given that the colleges’ fall scheduling must necessarily be completed soon, we believe it is prudent to continue to evaluate the impacts of the pandemic until March 1st before making any final decisions.
Our colleges are preparing to continue offering most courses online in the fall, but they are considering options that would allow them to pivot to in-person instruction should circumstances change and have begun preliminary scheduling accordingly. As with the last two semesters, each college will make individual determinations regarding any in-person classes or administrative functions based on safety and social distancing protocols. Should you have questions whether a course is suitable for in-person instruction, please consult the Office of Instruction at your campus. We will be discussing the prospect of reopening more broadly with all employee groups pending greater vaccine distribution, but thus far our planning is consistent with the other community colleges in the Bay 10 who have informed me that they will also continue the overwhelming majority of their operations remotely. As the fall semester approaches, I expect most local universities to return students to dormitories in limited capacities, but continue primarily with online instruction.
Like many of you, I look forward to returning to the normalcy of the academic year filled with student events, spending time with colleagues, and the everyday life of campus. But at this time, we must exercise caution until we can ensure the safety of our community. As difficult as this time has been for many of us personally and professionally, I know that we will continue to provide the outstanding, holistic support to our students that enables them to thrive in the classroom and beyond. I offer my sincere thanks to everyone at the colleges and district for your continued efforts to provide the best possible experience for our students in the face of myriad obstacles presented by the pandemic. I am optimistic that we will work through this critical process with a strong sense of community, care for one another, and commitment to our students.
Respectfully,
Bradley J. Davis
Chancellor
West Valley-Mission Community College District
