Sonoma State students are anxiously awaiting more updates from the university in regards to plans to return in person for the Fall 2021 semester. Before decisions have been formally made, departments on campus are providing students with the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight on the projects that are in the works for next semester. 

Residential Education and Academic Housing (REACH) hosted a COVID-19 and Campus Health and Safety Resources Panel via Zoom. Students were encouraged to attend to hear from officials from the Student Health Center, Emergency Services and Risk Management, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and the University Police Department. Each department explained their current services and their plans for outreach to students during the Fall 2021 semester. The presentation was followed by a Q&A segment for visitors to clarify information and ask questions. 

Each department prioritizes the safety and well-being of students during this uncertain time. SSU junior Abby Kyriakides said, “With my senior year starting in the fall, I am hoping to be back in person as much as we can. I am eager to see what the University has put in place for the future.”

Kyriakides, along with other Sonoma State students, joined the Zoom panel last Wednesday night. Housing and isolation programs, vaccines, and building reopenings were all hot topics for the meeting.

REACH explained that for students living on-campus, they will be offering students the “Seawolf All-Inclusive Experience,” which includes money towards learning materials, free drip coffee, free parking, and more. The housing villages will be running at 80% capacity to provide space for isolation and quarantine spaces as needed. Students will have the option of a single or double room; triples will not be available.

REACH is planning to provide proper quarantine spaces for students who have tested positive for COVID, as well as roommates or others who may be exposed. The only difference that REACH expects for the Fall semester is the role that vaccines will play in the policies implemented. As of now, REACH will continue to follow guidance from the state of California, the CSU, the CDC, and Sonoma County Public Health. 

Along with opening of housing villages, the Student Center dining venues and the library will be reopening for the Fall semester, if conditions remain the same. Director for Emergency Services and Associate Risk Manager Missy Brunetta explained that all staff and students on campus are required to wear masks and complete daily wellness checks. 

Campus will continue with a slow process of reopening as the pandemic continues to move in the right direction. One topic students were eager to hear Student Health Center Interim Director Tracey Eaton comment on was the availability of vaccines for students and how vaccines may affect future campus operations. 

Eaton explained that beginning in March, the Student Health Center was no longer eligible to distribute vaccines because Blue Shield required vaccination sites to serve all Californians. She explained that, “At the Student Health Center, we are funded by your student health fees and we are serving the students, so we can’t open up our health center to every Californian. So we could not get an agreement with Blue Shield.” Eaton encouraged students that are interested in getting the vaccine to book appointments at sites in Sonoma County, until the Student Health Center meets the regulations or comes to an agreement with Blue Shield.

On the topic of vaccines, students at the panel were eager to know if vaccines would be required to return back to campus. Brunetta responded, “Speaking from what we know right now, there is no plan to require vaccinations for students of the university.” She continued, “That being said, there are conversations about what vaccines may allow students to do that may be restricted for other students, or may require testing for other students.”

The uncertainties of the Fall 2021 semester are becoming clearer with virtual events, like this COVID and Campus Health and Safety Resources Zoom Panel . Students are able to gain a better understanding of the future by asking questions to the departments on campus. 

While students and staff alike are still left with many questions and uncertainties, these panels have left many feeling more educated. Kyriakides said, “I am happy that Sonoma State is hosting events like these to keep students in the loop of what we should expect in the coming months.”