The fall semester kicked off on Aug. 18 with all but 3% of courses to be offered online. This semester at Sonoma State University is certainly unprecedented as students return to campus, not in person, but virtually to start classes. Because of these special circumstances, as students return to their studies amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, many may wonder what services, if any, are available both on campus and remotely.

The University is aiming to stop the spread of COVID-19 by having as many classes and services remote or virtual as possible. Services that will remain open virtually include: the Advising and Transfer Center, SSU Career Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Disability Services for Students, Financial Aid, IT Help Desk, the Learning and Academic Resource Center and the Seawolf Service Center. Most of these services will be operating 8am-5pm Monday through Friday by appointment online or by phone. 

Elise Terry, a senior Theater Performing Arts Major said, “I am glad that a lot of services are open in an online forum for people who need them, such as transfer student services and peer resources/counseling.” She admits she does not use a lot of those services but is happy they are available to those who need them. 

Even with things operating remotely students have had mixed feelings about how smoothly they were able to receive prompt responses to inquiries. 

Megan Reilly, a senior and Global Studies major, has already had both positive and negative experiences getting information virtually. She spoke positively about experiences with Graduation Advising and working with the Advising and Transfer Center but struggled to get the support she would like with academic advising. 

She said, “Communication has been really frustrating. I wish we could show up to campus in instances like that. Show up to office hours and physically be there. Sometimes Zoom can’t really replace an in person conversation.”

She also added, “Although I’m frustrated I’m trying to treat everybody with a little grace right now.”

Approximately 1300 students returned to on-campus Housing facilities with each student getting their own bedroom and bathroom to ensure social distancing. The Residential Education and Campus Housing Main Office, (REACH), will remain open Monday through Friday 9 a.m – 5 p.m. to support student needs and the REACH Service Desk in Tuscany Village will remain open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Even with students on campus in resident halls, all culinary and dining facilities will remain closed for the duration of the Fall semester as well as the Recreation Center and Library. The Library will remain closed for normal business activity but does have limited pickup hours. Students can pick up requested textbooks, materials or laptop rentals from the Curbside pick-up service located at the clocktower entrance Tuesday and Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

The University Bookstore located in the Student Center is also closed but students can order textbooks, school supplies and Seawolf apparel online that will be shipped to their houses. Students and staff can order items from the official Sonoma State Bookstore website or by phone call. 

The Student Center remains closed for normal capacities but this last week Missy Brunetta, the Director of Emergency Services and Associate Risk Manager at the University, announced that the Student Center will be opening as a “clean air center for residential students” every day from noon-7pm. This will allow students to escape any poor air quality concerns they may have had from smoke coming from wildfires raging in Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties. 

Brenden O’ Connor, a senior Communications major, felt that given the closure of most things he, “Didn’t see the advantages of living on campus” and that, “It’s more practical to stay home and save some money.”

There will also be a Wildfire Evacuee Shelter located on campus in the Residential Community of Cabernet. Since campus housing is only at 41%capacity, in guidance with social distancing, residential buildings on campus could remain open for relief shelter for the semester. 

Although the future is uncertain when students will be able to return to campus and what will be open in the Spring semester, in an article by the Press Democrat titled, “SSU president says school year is starting with energy, excitement despite pandemic” Sonoma State President Judy Sakaki said her goal is to ensure the campus comes back “even better, even stronger” even if if it requires being “a little different, because the world is changing.”