Spring 2021 classes will be primarily online at all California State University campuses

All 23 campuses in the California State University (CSU) system will primarily deliver courses virtually in the spring semester, university officials have announced.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the decision was made after extensive consultation with campus presidents and other stakeholders.

“This decision is the only responsible one available to us at this time,” says CSU Chancellor Timothy White. “And it is the only one that supports our twin North Stars of safeguarding the health, safety and well-being of our faculty, staff, students and communities, as well as enabling degree progression for the largest number of students.”

The campuses will continue to allow a reduced number of students to stay in campus housing.

More than 482,000 students are enrolled in CSU schools, the largest four-year college system in the nation.

White says the decision has been made early to help students plan ahead, enable each university to publish and promote courses offered, and give university officials time to work on accreditation requirements for courses taught online.

In order to meet this requirement, and have courses authorized by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, “campuses will need to commit to their January academic schedules in September and October,” says a statement from campus officials.

That requirement was temporarily waived by the state for the fall. But the waiver will expire in December and will not be renewed.

All CSU campuses are working to be flexible enough to potentially allow in-person coursework “should the situation in the campus’ respective region warrant that or, conversely, to further limit such offerings as needed.”

In July, White said that CSU students could be forced online for the rest of the academic year, and could continue to challenge officials for up to two years.

The vast majority of students have not returned to any in-person instruction since campuses closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.