No Decisions Made on Fall Classes

University leadership clarifies position on the coming academic year

A campus-wide email from the university president on May 19 caused confusion and concern on campus when some members of the campus community interpreted it as an announcement that some form of in-person classes would take place in the fall.

“We are planning to open our campuses, including modified in-person classes and instruction, in the fall, to the extent that we are permitted by local and state regulations,” read the email.

Today, an email from Vice President of Student Life Jeanne Rosenberger and Chief Operating Officer John Ottoboni clarified the university’s stance.

“As the Fall update email from President O’Brien and Provost Kloppenberg outlined earlier this week, extensive planning and preparations are underway for a ‘back-to-campus’ plan for the fall that will ensure the safety and well-being of our entire community,” read the email. “We want to reiterate that there have been no decisions made yet on how to reduce density on campus.”

Jonathan Bowers, a junior at Santa Clara, viewed the original email and interpreted what he read as more of a decision rather than an option.

“It sounded like they were planning to be open for the fall but possibly with modifications,” said Bowers. “It sounded like they hadn’t really figured things out yet.”

Aly Hartman, another junior at Santa Clara, felt as though the vagueness of the email left many questions unanswered and only reinforced the fact that school would not resume.

“It seems like a cop-out, honestly,” said Hartman. “There was an answer but it was as vague as they could possibly make it and despite them stating that there will be in person classes, the fact that there’s the caveat of partially online or all online and ‘if the city allows’ has me thinking I might not see a classroom for quite a while.”

Professor Jane Curry, outgoing president of the faculty senate, noted that a dip in the university’s communication between faculty and administration began in early March of this year when it was decided that classes would be held online.

“My sense of things is that they did not consult about closing the university down—that made sense to me,” Curry said in an interview with The Santa Clara. “But they told me, as Faculty Senate President, as soon as they had made the decision and before they announced it. That made sense. We have had less collaboration since then.”

Curry would like to see the administration work more closely with the faculty on the decision.

“I think the question is how much input did they get and how collaborative was it,” Curry said. “We have a tradition here of collaborative governance and we have already established university policy committees which are only now being brought into the task forces.”

Curry went on to certify that the school will hold its head above water during these trying times—even when others cannot.

“If you look at the stories coming out virtually daily in the New York Times, they are talking about how some of the weaker institutions [of higher learning] are not going to open up again,” said Curry. “We are not one of those.”

In a conversation with The Santa Clara, president of the university, Kevin O’Brien, S.J. reinforced that no decision has been made.

“At this point in the process, we are developing a number of different scenarios which will allow us to be nimble in our approach,” said O’Brien. “Neither [the county or the state] have issued any guidelines or rules on higher education.”

Jane Curry said Santa Clara is not alone. All universities have hit hard times and have been impelled to make difficult decisions. She said a sense of community when making decisions during the pandemic will yield better results.

“If people are part of the discussion, they are much more likely to go along with tough solutions,” Curry said. “I think it is a tough balance for the administration because they need to make a decision, and in some ways it is an urgent decision, but they also need to consult and collaborate with people.”

Kevin O’Brien S.J. said that ultimately, safety is the biggest concern.

“We are trying to balance our commitment to an educational and formational experience for our students and their health and safety—those are the two principles we are always balancing,” said O’Brien. “I think the question of the health and safety of students and faculty and staff is paramount.”

Incoming Associated Student Government (ASG) President Ciara Moezidis summarized what the final decision will have to look like.

“Administrators seem optimistic about the fall, but it is important to note that the final say is not up to the administrators, but actually Santa Clara County public health officials,” said Moezidis. “It is likely that we will see a hybrid-form of instruction, like large classes would be online and smaller classes could be held in-person.”