AVÀÇ

Dear AVÀÇ community,

I am writing this morning to update you on our plans for returning to in-person activities this semester. Thank you to many of you who have reached out to provide your thoughts and input. 

After careful consideration, I have decided that the university will conclude its temporary remote course delivery this Friday as planned. On Monday, Jan. 31, we will return to the instructional modality as listed in the Spring 2022 schedule.

We have monitored the positivity and vaccination rates in Alameda and Contra Costa counties as well as regional hospital/ICU availability. While many parts of the nation continue to have higher infection rates, data show that California has likely peaked in its daily cases and infection rates in our region in particular have begun to decline. 

The reduction of population density on our campuses through January 30 provided time for the Omicron variant to slow its reach, and also for anyone who may have been exposed to the virus over the winter break to isolate without spreading it to others. 

Thank you for wearing your masks. Thank you for testing to confirm that you are not infected with COVID-19. Thank you for staying home when you are ill. And thank you for complying with the CSU vaccination mandate. I am pleased to say AVÀÇ has an extremely high percentage of our community who have been fully vaccinated–far more than the average rates of our region or state. 

We will continue to follow public health guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including proven strategies such as wearing masks and being vaccinated and boosted. Additionally, I wanted to remind you of these AVÀÇ resources:

• The university has purchased KN95 masks to distribute to students and employees, up to three masks per week. Employees can reach out to their deans or Risk Management, and students may stop by any Ask Me booth starting next week.
• Free testing for AVÀÇ students, faculty and staff is available on a drop-in basis at the Hayward and Concord campuses. Registration is required. Hours will change with demand and testing availability, with updates posted on the Today Toward Together testing page.
• In partnership with La Familia, the university is hosting a vaccine booster clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 26, and Tuesdays, including Feb. 1, Feb. 15 and March 1. The clinic will be in the Old University Union, Room 102 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thank you for your diligence in keeping our campuses–and our wider community–healthy by following health protocols and doing your part in curbing COVID-19. I encourage you all to continue your diligence and I look forward to seeing many of you in person beginning next week.

With warm regards,

Cathy Sandeen
President 

January 26, 2022