After UCSB moved classes online for the rest of the semester earlier this week, Westmont College announced they would follow suite in a letter to students Thursday at noon.
Beginning Monday, March 16, Westmont will move to remote instruction through Monday, April 13.
This temporary shift to remote instruction will not change the academic calendar. Final exams, the start and end dates semester, and Commencement will remain the same.
In the letter written by President Gayle D. Beebe, Vice President for Student Life Edee Schulze, Provost Mark Sargent, and others, leadership said they will also restrict access to communal and residential living spaces and cancel all college events through April 13.
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has canceled all winter national championship events.
Students will receive directions from Student Life on Thursday about how they can retrieve their belongings or request permission to reside in campus housing.
Because each group–students, faculty and staff–have specific needs requiring detailed messages, Westmont asks that the community check their Westmont email concerning specific, individual protocols with detailed information.
“Our students, faculty and staff will receive detailed plans on what this means for them and what to expect as we shift to this mode of operation until we receive further guidance from health officials and federal agencies. All offices will remain open, and staff should report to work as scheduled. The college is taking additional measures to clean and sanitize all public spaces and areas,” read the letter.
The Westmont website will contain general, campus-wide updates, and posts will occur daily at 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
