NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Cal State University students are returning to campus for the 2021 fall semester.
However, about half of classes will have some form of an on-campus component and all people on campus have to be vaccinated by the end of next month.
Cal state University-Northridge (CSUN) is primarily a commuter school but typically there would be about 3,000 students moving into the dorms, of course due to the pandemic, the university has scaled that number down to a little over 2,000 residential students.
On freshman orientation day at CSUN Kimberly Jimenez was excited to move on campus.
She said, “Just because we’re still in a pandemic, I just hope I get the full experience and enjoy my time here at CSUN.”
Her family drove two hours from the deserts of Hesperia for a moment she describes as unreal.
When Jimenez committed to CSUN last spring, it was not clear if she would start her freshman semester on campus or online, but students received the good news in July when Cal State announced all 23 campuses will return in person, requiring staff and students who are accessing campus facilities to be vaccinated.
Jimenez already received both doses, because for her getting the on campus experience was a top priority and why she chose CSUN.
CSUN Communications Director, Carmen Chandler said the university anticipates enrollment to meet its standard 38,000 students.
She believes students are continuing to enroll at pre-pandemic rates because they feel safe returning to a vaccinated campus.
This semester, 500 classes are scheduled for in-person sessions, masks required. Another 400 classes will be hybrid, meaning a combination of in-person and remote lessons. Then close to 2,000 classes are subject to primarily online instruction.
Chandler said, “It really does depend on the class and the type of training and teaching the field requires." She added, "Nursing is one thing versus getting a degree in English, you can understand the different dynamics.”
For Jimenez, who is a cinema and TV arts major, she’ll be spending most of her days on campus, in the lecture halls, and at the library.
“I think it’ll be really exciting," she said. "I get to meet new people, get to know the professors physically. I think this is also going to help me concentrate in the writing classes because I need help in that and math too. It’s going to be great.”
Classes begin next Monday and all students must be vaccinated or provide medical or religious exemption by September 30.