Campus message posted on Mar. 11, 2020

CSUMB remains open and operational. Students should continue to attend classes, course instructors should continue to deliver instruction and classes as usual, and staff should continue to report to work for the support of our students and the university.

Recent reports of the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in neighboring parts of California and elsewhere have heightened concerns. The supervised quarantine of several cruise ship passengers in the county has added to the anxiety of the community.

The Monterey County Health Department reports there are no cases of community-spread COVID-19 in the county. The university receives guidance from MCHD, CDC, and the CSU for planning and recommended actions. MCHD has not recommended the closure of public space, schools, or the cancelation of events. According to the CDC, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is still considered low for members of the general public. We continue to follow the guidance of local health officials and the CDC, who recommend that we help respond to this public health threat by taking standard precautions for the prevention of contagious respiratory illnesses like the flu.

Although CSUMB is fully operational, preparations are underway to react quickly if the situation changes. The university and all course instructors are preparing to deliver instruction in alternate modalities, and provide the necessary support to the CSUMB community.

Stay aware of changes as this public health threat evolves. We urge you to rely on creditable sources like the CDC Coronavirus webpage and local public health agencies. CSUMB specific information is refreshed regularly on the CSUMB COVID-19 webpage when there is new information available.

We are a compassionate and caring organization founded on inclusion and mutual respect. The CSUMB community does not accept xenophobic behaviors expressed through speech, harassment, the spreading of misinformation, or misinformed decision-making. We have available support for those who need it. Students who feel stressed or overwhelmed may visit the Personal Growth & Counseling Center on campus or call 831-582-3969. University employees and any member of their household may contact the confidential Employee Assistance Program by calling 1-800-367-7474. Corporation employees may contact The Hartford at 1-800-96-HELPS (3577).

We understand that these are uncertain times and that intelligent people may disagree. CSUMB will continue to evaluate the situation and make informed decisions based on the recommendations of public health professionals to mitigate the effect on the CSUMB community.