SJSU’s Response to State Moving Santa Clara County to Orange Tier; SJSU Adapt Fall Forum Reminder

Sent: October 14, 2020
From: President Mary A. Papazian

SJSU campus community,

Yesterday, October 13, Santa Clara County improved from Red (Tier 2 - Substantial) to Orange (Tier 3 - Moderate) in the State of California’s four-tier color-coded tracking system. This is another step in the right direction for the county, with the move to the Orange tier enacting the county’s Revised Risk Reduction Order. The changes will allow for many additional activities and business operations to resume, including some limited indoor dining and slightly larger indoor gatherings. The move to the Orange tier also affects some SJSU operations. 

We will continue to assess ways to safely reopen other areas on campus that are currently closed or limited in operations and keep you informed on changes. The safety and well-being of our campus community continue to be our top priorities, and we also look forward to more opportunities for students, faculty and staff to engage with each other on campus where and when possible.

Before the county announced the move to the Orange tier, the Spartan Recreation and Aquatics Center (SRAC) reopened on Tuesday, October 13, at 10 percent capacity to enrolled students only. We are excited to reopen SRAC and now provide reservation options for weightlifting and half court basketball for individuals’ recreation (pick up games not permitted) to go along with the lap swimming pool that has been open for several weeks. The facility staff will assess operations at this capacity before opening to SJSU faculty and staff. 

Starting today, October 14, our athletics teams will be able to practice and compete in Santa Clara County. Football is the only sport set to play a fall season, and with the move to the Orange tier, the team is returning from Humboldt State University to prepare for its first game on October 24 at CEFCU Stadium. Although fans are not allowed, we are glad our Spartans will be able to play at home this season. In addition to football, all other athletics teams can now prepare for their spring seasons if they adhere to the strict protocols for collegiate athletics provided by the county.  

Although the move to the Orange tier shows that we are moving in the right direction, the county could also revert back to Red (Tier 2 - Substantial) if conditions worsen. It is not a time for us to let our guard down. We must continue to adhere to behaviors outlined in the Spartan Community Promise. This includes a daily check of symptoms consistent with COVID-19, wearing a face covering or mask and practicing physical distancing. Thank you for your continued efforts in keeping San José State University safe.

SJSU Adapt Fall Forum

Just a reminder that the second of our two SJSU Adapt Fall Forums will take place on Tuesday, October 20 from 2-3:15 p.m. I hope you will be able to join us!

This town hall-style online forum offers a space where the SJSU community can get answers to important questions and gain an understanding of campus operations heading into the spring. Due to space limitations on the platform we will be using for our fall forums, registration is required. The majority of the time will be dedicated to answering questions.

When you register, you can submit your questions in advance for the Q&A segment of the event. You also will have the opportunity to ask questions during the event. We will do our best to answer all questions, prioritizing those that affect most, if not all, of our campus community.

Recordings of both of our Adapt Fall Forums will be posted and accessible on the SJSU Adapt website. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Mary A. Papazian

President