As Fresno Pacific University plans its fall opening for the 2020-2021 academic year, leaders are striving to provide the most personalized education experience possible while continuing to make safety the highest priority.
The university is committed to serving our students this fall with confidence, said FPU President Joseph Jones, Ph.D. “We would love to see everyone back on our campuses and in classes this fall, and are planning towards that end, but may have to develop a hybrid model of virtual and in-person classes. We realize universities, like other public places, are likely to look very different than they did last fall,” he said.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the FPU has acted in accordance with the latest health information as well as shelter-in-place orders from the State of California and the City of Fresno and guidelines from the County of Fresno Department of Public Health. Going forward, FPU will take all necessary precautions to protect students, faculty, administrators and staff, including social distancing, sanitizers, masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), blended and online instruction and alternate class and work schedules.
FPU put all instruction online for its 4,100 students March 16. Traditional undergraduate and graduate classes are over for the semester and bachelor’s degree completion classes remain entirely online. Nearly all employees at FPU’s five campuses—Merced, North Fresno, Southeast Fresno (including Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary), Visalia and Bakersfield are working from home.
Difficult as the challenges of this spring’s pandemic have been, they have brought out the best in Fresno Pacific. “In all areas our community has shown flexibility and resilience, whether it be faculty and students moving to entirely online instruction with the support of the Center of Online Learning, the Campus Life Division assisting students who could not go home or other service areas at all campuses continuing their work after facilities were closed,” Jones said. “As we thank God for all his blessings, we especially thank him for bringing together this dedicated and caring group of servant-leaders.”