Dear Students,
With the cancelation of classes this week, there have been several questions about what this means for services, for courses, and for the remainder of the semester.
As was noted in the chancellor’s announcement, the following services will be available to students.
- Housing: Residence halls will be open throughout the break. The Housing Office will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
- Dining Services: The Pavilion will be open Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., and will reopen for dinner Sunday night. Staff will work to ensure that students on campus during the break have dining options on those days.
- Health Services: The Student Health Center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Monday.
- Library: The Library remains closed, but the first-floor Lantern will remain open through Wednesday.
- Recreation: The Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Athletics: The men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled for Tuesday have not been canceled at this time.
- Transportation: CatTracks will continue to run on its weekend schedule Monday through Wednesday.
- Bobcat Pantry: Today (Nov. 19), the Bobcat Pantry will be open special hours to help provide all students with food resources for during the break period. The pantry will be open for just an hour, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
- Additionally, the main phone line at the Students First Center will be staffed to answer questions you may have: 209-228-4400.
Upon review of the current semester schedule, the campus will not need to extend the semester to account for the four days of canceled instruction. Still, class cancelations can disrupt student learning and also impact the faculty member’s ability to deliver specific course material, projects and assignments, and exams in the remaining course period.
We have informed all faculty of their authority to make changes to their course while in progress, including the number of assignments and midterms, as long as all changes are applied equitably to every student in the course. We know that you may have had limited access to computer labs, studios and classmates for group assignments, so that faculty may need to adjust due dates to allow all students the access to resources to complete the work.
I know it has been a long few days as we monitor the air quality and try to predict the impact of the fires across California on us here in Merced. We have learned of the tragedies that so many have experienced, including some of your peers whose families had to evacuate and lost their homes. We hold all of them in our thoughts.
Safe travels during the break.
Sincerely,
Charles Nies
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
