As students remotely return to their studies this fall, the San Jose State Adapt Plan states the campus remains in the second phase of reopening, or the “Modified Campus” stage, as of Aug. 19, allowing limited in-person classes to take place while all other classes and services are conducted online.
“As a student it’s frustrating because you just want to know,” Kristiara Garcia, a teaching credential graduate student, said. “As a preschool teacher, I just want to know my schedule so I can inform my director.”
Garcia said a minimum requirement for her to feel safe would be to require the use of masks on campus at all times.
Face masks will be required on campus, except when in private. And personal protective equipment will be available at the Student Wellness Center, Facilities Development and Operations building and parking offices within the 7th street garage, according to the SJSU Adapt Plan.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Diaz Compean Student Union, transportation office and print services, were all school services Garcia said she would utilize.
But this semester she and other SJSU students will need to find new ways to go about school as the coronavirus pandemic has kept campus closed to large crowds since mid-March, according to the California Department of Public Health.
“The [Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.] library's reopening plan is still being reviewed by the campus Department of Environmental Health and Safety,” said Ann Agee, interim dean of the university library, in an email. “We expect to have more details soon.”
Agee said they are working on making updates to the MLK Library, such as signage, and will allow students to make reservations online for a study space once the building is reopened.
No study groups will be allowed, as seats must be at least 250 feet apart, and the library will be closed for cleaning in intervals.
“This way, we will be able to limit capacity to the number required by county and state guidelines,” Agee said.
Agee said while the building remains closed for now, MLK Library services have continued to be available online to students.
“Over the summer, use of the library's chat service increased over 200%,” Agee said.
There is no specified date for when the MLK Library will reopen at the time of publication .
Assistance with borrowing and requesting materials is available via chat, late night tutoring and the Student Technology Training Center through Zoom, according to their website.
Robin McElhatton, SJSU public affairs communication specialist, said a plan to reopen student services, such as the Student Union and Spartan Recreation and Aquatic Center (SRAC), are still underway.
“Campus administrators are in the process of making final decisions on what services will be available and which buildings will be open for the fall semester,” McElhatton said.
George McIntyre, industrial technology senior, said while living in Campus Village B he has seen the pandemic’s effect on the SJSU Dining Commons and on-campus living.
“All food is take-out only, kind of similar to last semester,” McIntyre said.
The Dining Commons will be students’ main choices for food, as well as the Village Market, Paseo Fresh, Panda Express and Starbucks, because other traditional campus options are closed, according to the Spartan Eats campus dining website.
The Spartan Food Pantry will also be available for students experiencing food insecurity on Mondays and Tuesdays during the Fall semester, according to their website.
McIntyre said he feels heard after Spartan Eats implemented hand sanitizers upon his request.
Last semester, McIntyre felt uneasy with his roommates going places at the start of the shelter-in-place order.
“One came back from a party coughing and then I started coughing,” McIntyre said.
This semester, McIntyre said he only has one roommate and the dorms have reduced the amount of residents to accommodate for social distancing.
Health services and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will be open and available for all students to use for fall semester through tele-health services, which consist of video or phone sessions, as stated in the SJSU Adapt Plan.
CAPS Director Kell Fujimoto said they continue to see existing patients. However, they have experienced a decline in new patients and expect to see that adjust after the start of the semester.
Fujimoto said he acknowledges that the pandemic has created additional stressors on people’s finances, relationships, housing and education, which has led to feelings of isolation and depression among students.
Anita Manuel, associate director of career education, said the Career Center services and staff are all available via live chat and have upcoming career education and professional events that will be hosted online this semester.
“We’ve gone virtual,” she said. “We are here and ready to help students with the same level of professionalism, expertise and access to opportunities all from the comfort of your home.”
This article will be updated when new information becomes available.
