MALIBU (CNS) - Pepperdine University announced today it will hold all classes online in the fall semester because of the coronavirus outbreak in what it described as a “difficult decision.''
“This was not the decision we had hoped or planned to make,'' President Jim Gash said in a statement. “Our faculty and staff and regents have worked tirelessly throughout the summer to prepare us for safe in-person instruction and on-campus housing.''
The decision was the result of the expectation that Gov. Gavin Newsom's guidance for colleges and universities will effectively prohibit in-person instruction in the fall for much of California, including in Los Angeles County, according to Gash.
Pepperdine's faculty has also spent the summer “preparing to provide world-class academic instruction online,'' Gash said.
Online classes will begin on the previously published schedules for each school. Classes will start Aug. 14 for the Caruso School of Law, Aug. 16 for the School of Public Policy, Aug. 17 for the Seaver College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Aug. 31 for the Graziadio Business School and Sept. 8 for the Graduate School of Education & Psychology.
Pepperdine is not permitted to house students at its Malibu campus but Gash said he expects the university will soon receive permission to “house students who can demonstrate a compelling hardship which necessitates residing in on-campus housing this fall.''
Deans of each school will soon outline the application process for seeking a housing hardship exemption, Gash said.
Students will receive “detailed communication'' from their school's dean specifically addressing housing, registration, schedules and other important information, Gash said.