March 25, 2020 – In appreciation of your dedication and commitment

To: Faculty and Staff
From: President Gayle Hutchinson

Several months ago, none of us anticipated that the coronavirus would escalate into a global pandemic, and certainly not as quickly as it did. Nor did we imagine that our lives would be disrupted to the extent they have been, but here we are! All of us have embraced our social and moral responsibility to distance ourselves from each other, taking necessary precautions to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and others from contracting and spreading COVID-19.

Chico State is no stranger to adversity. We demonstrated true grit and determination magnificently when our local communities were besieged by the deadliest wildfire in California history. Not only did we survive the Camp Fire, we emerged with a greater commitment to one another and a belief in our own resilience as community. With COVID-19, Chico State is standing in the face of adversity once again, joined by the state, nation, and the world in combating the likes of a novel pathogen. Our focus through this challenging time is the safety and health of students, staff, and faculty; and the continued delivery of instruction and support services to our students who are striving to stay safe and complete their spring semester successfully.  

The challenge before us is not insurmountable. And, you have proved that point over the past couple of weeks as each of you have stepped up and tackled the logistical and technological challenges of moving instruction, support services, and some campus operations into online and virtual environments. All of us have expanded and stretched our capabilities to learn new things, myself included. Has it been hectic? Yes. Has it been stressful? Definitely! Yet, you’ve done it and continue to do it with determination, commitment, patience, positive attitudes, and a sense of humor. For all that you do to support our students and the mission of the University, you have my eternal thanks and gratitude.

We will continue to tackle more challenges that emerge daily as we explore together this new virtual version of Chico State. I could not be more proud of the Wildcat community at this time. Together, once again, we have demonstrated our strength and courage as a community of higher learning.