President Struppa Shares Updated Campus Strategies in Chapman Town Hall Commencement planning, remote work practices and cyber security were among the topics.

Music composition students meet online to discuss their projects. Information and technology staff conference-call with employees to guide them through the logistics of remote work. Librarians share links to open-source textbooks. Public Safety officers continue to keep the campus and essential staff still working onsite safe and secure.

Many things may look different in these times as Chapman University responds to the coronavirus outbreak by moving all instruction and the vast majority of campus operations to online platforms. But plenty remains the same, Chapman President Daniele C. Struppa said in a digital town hall meeting on Friday, March 20. Chapman is still busy teaching and learning and supporting the greater community, he said.

“These are very difficult times, very trying times. But I think the emergency has really brought forward the best in this community,” Struppa said.

Webcast live to the campus community, the update presented by Struppa and other members of the senior staff – each speaking from their own offices — reached some 900 viewers, all connected through remote-working software.

The update meeting was held in the wake of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-at-home order for people living in California, save for select essential workers. Among the updates provided during the meeting were:

• Beginning Monday, March 23, the University will email one daily update at 2 p.m. containing the latest guidance, advice and updated information relevant to the University’s ongoing coronavirus response and processes.
• Commencement planning is underway, although timing or some other modifications may be necessary, said Provost Glenn Pfeiffer. He is asking students, faculty and families for ideas, input and suggestions.
• All in the campus community should be especially alert to cyberattacks, phishing and other online criminal activity during this time, said Helen Norris, Chapman’s chief information officer. Any suspicious activity should be reported to IS&T. Learn more at Chapman’s Information & Security page.
• Thanks to modified schedules, campus security is high and additional patrols are in place, said Randy Burba, chief of Public Safety.
• Some students still in campus housing are being fed. They soon will be moved to sanitized rooms. Psychological counseling continues on campus with social-distancing adaptations and academic counseling available by remote teleconference.

More information is available on Chapman’s Coronavirus: Updates and Resources page.