Southwestern College’s spring 2022 in-person classes will return on Feb. 28, after a four-week transition to remote learning to help combat the spread of COVID-19. Student services will also begin a phased return for in-person services across the district at the Chula Vista, National City, San Ysidro and Otay Mesa campuses.
Southwestern College’s health and safety guidelines remain, such as requiring students and employees to be fully vaccinated, including boosters. Face coverings will also continue to be required indoors at all campus facilities, regardless of statewide or local mask mandates.
“Southwestern College has done a tremendous service for our local public health by swiftly moving the beginning of the semester online to help combat rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations,” said Superintendent/President Dr. Mark Sanchez. “Looking at our local data and consulting with public health officials, we’re confident now that we’re ready to return with our health and safety guidelines and provide desperately needed in-person instruction and services to our students.”
The decision was made after Southwestern College’s reopening workgroup analyzed local data including a decline in case rates and hospitalizations and a rise in vaccine rates. Southwestern College leadership also consulted with local health professionals and the County of San Diego.
A small selection of classes that were scheduled to return in-person will remain online and students in those classes will be directly informed by their instructors. Southwestern College now expects about 50 percent of its spring semester courses to begin in-person on Feb. 28 for the remainder of the spring semester.
Students returning to in-person classes and accessing in-person student services must receive their COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible. Students can follow these step-by-step instructions on how to submit their vaccination status. To find out if you are eligible for your booster shot and to find a vaccine location near you, visit the county’s booster eligibility website.
Southwestern College will host a free vaccine, booster and flu clinic this Friday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. open to everyone on the Chula Vista campus in Lot B.
