March 29, 2020

As all of you are aware, we are in the midst of a very uncertain and unprecedented time in our history. Since the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the monumental impact it is having on every individual in our community, many are worrying about meeting their most basic needs such as food, income, and housing in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, California State University, East Bay previously made the decision to move all courses online. However, this decision has done far more to hinder student success than to support it. Students are now facing the reality of this pandemic in very severe ways, including joblessness (which, for many, leaves them uninsured), lack of resources (such as a computer and internet access in order to fulfill coursework), and incompatibilities with digital learning.

Given these strenuous circumstances, it is not reasonable to expect students to continue to produce the same quality of academic work when they are now stressing mid-semester about where to live, how to stay safe, how to secure income, and how to create an environment which will allow them the space required to focus on their studies. We have all been impacted by COVID-19 to varying degrees, and now is the time to lighten each other's loads as much as we possibly can.

We need As for all! The global pandemic has seen an increase in domestic violence and child abuse cases already. There is no telling what students are being faced with under lockdown, in homes where they have no choice but to remain in. Not to mention the psychological impact the lockdown has had on almost everyone, which has seen increased amounts of stress and mental strain. Faced with the threat of illness under lockdown is perhaps the worst time for any student to be worrying about making grades.

We advocate for the Triple-A model, inspired by UC Berkeley student petitioners. Here is what that looks like: the first 30% of the class receives at A+, the middle 30% an A, the bottom 30% an A-, and the last 10 percent B+. This will promote the health of students, as well as encourage a commitment to academic coursework for the remainder of the semester.

We call on CSU East Bay Chancellor, Timothy P. White, President, Leroy M. Morishita, Provost and Vice President, Edward Inch, Vice President of Student Affairs, Suzanne Espinoza, and the Committee of Instruction and Curriculum (CIC) of the Academic Senate to hear our demands.

We also advocate that our demands are met by and for all students of the California State Universities to fulfill our demands.