Fresno State launches program for local students who return home amid coronavirus
Central San Joaquin Valley college students who have found themselves back at home due to the coronavirus pandemic now have a chance to continue their education at Fresno State.
The university announced the Welcome Home Initiative, a program unique to Fresno State, that will let Valley-native students studying outside the area enroll for the fall 2020 semester.
Students who were attending spring 2020 at a four-year college or university outside of the Fresno area may be eligible for admission into Fresno State through a streamlined process, the university announced Wednesday.
To apply, students must currently live in Fresno, Madera, Kings, or Tulare counties and have returned home because of circumstances related to COVID-19.
Interested students should schedule an appointment with the admissions and recruitment office and then submit an admissions appeal. If it’s approved, an admittance application is due by June 30.
Prospective students will still need to meet admission requirements. Nursing and social work majors will not be accepted because those programs are already full, the university said. Other impacted majors may require higher admission requirements.
The move comes a day after Chancellor Timothy White announced the 23-campus California State University system would host the majority of its classes online in the fall.
Some potential exceptions are clinical classes for nursing students and hands-on courses for agriculture, engineering, and architecture students. A task force made up of students, faculty, and staff are expected to come up with an implementation plan later this month.
Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro has said he expects most students to return despite continued online learning.
“I have heard from many parents whose students want to continue their education close to home, and, as such, we are pleased to support talented Valley students through this specially designed program,” he said. “Fresno State offers them a high-quality education at an affordable price.”
The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab on our website.
This story was originally published May 13, 2020 at 1:09 PM.