CHICO, Calif. - Chico State's President informed faculty and staff on Sunday that she has decided to cancel on-campus classes due to Covid-19, and is changing to virtual offerings only for the fall semester.

"The well-being of Chico State students is, and will always be, the University's top priority -- especially as we navigate the ever-changing realities of the Covid-19 pandemic," President Gayle Hutchinson said in her email to faculty and staff.

President Hutchinson said they knew this semester was not going to be "typical," but said she wanted to provide as much in-person learning as possible." The University also prepared for virtual delivery of classes all summer long, but only planned on a small number of on-campus courses.

Three days into the semester reports of positive Covid-19 cases on campus started coming into the President's office. Hutchinson said, "I emphasized at that time that if the trend didn't change dramatically -- and right away -- that there would be no choice but to revert to virtual learning exclusively for the remainder of the semester.

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Starting on Monday, August 31, 2020 classes will be offered virtually only. This decision is for the entire fall semester.

Hutchinson said nearly every on-campus residence hall has been impacted by at least one positive case. She said there is concern that the numbers will increase. She said most on-campus housing must be vacated by Sunday, September 6th.

Off-Campus Student Services will assist students in securing alternate housing, said Hutchinson on Sunday. She said the University will prorate room and meal charges and will refund most of the money spent by students to pay for the entire semester's food and lodging.

She said students who are not able to secure housing off-campus can submit a hardship application through University Housing. Students with no other housing options will be accommodated, she said on Sunday.