Coronavirus Update

Glen Oaks Community College (GOCC) is committed to protecting the health and safety of all members of the campus community including faculty, staff, students and visitors. This plan is intended to provide an outline of the college’s preparation and response to the Coronavirus pandemic for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Students’ health and safety is the basis for every decision stated in this plan. This is a dynamic document, and the college will address issues and concerns as quickly and appropriately as possible, following guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), federal and state government, and our local public health department. Students will be notified as this plan is updated, and all updates will be published online at glenoaks.edu/coronavirus.

This plan reflects guidelines and expectations for the main campus. Residents of the Devier Student Suites will follow additional guidelines and protocols from the Housing and Residential Life Office. Dual enrolled students taking classes at high school sites, or students taking classes as part of a clinical rotation or at off-campus locations, may be required to follow additional protocols of those secondary sites.

 

The college’s Covid Task Force met today and in light of St. Joseph County, MI, now being designated as a county with “SUBSTANTIAL” transmission, Glen Oaks will continue to align with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health department guidelines.

As a result for the protection of all, Glen Oaks highly recommends the following:

• Receive the COVID-19 vaccine if you are unvaccinated.
• Wear a mask indoors in common areas of campus regardless of vaccination status.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Practice social distancing of six feet from others. (Classrooms will remain in this format.)

Glen Oaks is planning to hold a vaccine clinic at Explore the Oaks on Sept. 15 for those who are not yet vaccinated. Deep cleaning will continue in all areas of the campus.

Although, this is not how we expected to begin the fall semester, it is most important to put the health and safety of students and employees first. Thank you for your understanding and support in this time of challenge.

*Note: A community is classified as having “substantial transmission” if there are 50 to 99 weekly cases per 100,000 residents or if the positivity rate is between 8% and 9.9% in the last seven days. West Michigan counties
with substantial transmission include Allegan, Barry, Calhoun, Cass, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, St. Joseph and Van Buren (Based on CDC update – August 2, 2021)*

Students,

Thank you for your patience as the Higher Education Emergency Relief Grant Committee reviewed students’ emergency grant applications. We have completed the review process for eligible students who applied by the March 1 deadline. If you applied and were awarded funds, you may now view your grant award amount in myGOCC by following the instructions below. Grant checks are scheduled to be mailed by Friday, April 2, to the address on file with the college’s Registration/Records Office.

If, on your application, you requested to have grant funds applied directly to your balance due to the college, those transactions were completed today. You can view your account balance by logging into myGOCC and following the instructions below. If you have grant funds remaining after your balance has been paid in full, a refund check will be mailed by April 2 to the address on file with the college.

Emergency grant funds may be used to cover any costs associated with your cost of attendance or any emergency costs related to the Coronavirus pandemic (tuition, fees, books, housing, living expenses, health care, mental health care, child care, etc.)

MyGOCC Instructions

• After logging in, click on the Student Finance tile
• Click on the 21/WN semester toward bottom of page
• Expand the Financial Aid area to view your Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund award.

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If you have any questions, please contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@svr1glenoaks.edu or 269-294-4260.

Sincerely,

Tonya Howden
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator

Students,

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that additional funding is available to higher education institutions to ensure learning continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glen Oaks Community College received $288,341 allocated from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) and authorized by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) to award emergency grants to students. These funds are emergency grants, not loans, which means they do not need to be repaid to the college. Students must be currently enrolled in the Winter 2021 semester and complete the application process.

Am I eligible?

Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED and must be enrolled in the Winter 2021 semester. The Department of Education requires colleges to prioritize students with exceptional financial need, so we encourage applicants to provide detailed information on the application that supports any financial hardships incurred during the pandemic. Although the College will use information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial need, students are not required to be eligible for Title IV financial aid funding to receive an emergency grant.

How do I apply?

To apply for a grant, log into Etrieve under Online Services at glenoaks.edu. Complete the Winter 2021 Emergency Grant Application located under Forms in the Financial Aid section.

Is there a deadline to apply?

Winter 2021 Emergency Grant Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 1, 2021. Application submission does not guarantee an award. Grants will be awarded until HEER funds are depleted.

How do I check the status of my application?

When the grants are officially awarded to student accounts, you can view your grant amount under My Awards in the Financial Aid tile in MyGOCC. We ask that you monitor your Viking email for updates or requests for documentation.

If awarded, when will I receive my grant funds?

We anticipate that grants will be awarded to students by the end of March.

Will I receive the amount I requested on the application?

GOCC maintains the flexibility to determine the amount awarded to each student on a case-by-case basis. Awards will be prioritized by financial need.

Will I receive a grant check, or is the amount directly applied to my student account?

Students have the option to receive a grant check or to directly apply grant funds to their institutional account to cover any outstanding balance. Prior to submitting the application, you will be asked to select the option that best fits your needs. If you choose to have the funds applied directly to their outstanding balance, and your grant amount is higher than your balance owed, you will receive a refund check for any remaining grant funds. For those who elect to receive a check, checks will be mailed to the address on file with the college. Note: Whether you elect to receive a check or apply funds directly to your account, you are responsible for any balance owed to the college.

What if I need to change or update my address?

If your mailing address has recently changed, please update your address with our Registrar’s Office by completing a Change of Data form in Etrieve. Questions regarding the Change of Data Form may be directed to registration@glenoaks.edu.

Are there restrictions on how I spend these funds?

Students may use this emergency aid to cover ANY component of the student’s cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, healthcare (including mental health care), technology, living expenses, child care, etc.

If I have a payment plan, will Nelnet still withdraw funds from my bank account in March and April?

Due to the timing of the awards and federal banking laws, funds may not be placed on your account in time for the March 20 or April 5 scheduled payments. After the awards are disbursed, Nelnet will only attempt to withdraw from your bank account if you still have a balance due for the semester. Please login to Nelnet via MyGOCC to check your balance.

The ongoing disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to create challenges throughout the country. We again applaud your efforts during these unprecedented times and hope this emergency aid can assist you in continuing your education.

Sincerely,
Tonya Howden

The Devier Student Suites Re-Opening Plan under COVID-19 has been updated. You can review the updated plan on the Student Housing webpage.

In a proactive move to better safeguard the campus from Covid-19 for the Winter 2021 semester, Glen Oaks Community College is moving a larger percentage of its in-seat classes to either online or hybrid formats. The college’s Coronavirus Task Force recently made this decision in consideration of the recent community spread of COVID-19 in St. Joseph County.

“There is potential for an increase in positive cases and additional mandates over the holidays,” said Dr. David Devier, “and the decision was made to help keep the safety and health of our students and employees in the forefront.”

In a recent survey, although the ideal method of course delivery is face-to-face, students shared that they would prefer not to have the format changed in the middle of the semester as has was the case last winter and fall.

“We remain hopeful that the vaccine rollout will bring the virus under control; however, it is hard to predict how quickly the community spread will decline, or whether additional flare-ups will cause more closures,” said Devier.

Many of the Winter 2021 courses previously listed as hybrid or face-to-face have moved to synchronous (taught during the previously scheduled time via Zoom) or asynchronous (completely online). Some courses requiring lab components—certain sciences, automotive, agriculture, welding, nursing, and allied health, etc., will meet on campus to complete the portions of the classes that cannot be completed online.

Most services are continuing virtually. If questions, students can contact the Admissions Office at (269) 294-4253 or via their Contact Form.

Residential Life wants students to know that their safety and security is our top priority.

In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases, student housing is closed for the remainder of the semester.

To get in touch with a housing employee, please email us at housing@svr1glenoaks.edu or call us at 269-294-4224.

Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 18 (and running until further notice):

• The only instruction on campus will be nursing and allied health labs and testing.
• The Learning Commons (Library and Tutoring & Testing Center) will be closed.
• All science classes will be remote.
• All college technical classes i.e., auto, welding, graphic design, ag tech and CAD will be remote.
• All high school CTE classes will no longer be on campus.
• Housing will be completely vacated beginning Sat., Nov. 21.

Staff remaining on campus includes those from the following departments: Maintenance, Custodial, Information Technology (as needed to maintain the system), Nursing and Allied Health faculty and staff, Business Office as needed, Human Resources as needed and the President’s Office.

With a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases within St. Joseph County and on campus, Glen Oaks Community College will convert an even greater number of classes to online formats through the remainder of the fall semester.

“We are taking these added measures to help mitigate the spread of the virus and for the safety of the campus community,” said Dr. David Devier, Glen Oaks president. “We will go to minimal staffing beginning next Monday, November 16. Our Student Services employees will serve our students remotely.”

With few exceptions, the campus will only be open for students in face-to-face classes that require hands-on training such as some of the medical, automotive, welding, and electrical classes. All secondary career and technical education (CTE) classes that are held on campus will remain face-to-face and all on-campus classes will continue to run with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.

“We are sending most of the students in-housing home through the end of the semester,” said Devier. “A limited number of students enrolled in the hands-on lab classes will remain.”

“We had a great start to the semester with many protocols in place including a mask requirement, greater sanitization and we rearranged and created new classroom spaces to accommodate social distancing,” said Devier. “It was a good ten-week run; however, challenges were presented to us in the 11th week, and we knew we had to move forward with the transition to online. Our faculty knew the likelihood of this happening and have been working in advance to ensure backup plans are in place to help smooth the transition. The college is working out details with faculty for test proctoring where necessary.”

As of the end of October, there had been a total of two students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19. To date, since the start of the semester, the college has had a total of 13 students who have tested positive and another 37 students who have been or are currently in quarantine due to close contact.

The Learning Commons, including the Library and Tutoring and Testing Center will remain open with reduced hours as follows:

Monday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: Closed

Student Services employees are working remotely and will advise and address student needs virtually. Prospective students can apply online at glenoaks.edu, and an admissions representative will be in contact regarding next steps.

Residential Life wants students to know that their safety and security is our top priority. In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases, Student Housing is decreasing occupancy. Please see the information below on how this will impact current residents:

• If all classes have been moved online, the resident will be relieved of their housing agreement and will receive a prorated reimbursement based on the day they move out.
• If the resident has classes or labs on campus or is a winter athlete, they may remain in student housing
• If all classes are online, and the resident still needs to be on campus, please contact the Housing Office to complete a Request Form indicating the reason in which you would like to continue residing on campus.

Please know that we will not charge for any time that a student is not staying on campus due to a campus closure related to Covid-19.

Students,

Dr. Devier, the President of GOCC, indicated in a previous email, that the county and surrounding area are seeing an increase in the number of positive COVID cases and the spread of this virus among the county and college community. In order to limit the number of people on campus and help stop the spread of the virus, faculty are currently making decisions to move some of their classes to a partially or fully online format. Some classes, especially those with laboratory components, may continue to meet on campus as needed. Your instructors will be reaching out to you to let you know the plan for their individual classes. If you have not heard from your instructor by next Friday, November 13, please contact them directly.

Continue to attend class and do your homework while you wait to hear from your instructor.

For residents of the Devier Student Suites, the Director of Housing and Residential Life will be sending communications shortly regarding your options for remaining in campus housing.

If any students require technology or internet access, please contact the Learning Commons at learningcommons@svr1glenoaks.edu or 269-294-4295. Hours are 8:00-8:00 Monday through Thursday and 8:00-4:00 on Friday.

Some departments on campus will have minimized staffing available. We encourage you to schedule appointments prior to coming onto campus or schedule virtual appointments as appropriate.

Please know that the COVID Taskforce has been meeting frequently and will continue to meet to determine the best course of action to keep the college community safe. Don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of Student Services if you have questions or concerns. Most importantly, keep in touch with your faculty!

Stay safe and healthy! Check your email and Canvas frequently for updates.

Sincerely,

Tonya Howden
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator

For detailed information, please see the Glen Oaks Community College COVID19 Employee Preparedness and Response Plan document .

As the executive order is lifted, employees at Glen Oaks Community College will begin to return to work on June 15, and the faculty and staff are learning what those plans entail.“We take this seriously and want to be sure we are taking the necessary precautions at the college to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said Dr. David Devier, Glen Oaks president. “We have a team which created a “Return to Work” plan that incorporates best practices, taking into consideration recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Our work environment will look different as we address new safe work measures.”

College employees received an email stating that the plan would be communicated through a series of Zoom meetings, as well as via the COVID-19 website, and the shared drive of the Glen Oaks network. “The team has done a lot of research and hard work to find the best way for Glen Oaks to safely move forward,” said Devier. “We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and adjust accordingly.”

The main points of the plan calls for a phased reopening ranging from Phase I (now campus closure); Phase 2 (limited campus access as governor’s executive orders are lifted, and employee training and campus disinfection is complete); Phase 3 (campus is open to public following safety protocols); and Phase 4 (campus returns to normal operations).

The plan addresses personal protective equipment, social distancing, and workplace sanitization, among other things. Face masks are still required in enclosed public spaces per state executive order and can be a fabric face covering from home, or surgical type mask. The college will make them available in the main campus entrance area for persons needing them.

Students and guests will be required to make appointments in advance prior to visiting campus and may do so by calling (269) 294-4253. The college continues to serve students with online instruction and support services for the summer semester which began in mid-May.

“We will welcome back our students for face-to-face instruction for the fall 2020 semester,” said Devier. “However, we are converting many face-to-face classes to a hybrid format (less than 50 percent online), and will offer a greater number of online courses. Although we place great value on face-to-face instruction, this shift in thinking is so that we can be ready should there be a second wave of the virus outbreak – flexibility is key.”

This plan also allows the college to serve the more vulnerable populations as well as those who may not be as comfortable coming to campus.

Signing for fall is in full swing and spaces are filling quickly! We recognize there may be hesitations to signing the housing agreement with all of the current unknowns. We want you to feel comfortable and confident in signing your agreement. Please know that we will not charge for any time that a student is not staying on campus due to a campus closure related to Covid-19.

With one less concern aside, do not wait to apply for housing now. Contact the Housing Office at via our student housing contact form for further information.

Students,

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that more than $6 billion would be distributed to colleges and universities through the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) fund, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Through this relief fund, Glen Oaks Community College will be awarding emergency grants to eligible students who were enrolled in the Winter semester as of March 16, 2020, and whose education was disrupted by the Coronavirus outbreak.

To be eligible for emergency grant aid, students must meet the following criteria per the U.S. Department of Education guidelines:

• Enrolled in a face-to-face course prior to March 13, 2020 (Students are not eligible for funding per the Education Department guidelines if they were ONLY enrolled in online courses).
• Eligible for Title IV (federal financial aid) funds
• US citizen
• Completion of a 2019-2020 FAFSA at fafsa.gov
• Valid social security number
• Registered with the Selective Service (Males over age 18)
• High school diploma, GED or completion of high school in an approved homeschool setting
• Enrollment in an eligible degree or certificate
• Met Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements
• Cannot be in default on federal student loans

Students may use this emergency aid to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations, including costs of course materials, technology, food, housing, healthcare, and childcare. These are emergency grants, not loans, which means they do not need to be repaid to the college. Please note that GOCC cannot use these funds to reduce or pay any balance owed for the Winter 2020 semester.

We know that many students’ lives were affected by the Coronavirus outbreak. Some of you – or your family members – may now be unemployed. Others lack access to computers or the internet. Many students are struggling to meet basic needs, such as housing and food. We encourage you to use these funds for your academic or personal needs during the COVID-19 crisis, whether that be for food, childcare, living expenses, hardware, software, or wifi connectivity.

Students’ emergency grant aid amounts will be determined by eligibility requirements and the number of credits in which students were enrolled during the Winter term. Students will be able to view their grant amounts under My Awards in the Financial Aid tile in myGOCC when the amount has been awarded. Emergency grant checks will be mailed by the end of May at the address on file with the college. If your mailing address has changed since the campus closed on March 16, please update your address with our Registrar’s Office by completing a Change of Data form in Etrieve. Questions regarding the Change of Data Form can be directed to the registration office.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility for the emergency aid funds, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 269-294-4260 or via their contact form.

We applaud your efforts during these unprecedented times. We are committed to student success and will continue to provide quality education and services. Please monitor your Viking email and myGOCC for updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out to faculty or staff with any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

Tonya Howden
Vice President of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator

Dear Students,

We, the members of the Board of Trustees of Glen Oaks Community College, applaud you for your decision to continue your education at Glen Oaks. Whether you are pursuing an associate degree or a career certificate we hope you are staying focused on that outcome.

Things have changed tremendously since you signed up for winter semester classes. The response to COVID-19 has closed campuses throughout the United States. We’ve never dealt with this before. Those who teach and those who learn are all making huge adjustments. Since your classes are now all online, you may be trying to establish new study habits and dealing with weaknesses in technology.

We know that you can handle this bump in the road and cross the goal line even if you must take a detour. We know that you can develop the discipline to stay current with your coursework. We know that you have the courage to reach out if you need help. We support you through all the challenges and frustrations you face. If something isn’t working for you, please ask for support.

We support our administration and professors who are doing everything they possibly can to help you to a successful outcome in your winter semester classes. Thanks to their efforts, the time you have already spent will not be wasted. They have created a path to completion in this unusual time. We encourage you to take advantage of your options. We want to be able to congratulate you when you finish your coursework at Glen Oaks.

Sincerely,
Glen Oaks Community College Board of Trustees

General – Winter 2020 Semester
All classes have transitioned to online for the remainder of the Winter 2020 Semester
Athletics – All Spring Athletics have been cancelled

April
April 21 – Allied Health Medical Assisting Advisory Board meeting (Postponed until Summer, TBD)
April 22 – St. Joseph County Job Fair (Cancelled)
Apr. 24-26 – Gilligan’s Island the Musical – GOCC and Sturgis Civic Players – (Cancelled)
Apr. 30 – Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet – (Cancelled)

May
May 1 – Awards Night – (Cancelled)
May 8 – Commencement Ceremonies (Postponed – Stay tune for updates)
May 9 – Nursing and Allied Health Pinning Ceremonies (Postponed – Stay tuned for updates)
May 19 – MiCareerQuest Southwest – (Cancelled)
May – Study Abroad Trip to Germany & Switzerland (Cancelled)

ATTENTION STUDENTS:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are in need of a laptop or WI-FI hot spot while campus is closed, please read below and complete this form or contact your academic advisor ASAP.

The college has been working hard to address issues as they arise during this COVID-19 crisis. One area of concern has been the limitations students experience due to having either no access to a computer/laptop or no access to the internet.

If you are in need of a laptop or hot spot while the campus is closed, please complete the following request form, and a staff member will follow up with you: Laptop/Hotspot Request Form

Laptops will be available for pick up tomorrow, April 1, between 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; however, you must have completed the request form and have been sent your scheduled pick up time prior to showing up to the college. Our IT Department is scheduling only two students per block of time for the safety of students and our staff. Hot spots are on order and will not be available until next week. Both laptops and hot spots will be checked out to students on a first-come, first-served basis.

We ask faculty, staff, and students to help us spread the word. If you are aware of a fellow GOCC student who may not have received our previous emails or texts and needs access to a laptop or hot spot, please send an academic advisor or me the name of that student, so we can reach out.

Because supplies are limited, we ask that only students who have no computer/laptop or those who have no internet in their household complete the request form.

As a result of the decision to complete classes online throughout the remainder of the winter semester, Glen Oaks Community College is refunding prorated housing fees to the residents of the Devier Student Suites. The campus and housing facilities closed on March 15 in response to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Students will receive a full proration and will be reimbursed for every day that the building was closed,” said April Yost, director of student housing. “Student accounts will be credited and adjusted accordingly and any remaining credit balance will be issued via check. The checks are scheduled to be sent out the second week of April.”

Students residing in a two-bedroom suite will receive a $1,420.65 credit while those residing in a four-bedroom suite will receive a $1,283.15 credit.

Residents were notified through email earlier this week. For students who may still owe a balance, the amount will be adjusted.

Glen Oaks Community College continues to monitor CDC updates and government reports surrounding the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). On Tuesday, March 23, Governor Whitmer announced a state-wide shelter-in-place order. Following this order, the college’s COVID-19 Taskforce determined that it was in the best interest of our students and the GOCC community to extend the online delivery of courses through the remainder of the Winter semester. No courses for the Winter term will return to face-to-face instruction.

By Tuesday afternoon, March 31, your instructors will post the plan for how each of your courses will be conducted for the remainder of the Winter semester:

• For most classes, this might change parts of the class, but will allow you to complete coursework by the end of the Winter semester.
• Classes that require a lab or clinical component will complete anything that can be done online by the end of Winter semester, but students will receive a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) for Winter. Your instructor will let you know which portions of the class will need to be completed during the Summer 2020 semester.
• Instructors will also work individually with students who experience difficulties accessing the Internet, which could mean a temporary grade of “I” for those students.
• For dual enrollment classes scheduled in a high school building, we are working with each high school to plan how to handle the current closure and the eventual return of students. At this time we plan to resume these classes face-to-face when schools resume instruction, possibly extending the end date if necessary. In the meantime, online instruction will continue until further notice.

For students residing in the Devier Student Suites, the Student Housing Office will contact you with details regarding an Express Checkout. You will be able to return to campus on a scheduled date and time to pick up your belongings and turn in your keys. Housing fees will be prorated based upon students’ time in the suites, and student accounts will be adjusted accordingly.

Registration for the Summer and Fall 2020 semesters will begin April 13. Because employees are working remotely, students are encouraged to contact their academic advisers by email or phone to schedule courses now. Plans can also be approved through Student Planning in myGOCC.

We understand that these changes may cause some anxiety, but please know we will continue to support students through online instruction and student services. As the college continues to assess the COVID-19 situation, please refer to updates at glenoaks.edu/coronavirus. We applaud your efforts and resilience as we make unprecedented decisions during an unprecedented situation.

Commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 8 at Glen Oaks Community College have been postponed in light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak.

“We had been holding out on making a decision regarding this event,” said Dr. David Devier, Glen Oaks president. “But with the direction of today’s ‘stay at home’ order in Michigan, it’s obvious that we need to move forward with different plans.”

“We recognize and value the hard work of our students, and commencement is an important part of their college experience,” said Devier. “We will be providing further details for our graduating students over the next few weeks.”

As previously announced, for the safety of the campus community, the college switched to an online teaching format of March 16.

Good Evening,

Well we have made it through week one of our “college without walls”. I am very proud of everyone’s effort with this grand experiment. Faculty are working amazingly and creatively to serve our students. Staff are carrying out all types of work remotely and things are going well.

Our colleague community colleges are all facing the same opportunities as we are to develop new ways of engaging students and keeping the college spirits high. There is much communication between the colleges sharing ideas to benefit all. Our Task Force continues to work together to consider all matters and make timely decisions. On Monday morning discussions will address graduation, additional ways to help students, and more.

So stay safe and take care.

David

Dear Students,

I hope that your week is going well, in spite of the challenges we all face as our communities, state, and the entire nation brace for the difficult but necessary measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. All of us at Glen Oaks care deeply about the health and safety of our students and their family members, including those vulnerable members of the community who are at the greatest risk with COVID-19, which is why we have now completely closed our campus and switched all of our courses to online delivery and/or alternate instructional plans.

We are now nearing the end of our transition week from regular face-to-face instruction in “regular” on-campus or off-campus classes, and you have recently received a survey to share any challenges that you are having. The most common challenge that folks indicated they had was having difficulties accessing online materials due to unreliable Internet access (or not having Internet at home). I want to reassure all of you: Faculty have been specifically made aware of this issue, and they have been asked to work with individual students to address these difficulties by being flexible and creating alternative plans/deadlines for affected students to complete the course requirements. While faculty remain the only rightful person to determine grades according to the course syllabus, no student will receive a failing grade **ONLY** because of not being able to download or submit assignments on Canvas due to lacking good Internet access!

Additionally, some of you might have questions about your lab classes in allied health, science, skilled trades, etc. For those classes requiring hands-on manipulations, your instructors are making plans for how you will meet the course requirements once we return to campus (currently our reopening is slated for Monday, April 13). Please send an message to my office at academics@glenoaks.edu if you have unresolved questions/concerns about your classes once you have communicated with your instructor, and we would be happy to further assist. The Glen Oaks faculty have been working tirelessly to make this transition as smooth as possible, and I could not have asked for a better team of colleagues to work through these difficulties with!

Lastly, for those of you who do not have Internet at home and are reading this on your mobile device or at a friend’s or family member’s home, I also wanted to provide information about the free Internet service that is currently available through both Comcast and Spectrum.

To take up Spectrum’s offer, you must:

• Be a household with a student enrolled in a K-12 school or college; and
• Call 844-488-8395; installation fees will be waived for eligible households

To take up Comcast’s offer, you must:

• Be an eligible “qualified low-income household”
• Go to InternetEssentials.com or call 855-846-8376 (for English) or 855-765-6995 (for Spanish)
• All new customers will receive “a free self-install kit” with no shipping fee

Stay healthy and safe, and please do let us know if you need further assistance!

Best regards,

Dr. Goldin

The Oaks Store is providing a number of support services to help both students and faculty with the online learning process. Please read further to see the types of assistance they can offer. For more detailed information, visit:

Follett’s Online Bookstore

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COVID-19 Campus Store Support
As the world continues to adapt to the challenges we are facing, Follett is committed to supporting our campus partners, the eLearning process, students and faculty on all of our campuses. In the midst of all of the COVID-19 activities, we understand that continuing education on your campus is important, and we are offering you and your campus community options that provide peace of mind and access to resources to ensure success and triumph in the face of adversity.

We have been monitoring the global concerns about COVID-19 and are doing everything we can to provide the best service possible while mitigating health risks on campus. On campuses where we are able to stay open, our stores will as well. On campuses that are closed, Follett will continue to fulfill as many online orders as possible through our eCommerce sites. We are “always open” online, and anticipate this channel to be preferable to our customers.

Our efforts concentrate on solutions from all aspects of our campus store interactions and include the following:

1. Through RedShelf, our preferred provider of digital course materials, we are offering students access to eBooks from a variety of publishers for no additional cost, which covers about 80% of our titles.
2. Lumen Learning, our premier partner in OER content and courseware, they are offering Waymaker and OHM, for free for courses currently in session. For faculty members seeking a well-designed digital alternative or supplement to their current textbook, Lumen courseware may be a good fit. Course set-up is simple, and faculty can be ready to teach the same day they make the change.
3. For additional non-digital materials and other items, we have extended a free shipping offer, with no minimum purchase, to your entire campus community to fulfill any academic or personal needs that may arise.
4. For your students’ rental returns, Follett is offering free shipping return labels* and is also extending the non-return period without penalty to assist with increased returns by mail.
5. We are including timely messaging on your campus store website to educate students on the options and the assistance available from your campus store.

Registration will still open for Summer and Fall semesters beginning on April 13. Students are encouraged to contact their advisors via email for assistance in setting up classes if they haven’t already done so.

Summer 2020 Payment Requirements
Within 48 hours of registration, each student must sign up for a Nelnet Payment Plan or pay their balance in full. Failure to do so will result in de-registration from classes.

Fall 2020 Payment Requirements
By June 1, 2020, all students registered for Fall 2020 must be enrolled in a Nelnet Payment Plan or their balance must be paid in full. Students that register after June 1, 2020, will have 48 hours from the date of registration to enroll in a payment plan or pay in full. Failure to do so will result in de-registration.

If you have questions or issues accessing the payment plans, please leave a message for the College Cashier at 269-294-4235. Someone will return your call within one business day.

Glen Oaks Community College will close the Shimmel Rd. campus at the end of the workday today (Mon., March 16). Although instructors will continue to teach their classes through an online format, the decision to close campus was based on the current status of the virus and the risk to employees and their families. Employees will be working from home to continue to provide support services to our students and faculty. Again, there are no suspected cases of COVID-19 on the Glen Oaks campus, but the college continues to take precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

• Agricultural Equipment Technology classes held at Burnips, in Three Rivers, have also been cancelled effective today.
• Glen Oaks janitorial staff will work to complete a thorough sanitation of all areas of the campus as expeditiously as possible in preparation for a return to campus as the situation allows.
• All events and community meetings on campus are cancelled while the situation continues. This includes all athletic events, theatre practices and campus clubs and organizations.

Good Afternoon,

After serious consideration, we have decided to close the college completely after the end of the work day today. This difficult decision is based on the current status of the virus and the risk that would be taken by our employees and their families if we continued to come together on campus. As much work as possible will be done from our homes but for some of our staff that is not feasible such as janitorial and others. Alternative instruction will continue as determined last week. HR had directed us to record time as “College Closure” when we are not on campus and this will remain the case but now for all employees at all times, whether working at home or not. Be sure to input your time as usual and supervisors will need to approve.

Please monitor your email and voicemail and address work related items as possible. We may be able to use, ZOOM and conference calling to hold discussion that need attention. Supervisors will manage these efforts within their areas.

Speaking of janitorial, they will complete their sanitation of all areas as expeditiously as possible which will prepare the facility for the date of our return to campus which is to be determined as the situation allows. The only employees that will be permitted back on campus will be those directly required to do payroll, pay invoices, manage facilities issues, and with special permission from Larry Deikman.

These are times we have never seen before in our lifetimes and our first concern is for the health of our employees and their families. Take care, one and all.

David

As a result of the recently announced public schools closure for three weeks – all CTE classes are now also cancelled during this time.

The Glen Oaks Ag equipment operation classes held at the Burnips Three Rivers location are continuing as scheduled.

The college is practicing the recommendation of “social distancing” and will have limited staff reporting to campus. As a result, college offices will be closed, but online services are still available. As previously announced, beginning Monday, March 16, instruction will move to online delivery through the Canvas platform and faculty will be contacting students on how individual courses will proceed over the next few weeks.

There are no known suspected cases of the Coronavirus on the Glen Oaks campus. The college’s taskforce will continue to meet to monitor, discuss and review the college’s response plan. Students are asked to stay in contact with their instructors. They will work with students to ensure as little disruption to the learning environment as possible given the situation.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a potentially serious respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The outbreak initiated in Wuhan, China, but it continues to spread internationally with confirmed cases in the United States, including Michigan.

Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Viruses typically spread from an infected person to others through:

• Coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes

Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

Steps you would normally take to prevent the spread of the flu and the common cold will also help prevent COVID-19:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

If you are sick, keep from spreading respiratory illnesses to others:

• Stay home.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with your sleeve or a tissue. Discard used tissues.
• Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces.

There are no medications specifically approved for Coronavirus. If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as a cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.

CDC’s risk assessment is as follows:

• For the majority of people, the immediate risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to be low.
• People in places where ongoing community spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 has been reported are at elevated risk of exposure, with increase in risk dependent on the location.
• Healthcare workers caring for patients with COVID-19 are at elevated risk of exposure.
• Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 also are at elevated risk of exposure.
• Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring also are at elevated risk of exposure, with increase in risk dependent on location.

GOCC has convened a taskforce that is meeting regularly to monitor the Coronavirus situation. This taskforce is following the guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and federal, state, and local public health agencies.

Academic Classes and College Operations

Beginning Monday, March 16:

• Courses will move from face-to-face instruction to online delivery through the Canvas platform. Students are not to report to campus.
• GOCC courses held at off-site locations, such as Ag Tech classes at Burnips in Three Rivers will operate as scheduled.
• Athletic activities will be suspended.
• Campus offices, including the Fitness Center and Library, will be closed with limited staff reporting.
• Student in Nursing courses will not attend clinicals at off-site locations.
• For students in courses with labs, your instructors will contact you with details on how those courses may run.
• Students residing in the Devier Student Suites are expected to leave campus by Sunday, March 15, by 5:00 p.m. Contact the Student Housing Office with any concerns. At this time, residents will be able to return to campus April 11 at 12:00 p.m. Residents will be contacted by the Student Housing staff with further instructions.

Travel Guidelines

The college is following CDC travel guidelines and discourages non-essential travel to high risk countries. GOCC requests students and employees who choose to travel to high-risk countries self-quarantine for 14 days after their return, as recommended by the CDC. Students should contact course instructor(s) to ensure you can continue your coursework in an alternate setting.

On March 11, 2020, Governor Whitmer held a press conference making a number of recommendations, including implementing social distancing, moving to online instruction and remote work wherever possible. We recognize that this is a unique and evolving situation, and implementing these recommendations may affect each department within the college community differently.

Following a task force meeting on March 12, 2020, GOCC will implement the following changes:

• Faculty have been asked to notify students by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, regarding plans on how their classes will proceed.
• The ultimate goal is to reduce the amount of individuals on campus (thus mitigating the spread of the virus) at any given time. Therefore, each department supervisor will be responsible for coordinating with their staff to determine which functions can be performed remotely and which must be performed on campus. It will be up to each department supervisor to coordinate which employees will report to campus and when they will report in order to continue operations and meet deadlines.
• Employees considered to be at higher risk should consult with their supervisor regarding working arrangements.
• All employees, regardless of working on campus or remotely, are expected to be available during normal work hours and to be checking emails and voicemails regularly.
• In the coming days IT will work with supervisors to assist in setting up employees with the necessary equipment and resources to work remotely where feasible.
• Employees are responsible for sanitizing their work areas (desk top, copiers, door handles, etc.).
• Employees should report time worked ON CAMPUS as regular hours worked. Hours worked OFF CAMPUS should be reported on your time card as “College Closure” hours. This will allow us to track those who are on campus on a particular day, should an outbreak occur, helping us to notify the employees who might be at risk.
• Any rooms that have been cleaned and disinfected will be identified as “Sanitized.” Unless necessary, please refrain from utilizing those spaces.
• The main entrance doors will be unlocked so employees may enter. Signage will indicate we are closed to the public and suspending face-to-face services to reduce exposure.
• Although face-to-face services are suspended, staff are available via email and phone to serve students and guests. Students will have access to all online services, such as Student Planning, myGOCC, transcript requests, etc.
• CTE instructors are asked to keep students in their appropriate wings and refrain from allowing students to access common areas of campus (i.e. Concourse, Fitness Center restrooms). Students may utilize restrooms on the lowest levels of the D or E Wing.

For Students

If you need assistance with navigating Canvas, please view this helpful video: Canvas ‘How To’ Student Video.
For students needing assistance logging in to Canvas, please contact studenthelp@glenoaks.edu.

For Faculty

If you need assistance setting up your class in Canvas, please log into the Teaching by Design course:

Information about Canvas can be found in the “Explore” sections for Module 3 (Canvas Basics) and Module 9 (Canvas Advanced). To access the modules go to the “Coursework.”

The following links can provide more detailed information about the Coronavirus:

• Centers for Disease Control
• Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services