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 2020-2021 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.

On April 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education announced that more than $6 billion would be distributed to colleges and universities through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Each HEERF participating institution is required to make public the following information:

Certification and Agreement
Glen Oaks Community College has signed and returned the HEERF Certification and Agreement forms to the Department of Education. The College intends to use the HEER funds to make emergency financial aid grants available to students.

Emergency Grant Fund Awards
The total amount of funds received by the college for the student portion of the CARES Act/HEER funding was $288,341.

Of these funds, $209,260 was awarded to eligible students during the Winter 2020 semester, leaving $79,081 available for future emergency aid grants. There were 506 students eligible to receive grants for the Winter 2020 semester.

On April 27, 2020, 377 students were awarded emergency grants through the college’s student information system. The Financial Aid Office contacted an additional 79 students to request further information to determine eligibility for emergency grant aid. Those grants will be awarded after submission of the required documentation and verification of eligibility. After receiving clarification from the Department of Education regarding distribution of funds for students in exclusively online classes, the college disbursed an additional 35 emergency grants on May 8 and notified 15 students to verify information for eligibility.

As of July 1, 2020, fifty-four (54) of the 206 Summer enrolled students applied for and received HEER funds. The total amount of awarded grant funds for the Summer term as of July 1, 2020, was $26,123. An additional five (5) students were awarded after July 1, resulting in a total Summer disbursement of $28,623 and a combined summer and Winter distribution of $237,883. The remaining balance to be used for Fall 2020 emergency grant relief is $50,458.

Students are able to view the amount of emergency grant funds through My Awards in the Financial Aid Tile via myGOCC. Checks for Winter 2020 were mailed to students the week of May 18, and Summer disbursements occur on a bi-weekly basis.

Methods for Determining Eligibility and Distribution of Funds
On April 15, the CARES Act Committee (consisting of staff from Financial Aid, Advising/Counseling, Student Housing, Academics, Student Services, Business Office and Finance, and the President) determined that the college would distribute funding as widely as possible to eligible students. The committee did not feel an application process would be sufficient and meet the purpose of the HEER emergency funds during the Winter term. A student survey, conducted during the first week of the COVID-19 college closure, showed that roughly 25% of GOCC students either lacked reliable access to a computer and/or to the internet. In order to reach the most students in need, the committee determined the college would distribute emergency grant checks to all enrolled students who qualify based upon the U.S. Department of Education (ED) guidelines and forego an application process during this first phase of distribution.

The committee also determined that the college would reserve 20% of the student portion of the HEER funds for future distribution in the summer and fall terms. As the Coronavirus outbreak reaches our community, and as the economy is affected by COVID-19, the committee’s belief is that students will see additional need for assistance in the coming months. With the move to online instruction for the summer and with fall instruction still being determined, the college assumes, based on past experiences, that some students will require access to hotspots and computers and may incur additional expenses associated with the disruption to campus operations.

During the summer term, the college required students submit an application to receives HEER funds. Students were asked to select reasons for the request based upon guidance from the ED. The college capped the requests at $500 for the summer term. GOCC will continue this application process for HEER funds in the Fall 2020 semester.

The college followed the ED guidelines to determine student eligibility. According to the ED, students:

• Cannot be enrolled in a program or degree offered exclusively online.
• Must be eligible for Title IV (federal financial aid) funds
  • US citizenship
  • 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

During the Winter 2020 term, the CARES Act Committee determined that the most equitable way to distribute the funding would be to award a portion of the funds to all eligible students based upon the number of credits in which the students were enrolled. This decision is based on the rationale that students enrolled full-time (12 or more credits) would have likely incurred more expenses or hardships related to campus disruptions than those enrolled in courses part-time. By calculating the number of credits enrolled and then dividing that number into the funding allotted for the first disbursement, eligible students would receive approximately $44.00 per credit hour enrolled.

When the college moved to an application process in Summer 2020, the committee recommended putting a cap on the amount requested. Amounts were determined on a case by case basis and by the criteria selected by the student (food, technology, living expenses, course materials, child care, etc.). The college will follow the same application and awarding processes in Fall 2020 semester.

The Vice President of Student Services notified all students via email of the availability of, and eligibility requirements of, the CARES Act funding during both semesters. This communication was also posted on the glenoaks.edu/coronavirus web page created specifically for COVID-19 related updates. Information from the email was used to create a media release that was provided to local media outlets and was also posted on the college’s Facebook page. The Financial Aid Office sent individual communications via text and email to students who needed to verify eligibility. Academic Advisors sent text messages to students to notify them of available funds.

Guidance Provided to Students
Students were provided information via email on eligibility requirements and were encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions regarding eligibility for emergency funds. The college also informed students they could view the award amounts in My Awards in the Financial Aid tile in myGOCC, the student portal.

Students were also notified via email that the HEER funds could be used toward any expenses related to the disruption of campus operations, including costs of course materials, food, technology, housing, healthcare, and child care.

All correspondences stated that emergency aid checks would be mailed by the end of May. A letter accompanied the grant checks with an overview of the HEERF and suggested expenses in which the student could use the funds. The Business Office encouraged students, in this letter, to contact their local tax advisor for information on any tax implications for this emergency funding.

Eligible students will be contacted via email of opportunities to apply for future emergency grant aid.

 

Report originated on 5/18/20; updated 7/1/20; updated 8/11/20

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