Message from the President
As information about the federal and state response to COIVD-19 continues to evolve rapidly, I deeply appreciate your flexibility and care for each other as we all continue to navigate these uncharted waters together. Here is what we know as of today.
The College has successfully shifted to remote classes and operations. Our caring faculty and staff remain available to serve students and the public, and we encourage everyone to reach out to us with questions!
How to Reach Us
Although our classes and services are remote, our staff is available to enroll, advise, support, and answer questions – via the website, phone, email, and video appointments. Please visit the College website to search for the department you are looking for, or you can refer to the Contact page, or the Campus Directory.
Spring Quarter Begins April 6
We know many of you are eager to know what will happen in spring quarter. At this time, we will start the spring quarter term as planned on Monday, April 6, with a few key updates:
- Classes will be primarily online – The plan is to deliver instruction online, even for face-to-face classes (with some very limited exceptions that we will share out soon).
- Prep week – The quarter will include a special prep week during April 6-10 for students and faculty to prepare for online learning, with special technology support and training to make sure everyone is ready to learn and teach remotely. Normal course instruction will begin on April 13.
- Campus services – The College’s operations will likely continue remotely, and staff will be available by phone, email, and video appointments.
- April 24 – The Employee Day of Learning planned for April 24 has been canceled and the day may be used in ways that support our students and employees as we move through the impact of this public health emergency. Details will be confirmed in the coming days.
- June 16-19 – The College will conclude spring quarter as scheduled. Finals Week will be a combination of the last week of instruction and final exams. This will ensure that the term is a full 10 weeks.
- June 20 – Commencement will take place, currently as planned.
Spring registration is now open, and we understand students will still have many questions about how they will be supported in a fully online learning environment. Please know we are working to tailor our instruction and services to ensure that all students – including those with federally mandated face-to-face instructional requirements (such as veteran/military students and international students) – will be able to be successful. Please watch for more updates about spring quarter in the coming days.
Limited Services on Campus
With a few exceptions, we are asking that most students and employees not come to the physical campus unless required for essential tasks or limited instructional purposes.
The only open entrance to campus is through the main entrance and Safety & Security officers are stationed near the front of campus to help direct any visitors. An administrator-in-charge (AIC) will continue to be on campus each day, and any changes to the AIC will be communicated to employees via email.
The following buildings will remain accessible through the end of winter quarter:
- The PUB (Building 9000) – Open weekdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. through March 27 for access to Avanti Market and the Benefits Hub
- Computer Lab (Library Building, Room 4102) – Open weekdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. through March 27 for student computer access, laptop checkout, and library assistance; and for employee laptop checkout and TSS support
- Residence Hall (7000 Campus Living) – Open only to residents
- Parent-Child Center – Open with normal operating hours
March 18 Board of Trustees Meeting
In accordance with the Governor Inslee’s recent executive order, the Wednesday, March 18 Board of Trustees meeting will be held as a special online meeting at 4:30 p.m. There will be no study session at 3:30 p.m. Please view the official March 18 Board of Trustees Meeting Notice to learn how to submit public comments by email and how to view the live meeting via a special website link.
Preparedness at Home
As we continue to monitor the nation’s response to the pandemic, we encourage students and employees to consider their preparedness at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends having two weeks’ worth of food and medicine on hand in case of an emergency. Visit https://www.ready.gov/kit to learn more about how to build a preparedness kit for your home.
In this challenging time, we will continue to ask for your grace and understanding as we plan for the continuity of our operations amid quickly changing public health guidance.
Respectfully,
Cheryl Roberts, Ed.D.
President
