JCCC & COVID-19

If you have questions regarding a Continuing Education class, call Continuing Education registration at 913-469-2323, or email ceregistration@jccc.edu.

Federal Disaster Declaration for Kansas has been approved
Small Business Administration assistance is available!

The Kansas Emergency Declaration for the COVID-19 crisis has been approved by the federal government. Kansas business owners can now apply for a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan

See the KSBDC for details.

Job Seekers and Employers

JobLinks is JCCC's online job posting database. It is offered free of charge to all users: students, JCCC graduates, community members and local employers.

Although the JCCC campus is currently closed, JobLinks is available for use as always. If you need assistance using JobLinks, please email careerdevelopment@jccc.edu or Carol Gard at cgard@jccc.edu.

Student/Job Seeker Link

Employer Link

Recruiting

Employers who wish to schedule on-campus recruiting once the JCCC campus re-opens should contact Carol Gard at cgard@jccc.edu.

Recycling

The public recycling bins at the warehouse are closed until further notice so that our limited staff do not have to handle materials coming in.

Ripple glass will still be open; glass recycling is a fully automated system.

JCCC has divided its response and recovery efforts into phases. 

• Phase 1 includes decisions and activities associated with completing the Spring 2020 semester. 
• Phase 2 includes building Summer and Fall 2020 semester schedules and plans. 
• Phase 3 includes continuous planning beyond the Fall 2020 semester.

The College's Incident Response Team (IRT) is currently in the planning phase of return to work strategies and what that will look like once stay-at-home orders are lifted. On Wednesday, Kansas extended the state's stay at home order until May 3 at midnight. There is no JCCC return to work date set, but it will not be set until after stay at home orders expire. For now, only personnel who perform essential functions that require physical presence are to be on campus. Once a return to work date has been determined, there will be a strategic timeline and phased plan to bring personnel and the public back to campus.

It’s important to remember that it's difficult to plan for every contingency. This is especially true for an incident that the College has never experienced before like this current global pandemic. Flexibility is key as we continue to move forward with guidance from local, state and federal agencies. The Executive Policy Group, Incident Response Team, Crisis Management Team, and our Division and Department Leadership will continue to work hand in hand to interpret and proactively respond to the information provided. Continue to watch the College web site and social media accounts for details and updates.

The Ed Tech department provides Canvas training sessions, advice and support to faculty who would like to discuss issues regarding remote delivery of their courses. 

Communication from faculty to students is key. In the next few weeks, please make plans to communicate with students through Canvas, email, phone, etc.

During the campus building closures, employees are expected to continue to provide the essential functions of the College. Please work with your manager to understand how you are affected and how your area will deliver essential functions. Note that during the closure all campus buildings will be locked, similar to holiday breaks.

All full-time and part-time regular scheduled staff will receive their regular pay during the campus closure, except as noted below.

If you are a part-time temporary, hourly paid employee, check with your supervisor for guidance on your specific situation.

If your work is considered essential and you are unavailable to work on campus because of a COVID-19 related matter (personal illness, quarantine per CDC guidelines, taking care of an ill family member, or childcare issues related to school or personal daycare closures) and your position provides you with the opportunity to work from home, please work with your supervisor to make necessary arrangements. Otherwise notify your supervisor that your absence is COVID-19 related and sick time will be used to cover your absence.

All college-related travel (domestic & international) is suspended until further guidance is provided by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). JCCC is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisories.

All on-campus events and in-person activities — including commencement — have been canceled or moved online. The College is working on plans to recognize its 2020 graduates online; details are on the Commencement page.

The JCCC Incident Response Team has initiated a Return to Campus Task Force to focus on the safety of our students, faculty and staff as they navigate the changed College environment and determine any critical needs. 

Future actions for a phased return to campus will be informed by guidance from the Johnson County Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control. As of May 1, 2020, no dates have been determined for staff or students to return to campus. Be assured that we intend to return to normal campus operations as soon as possible.

Greetings,

At Johnson County Community College, we understand the challenges you may have encountered with the shift to spring courses being delivered online. Our faculty and staff are available to help you navigate these changes. We will continue to monitor state recommendations to determine when we may safely return to campus.

Out of care and concern for the personal circumstances and academic achievement of every student, the College is implementing two policy changes for this semester:

1. The last day to drop with a “W” for Spring 2020 classes that are currently still in progress as of April 27, 2020,is Friday, May 22, 2020.
2. The last day to convert a passing grade of D or higher to a P (pass) grade for any Spring 2020 course is December 1, 2020. A pass grade option allows you to receive credit for the course and will not affect your GPA. See www.jccc.edu/admissions/enrollment/pass-fail-covid.html 

These deadline extensions are available to help you with your academic planning and decision making. It is our hope that these changes will give you ample time to connect with JCCC resources that may assist you in successfully completing your coursework. Our faculty and staff stand ready to help you with questions and concerns. We have many resources available to assist you at www.jccc.edu/student-resources. If you decide the pass grade option may be right for you, please contact our counseling faculty at advise@jccc.edu.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may support you in these challenging times.

Warm regards,

Joe Sopcich,
JCCC President

April 17, 2020:

To assist you during the COVID-19 pandemic, our faculty has created several pathways for students who need to enroll in a Summer 2020 course that has a placement test requirement. Review your available prerequisite options.

April 10, 2020:

Summer enrollment is now open - See the updated summer academic calendar

• Enrollment for students eligible for the 60+ tuition rate begins June 5 at 8 a.m.

View credit class schedules — select the term you wish to view.

April 2, 2020 — While access to the JCCC campus is closed, coursework will continue. All current JCCC spring 2020 classes will finish the semester online. All student support resources have moved online; check the student resources page for details.

• Students should verify with their instructors that they understand the plans for their respective classes.
• Faculty members in classes with hands-on components will notify students if their course requires work that would be completed at a later date.

Students should log into Canvas for specific instructions for each course they're enrolled in (see Online Learning).

How to take an online class

Visit Online Learning

JCCC has modified its operations and moved all course work and operations online for the remainder of the Spring semester. All in-person events, including commencement ceremonies, are canceled. All student resources are available online.

The College has instituted temporary, emergency allowances to some board policies to help students who are continuing their coursework online.

These temporary changes will remain in effect for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester.

• Enrollment Policy 311.01
  Students with past due obligations will be allowed to enroll for the Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 semester without resolution of any past due obligations, if such enrollment occurs during the Spring 2020 semester.
• Scheduling of Courses and Add/Drop Policy 311.03
  The credit class drop deadline for the Spring 2020 semester has moved to May 1 from April 15.
• Grading System Policy 314.04
  During the Spring 2020 semester, students may elect to take multiple classes taken during this semester as pass/fail. The process must be completed by Thursday, April 30, and requires students complete an online meeting with a JCCC Counselor to determine if this is the best option.

Members of the JCCC Community,

As the College has had to pivot multiple times due to the escalated guidance regarding COVID-19, this message provides the most recent details regarding how we are carrying forward the academic mission of JCCC over the next several months.

Spring 2020 credit courses

We will be in a fully digital delivery mode on Monday, March 30, for all spring 2020 credit courses. Faculty members teaching classes with a heavy lab component will make whatever adjustments can be made to teach as much as possible online, with the plan for all required hands-on portions of the class to be delivered in June. This is guided by the hope that we will be able to move ahead with reopening the campus at that point. With that assumption in mind, the plan will be to open campus June 1 for the completion of all lab or hands-on coursework that is needed for students to complete their Spring 2020 course objectives over a four-week time frame from June 1 – June 26.

Because this is a course-by-course situation, faculty members need to notify students if their course requires work to be completed in June. Likewise, students should verify with their instructor(s) that they understand the plans for their respective class(es).

Spring 2020 enrollment changes

Due to the changes of the schedule, there are changes in policies and procedures for the spring 2020 semester.

• Last day to drop - The last day to drop spring 2020 full-term courses is May 1, moving back from April 15.
• Pass/Fail option - Policy for the spring 2020 semester is modified to allow students to take more than one course as Pass/Fail. This process must be completed by Thursday, April 30. This is one day prior to the last day to drop courses. The Pass/Fail option still requires meeting with a JCCC Counselor to determine if it is the best option for the student.

Additional enrollment services information is available at the COVID-19 website.

Summer and Fall 2020 credit courses

The changes to spring semester will impact offerings and dates for enrollment for both summer and fall credit courses. More specific information and timelines for both terms will be released soon.

Continuing Education courses

For JCCC Continuing Education courses and schedules, individuals are encouraged to visit ce.jccc.edu for details regarding what online courses are available.

As a reminder, the IRT was formed at the onset of this potential pandemic with the role of communicating changing expectations and operational guidelines for the College and managing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Event Repository. Members of the IRT include Dr. Randy Weber, Chris Gray, Dr. Sandra Warner, Tom Clayton and Alisa Pacer. As this situation continues to be fluid, JCCC’s IRT will respond to the directives received from local and state governmental agencies as they come forward.

Please continue to be safe,
The Incident Response Team

Members of the JCCC Campus Community,

In response to the 30-day stay-at-home order issued by the Johnson County government yesterday, the following guidelines are now in place for JCCC employees:

• Employees who have been granted building access due to essential functions should pick up items today, March 22.
• Only employees are granted access — no family members or guests are to accompany you.

Access to campus for all other employees — if necessary — will be limited tomorrow, Monday, March 23. Hours for pick-up are based on your last name. Please gather essential items only to complete the semester.

Monday, March 23, campus access schedule:

• Last names A-F from 9-11 a.m.
• Last names G-N from noon-2 p.m.
• Last names O-Z from 3-5 p.m.

Guidelines for employees coming on campus:

• Remember ONLY employees are granted access — no family members or guests are to accompany you
• Maintain social distancing; remain six feet apart and do not congregate
• Limit your footprint
• Practice precautionary hygiene
• Bring your JCCC employee ID to assist our Police Department in enforcement

Training scheduled during next week

Faculty trainings scheduled on campus for this week are being moved online. There will be two Zoom trainings per day Monday-Friday. Look for more details on the trainings coming from Ed Tech.

Online course delivery starts tomorrow, March 23, for some courses. The full transition to online for all other courses begins March 30.

In compliance with the Johnson County government's order that all schools close for the remainder of the semester, courses will not be delivered on campus through May. Credit instruction for remaining spring semester:

• Courses that can be completed online will end with the regular semester schedule
• Courses that cannot be completed fully online (i.e. labs, tech, clinicals and others) will extend into the summer

We know that these are dramatic changes that will require action such as giving course credit incompletes, scheduling different meeting times, and offering a reduced summer schedule. Further details on the changes will be shared to the Campus Community by the end of Wednesday, March 25.

Please continue to be safe,

The JCCC Incident Response Team

March 17, 2020 - 11:45 a.m. — Wednesday, March 18, will conclude the 72-hour prevention window the College underwent as a precautionary measure based on Johnson County Department of Health & Environment (JCDHE) guidance.

The period began at the conclusion of housekeeping’s work to deep clean all campus buildings Saturday, March 14. As a reminder, the only individuals on campus beginning March 18 are those who perform essential functions that can only occur through physical presence.

March 16, 2020 - 6:15 p.m. — Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) has concluded its investigation and has called all individuals possibly exposed to COVID-19. If you develop symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) within the next two weeks, please contact JCDHE at 913-477-8343.

As a reminder JCCC is closed starting today, March 14, for all classes, events and activities until further notice. Online class delivery will begin March 30. Students will need to communicate with their instructors for online course information.

It is critical to reiterate only essential personnel performing essential functions should be on campus during the closure. Anyone able to perform their required tasks from home needs to do so. As part of their official disease investigation, the JCDHE is reaching out directly to provide guidance for those they deem most likely to have been impacted by the case.

Over the past two weeks, JCCC housekeeping and staff increased their cleaning practices under the guidance of the CDC and health department. Currently, efforts are underway to perform appropriate cleaning measures in areas where those who may have been exposed worked and gathered.

JCCC has been in close contact with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) to assist in their active case. As of now we are aware of the following:

• The JCDHE hopes to conclude their phone outreach to any possible employees or students that may have been potentially exposed by tomorrow, March 16, end of day.
• JCCC will send a message to campus as soon as this is confirmed by the JCDHE.
• We are not aware, nor can we release, any footprint of areas where this individual may have been on campus.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to close the campus to ALL personnel until Wednesday, March 18. Since the notice from the JCDHE on Saturday morning, the campus has undergone an extensive cleaning process. To allow for what the JCDHE recommends as a 72-hour prevention window, we will close the campus to ALL employees and go on lockdown until Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. Starting Wednesday, March 18, only essential personnel, as previously notified by supervisors, will be allowed on campus with their key card and ID badge to mitigate future risk.

Campus Community,

Thank you for your patience as we work through this difficult process related to how COVID-19 is affecting all of our lives. Rest assured that JCCC will continue to communicate out to you with any new information we are provided related to COVID-19, as well as updates to the campus environment over the coming weeks.

JCCC has been in close contact with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) to assist in their active case. As of now we are aware of the following:

• The JCDHE hopes to conclude their phone outreach to any possible employees or students that may have been potentially exposed by tomorrow, March 16, end of day.
• JCCC will send a message to campus as soon as this is confirmed by the JCDHE.
• We are not aware, nor can we release, any footprint of areas where this individual may have been on campus.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to close the campus to ALL personnel until Wednesday, March 18. Since the notice from the JCDHE on Saturday morning, the campus has undergone an extensive cleaning process. To allow for what the JCDHE recommends as a 72 hour prevention window, we will close the campus to ALL employees until Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. Starting Wednesday, March 18, only essential personnel, as previously notified by supervisors, will be allowed on campus with their key card and ID badge to mitigate future risk.

As a reminder, if you develop symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) within the next two weeks, please contact JCDHE at 913-477-8343.

As the virus becomes more widespread, it is important to remember that exposure to the virus can come from many places in the community. Our best defense is still to practice good personal hygiene:

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve.
• Stay home if you become sick.
• Wash your hands frequently. Use hand sanitizer if soap is not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash hands after using shared keyboards and work machines.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

For updates please visit jccc.edu/covid19 for updates and information.

Continue to be safe,

Joe Sopcich
President

Saturday, March 14 - 10 a.m. — There has been a possible exposure to a case of COVID-19 at Johnson County Community College. JCCC is working closely with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) to identify any close contacts of the individual. If you were exposed, JCDHE will notify you as soon as possible. If you develop symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) within the next two weeks, please contact JCDHE at 913-477-8343.

Dear members of the JCCC Community,

Late yesterday afternoon as I entered the Carlsen Center atrium, I ran into Dr. Leiker. He was carrying several bags in his hands and had three or four others strung over his shoulders as he was relocating his office from campus to his home. Jim spoke of the flexibility faculty was demonstrating as they prepared for changes in their pedagogy resulting from the College’s decision to close campus. I sincerely appreciated his insightful and constructive comments. He noted, and this is what stuck with me, that this situation, and the College’s response to it, will give us an opportunity to demonstrate how great we can be when we work together. This extraordinary time in history, could become one of our finest moments. Spoken like a true historian. It was terrific.

A few minutes later I walked by the CoLab. Inside I watched CoLab staff and students wiping down all the countertops with disinfectant. Their focus and intensity, not to mention their speed, was remarkable. When I talked to them as to why they were doing this, they shared their desire to help, their commitment to the CoLab, and their affection for the College. I was struck by the expressions on their faces. They were upbeat, positive, and smiling. They wanted to make a difference. They personified the mission of our College to inspire learning, transform individuals, and strengthen our community.

Later that evening I learned that one of our own, a member of our campus community, may be infected with the virus. This news was shocking and unnerving. You feel it deep down inside. My first thought was for the person, their family, friends, and colleagues who are confronted with the tragic reality we’ve all been following in the media and now hits close to home. Our hearts and prayers go out for the individual and those around this person who are dealing with this virus firsthand. This morning when we read the RAVE announcements, the first questions that come to mind pertain to our family, friends and colleagues. Where have we been? With whom have we come into contact? My first reaction was to retrace my steps, where I’d been, who I’d been with, what I’d touched. Stacy, my spouse, has adult asthma. My 88 year old father has COPD. These are two of the worst conditions for contracting the virus. Could I have been a carrier to them? We will all experience these thoughts.

The harsh reality is I cannot eliminate where I’ve been and those I’ve been in contact with. I cannot turn back the clock. Together, all we can do is stay calm, don’t panic, and take the precautions featured in everything we read. Wash hands consistently, keep your distance from others, and stay inside your residence as much as possible so as to avoid coming into contact with any trace of the virus.

The College is doing all it can with the leadership of some very giving individuals. Dr. McCloud, the deans, chairs, Ed Tech, and faculty have performed miracles in preparation for performing even more. Regardless of what confronts us, teaching will go on at JCCC. And it will go on with the quality that it always has. Chris Gray is doing extreme heavy lifting trying to keep us all on the same page regarding messaging so as to prevent misinformation from being distributed. He, along with his staff, is now working closely with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, various media outlets, and the general public to make sure that awareness of our situation can benefit others in our community. Dr. Weber is heroically keeping the various College departments together and moving forward. His leadership, along with that of his teams, of our operations is exemplary as they deal with events and updates that change seemingly on the hour. Our Facilities area, including custodial, are stepping up in a big way. Our Information Systems department is critical to ensure that we are able to communicate and continue to teach in the days ahead. They are phenomenal. Our Emergency Preparedness operation is doing remarkable work as they focus on our campus and work with a variety of regional organizations simultaneously.

We’ve invested considerable time in our Business Continuity initiative under the leadership of Sandra Warner. I’m always dubious of such campus-wide efforts to prepare for things that may never happen and that take up so much time. Now, I’m a believer. Conducting countless meetings and filling out endless forms at the time may have been a hassle, but now those efforts are paying off. We’re way ahead of where we would have been had we not engaged in this initiative. Assuredly, this is one “plan” that will not gather dust on the shelf.

I know there are many other areas on campus that are doing stellar work in keeping the campus going and preparing for the days ahead. It is impossible for me to recall everyone and every area involved. To those so engaged and so critical in this effort, I apologize for leaving you out. Rest assured that when recognition is given and history is written, everyone involved will be honored.

The days ahead are going to be challenging. They will demand we pull together like never before. We need to trust those making decisions and have confidence in their judgment. Good ideas are always welcome, please feel free to share with the appropriate people in your areas. We need to practice patience, be calm, and follow the health guidelines that are available. We need to take care of ourselves so we can take care of our loved ones, friends and colleagues. We need to set constructive examples for those around us. We’ll get through this one day at a time. And in the end, JCCC will once again distinguish itself as one of the finest community colleges in the country.

Be safe.

Joe Sopcich
President

Members of the JCCC Community,

Like all of you, we have been closely monitoring reports of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and thinking of ways it impacts our campus community. Fortunately, a group of extremely dedicated people have been working around the clock to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Our teams are considering every contingency. As we’ve seen, this is an evolving issue and will continue to change over the coming weeks.

In order to help minimize spread of the coronavirus and protect our campus community, Johnson County Community College will begin taking the following steps:

• March 14-22: Campus will be closed — including all events and activities — during spring break. Essential personnel on campus only. Efforts will be directed towards continued work on building support for online delivery of courses.
• March 23-29: Campus will be closed — including all events and activities. Essential personnel on campus only. This time will be used to provide additional support to instructors and to transition to an online-only learning environment.
• March 30: Begin delivering all courses remotely. Campus will continue to be closed. Students are strongly encouraged to remain at home for the two weeks following spring break.

Faculty and instructional support staff

Faculty are expected to deliver all courses remotely as provided in the plan submitted by the Academic Branch. Ed Tech will be providing CANVAS training sessions, as well as an email with advice and support if faculty would like to discuss issues regarding remote delivery of their courses. Communication from faculty to students is key. In the next few weeks, please make plans to communicate with students through CANVAS, email, phone, etc.

Other support staff

Managers will be working with Administration to determine what is needed for essential college functions and staffing. Please prepare to receive further detail from supervisors on departmental operations over the coming weeks. Human Resources will provide additional guidance via email.

Students

We understand that this significant disruption to your learning environment is not ideal, nor may it be possible for all. Faculty are receiving support to make this modified experience as effective as possible. There are a number of non-academic functions (i.e. tutoring, registration, financial aid, counseling, etc.) that require specific modification to meet your needs during this interim period. For detailed information about these functions, please rely upon our COVID-19 website (jccc.edu/covid19).

Travel

Be mindful about travel the next few weeks. If you’re visiting a high-risk area, you may be subject to quarantine upon return. JCCC is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisories. As of March 11, 2020, JCCC has suspended all college-related international travel as a precautionary measure. Domestic travel to identified high risk areas (such as New York and Washington state) is being addressed on a case-by-case basis. To check the current CDC travel recommendations, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Events

Gatherings pose unique risks. For that reason, on-campus events will be canceled starting Saturday, March 14, through Sunday, April 5. Organizers of these events will be contacted, or they may contact the event sponsor directly. We will continue to monitor and assess the risk for any events beyond April 5, including commencement.

Our action will be informed by guidance from the Johnson County Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control. Be assured that we intend to return to normal campus operations as soon as possible. We will continue to consult with public health officials in order to make the most prudent decisions.

Please know that we will share updates as soon as we can. In the meantime, the best source for updated information is our COVID-19 website. There you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions, tips on how to keep yourself healthy, and details on our response to the outbreak. 

Finally, we are in extraordinary circumstances that have called for less than desirable measures. I ask that each of you show a generosity of spirit as things continually evolve. Thank you all, and please take good care of yourself.

Dr. Joe Sopcich
President

During the announced campus closure, employees are expected to continue to provide the essential functions of the College. Managers will work with administration to determine essential College functions and staff. Please work with your manager to understand how you are affected and how your area will deliver essential functions. Note that during this closure all campus buildings will be locked, similar to holiday breaks. Only those identified as essential personnel will be granted access with their key cards.

If you are a part-time temporary, hourly paid employee, check with your supervisor for guidance on your specific situation.

If your work is considered essential and you are unavailable to work on campus because of a COVID-19 related matter (personal illness, quarantine per CDC guidelines, taking care of an ill family member, or childcare issues related to school or personal daycare closures) and your position provides you with the opportunity to work from home, please work with your supervisor to make necessary arrangements. Otherwise notify your supervisor that your absence is COVID-19 related and sick time will be used to cover your absence.

As this is an evolving situation, the JCCC COVID-19 website will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.

Colleagues,

As we move through the steps to activate this emergency move online, it has been communicated to me that there is confusion concerning faculty activity.

I’d like to emphasize the fluidity of this situation, and that flexibility is the order of the day, as a one-size-fits-all model would be wholly ineffective in meeting the needs of our students during this transition.

As I stated in yesterday’s update, we are providing an extra week of ramp up time for faculty to get their classes up and running in a fully online environment and communication needs to be clear between Deans and Chairs and their faculty contingents. Communication with your students is also crucial, so be certain to alert students to how you would like to engage with them in the new paradigm.

For those who are ready to roll their classes or are already online, it is totally permissible to continue your course along the standard post-spring break schedule, but understand the need to be more flexible with deadlines as students might be adjusting to an entire schedule delivered online and need a little flexibility to get their feet under them.

Thank you all for your hard work during this trying time, and for keeping JCCC strong and moving forward for our students as best we can.

L. Michael McCloud, PhD
Vice President of Academic Affairs/CAO

Colleagues, 

As you will all have seen in the latest InfoHub update on COVID-19 we are moving forward with a campus closure plan in the wake of escalating fears in the community and the emergence of newer guidance from healthcare providers and the CDC. A short synopsis for the Academic Branch is that:

• We will be closing campus as of close of business tomorrow 13 Mar 2020.
• We will remain closed for Spring Break through our normal dates and classes will be canceled from the 23^rd-29^th to provide instructors opportunity to complete conversion of any necessary materials to work in an online environment. 
• Faculty will be allowed on campus during the extended closure (23^rd-29^th) to do their work in getting set up appropriately for online delivery. We will have scheduled sessions of trainings for all of our distance education software packages during that time and assistance available to those who need it.
• As of March 30^th we will be an online delivery campus on a trial basis while we check spread rates and guidance. Right now it looks as though we will be able to return to normal operations on April 6^th, but that is fluid based on actual spread of the illness and guidance from JoCo Health department.

You will all be receiving communications from your Deans and Chairs throughout the day today providing details for your specific area, so please be on the lookout for those messages.

L. Michael McCloud, PhD
Vice President of Academic Affairs/CAO

Campus Community,

There has been increased interest and communication this past week regarding the ongoing disease outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor the outbreak of the coronavirus disease/COVID-19. The number of known cases worldwide is increasing, including in the U.S.

The respiratory virus can be spread by person-to-person contact, and more cases are likely. Symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Older adults and individuals with underlying health issues may be at risk for more severe disease.

This is an update on guidance and actions being taken by JCCC in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The administration and the Incident Response Team continue to follow plans and evaluate the spread of the virus and its potential impact on our campus community.

Monitoring continues

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is closely monitoring the number of cases in Johnson County. To date, there is one reported case in Johnson County, Kan. and one in St. Louis, Mo. Officials continue to say the risk to the general public is currently low in our area. The situation is evolving daily as health officials learn more about COVID-19. At this time, there is no indication that the JCCC campuses are affected.

Continuity of instruction/distance education conversion

In the event of a forced learning environment disruption related to COVID-19, JCCC’s Academic Branch is working to plan for and begin the conversion of classes from onsite to online.

It is understood that this is a complex undertaking and that some classes with laboratory or other hands-on components will have difficulty with this conversion. Efforts are being made to work with accreditors and others to see how this problem can be addressed.

New web resource

We have launched a new JCCC COVID-19 web resource to track campus communications and to provide answers to common questions and links to informational sites. This section will be updated as needed, and we encourage you to check it frequently for important updates. If you have specific questions that are not answered by the information online or in resources in InfoHub, we encourage you to email incidentresponseteam@jccc.edu.

Travel

Following guidance by the CDC, JCCC has made the decision to suspend all college-related international travel as a precautionary measure. Domestic travel to identified high risk areas — such as New York and Washington state — will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Additional information

The Incident Response Team is actively working to thoroughly address other very broad topics, such as:

• Student Services — adherence to FERPA, financial aid and other compliance issues
• Academics/Continuing Education — including alternate content delivery
• Human Resources — including policies regarding leave, absences and remote work capabilities
• Facilities Management — developing methods to increase self-guided sanitation strategies
• Technology, Travel, and more

Check this website for more details on these topics; pages will be updated or added as things evolve.

Best practices for maintaining a safe campus environment

We are asking the entire campus community follow best practices in helping reduce the risk of spreading any type of illness on campus.

• If you are a student, please stay home if you are sick. Please communicate directly with your instructors about your situation.
• If you are a faculty or staff member, please stay home if you are sick. Please communicate directly with your immediate supervisor about your situation.

Centers for Disease Control wellness tips:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue away.
• Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are frequently touched.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• The CDC does not recommend wearing a facemask, unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
• If you are sick and plan to seek care, please call before going in for care so arrangements can be made to prevent exposing others.

Additional resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 Resource Center
• Johnson County Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 Resources

Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Weber
Executive Vice President, Finances and Administration
Vice President, Student Success

Dear members of the JCCC Community, 

We want to assure the campus that there are no reports of required quarantine or Coronavirus (COVID-19) connected to JCCC campus. We will continue to work closely with Johnson County Health Department and will be notified of any cases that could affect our campus community.

Given the global evolution of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we would like to assure you that JCCC is closely monitoring the situation. The continued health and safety of our campus community is of the utmost importance. JCCC’s Incident Response Team is proactively working with local, state, and federal health agencies to stay apprised of updates and developing action plans, should they be required. The state of Kansas currently has no COVID-19 cases and no Persons Under Investigation (PUI) for COVID-19.

The College has taken the following actions:

• JCCC’s pandemic plan is being reviewed to ensure we are prepared for any action necessary in case of an increased threat.
• JCCC is following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel advisories for determination of international travel. To check the current CDC travel recommendations visit the CDC website.
• The College has implemented increased safety and awareness measures to help employees and students be mindful of good hygiene practices to reduce the transmission of flu or other respiratory illnesses.
• Housekeeping has increased frequency of sanitizing high-touch surfaces and restrooms in College buildings.
• Daily collaboration and coordination is taking place with the College Incident Response Team (Dr. Randy Weber, Chris Gray, Tom Clayton, Alisa Pacer and Sandra Warner).
• Instruction is providing additional guidance to faculty and professors regarding illness reporting and extended absences.
• The Procurement Services department is working with employees and students who have previously scheduled college-related travel.
• Students, staff and faculty who are ill—no matter the cause—are encouraged to stay home and to communicate by phone or email to relevant parties (professors, supervisor, etc.) to let them know they are sick. 

Influenza activity is high in the U.S. and expected to continue for weeks. Anyone who has not yet received a flu vaccine this season should strongly consider getting the vaccine. The CDC recommends (strongly) a 7-day quarantine for Influenza A or B to avoid the spread of the virus. 

To inquire further or report cases of concern, please email incidentresponseteam@jccc.edu. We encourage you to remain up to date about the virus and precautionary measures.

Resources:

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-Coronavirus Disease 2019. 
• Johnson County Department of Health and Environment-Johnson County DHE

This message is being sent to JCCC employees as a precautionary measure. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Weber

News reports of the Coronavirus are still of concern. This is an evolving public health issue and JCCC will be sending updates as needed. Please note that we have not seen any cases on the JCCC campus as of this email. However, we do continue to have Influenza cases. 

We are writing today to remind you that during Influenza season, it is very important to practice preventive health measures. These would also be helpful if we had Coronavirus at JCCC. Housekeeping Services is increasing cleaning measures for sanitation of horizontal surfaces and high touch points (elevator buttons, door handles, etc.) during this season.

Here are a few tips to keep our community healthy:

• Get your flu shot. It's not too late! Health providers still have limited number of shots available or you may visit a local pharmacy.
• Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for twenty seconds – especially before eating or preparing food, after going to the bathroom and after you have been around someone who is sick.
• Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you are unable to wash with soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid sharing dishes, glasses and utensils.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and then throw it away.
• Get adequate sleep and eat a healthy diet daily.
• If you’re sick, don’t go to work/class. Staying home will help you recover and avoid spreading illness to others.

Please embrace the culture of care for each other during times of illness and stress.

Additional Information

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established a webpage for up-to-date information on the Coronavirus Disease 2019. If you have specific medical questions about coronavirus and your health, contact your primary health provider.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Weber

Dear members of the JCCC Community,

Health officials worldwide are monitoring an outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that originated recently in Wuhan, China.

We are not aware of any coronavirus cases at Johnson County Community College. However, there is one suspected case reported in Douglas County, Kansas, per the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Out of an abundance of caution, we are sending this preliminary information to raise awareness and inform the College community.

As of January 27, the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 3 Travel Warning – to reconsider travel to China. Officials are actively screening for signs of illness in travelers from the Wuhan area arriving in U.S. airports.

Additional health information for students and employees:

According to the CDC, if you have traveled to China on or after Dec. 1, 2019, and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should:

• Seek medical care right away. Before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room, call ahead and tell them about your recent travel and symptoms.
• Avoid contact with others.
• Do not travel while sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

In addition, flu activity continues to be high in Kansas and Missouri, and students and employees are encouraged to take the same everyday actions as above to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.

These include getting a flu shot, avoiding those with the flu, washing your hands, covering coughs/sneezes in your elbow/sleeve and, if ill, staying home until you are fever-free for 24 hours. If you do become ill, seek medical attention within the first 48 hours of symptoms.

At JCCC, we are taking precautions to identify cases early should they occur among members of the College community in coordination with local and state health departments as per our standard practice.

Additional Information

 The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) established a website for up-to-date information on the 2019 Coronavirus.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Randy Weber

State and County Government Resources

• Kansas Department of Health Novel Coronavirus FAQ PDF (updated daily)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

  • What to do if you Are sick

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 Resource Center 

• Johnson County Department of Health and Environment COVID-19 Resources

• The Johnson County Community Hotline offers a hotline for virus-related questions ONLY. All questions regarding the state's emergency public orders, including stay-at-home mandates and business closures, should be directed to KEFF@ks.gov.

  • Johnson County Community Hotline
    913-715-CV19 (2819)
    8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
    Spanish language available through same number
    
    

• You can also call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317, after business hours. You can also email questions to covid-19@ks.gov or use a chat bot at kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

Travel Advisories

• CDC Travel Guidance

• U.S. State Department

Federal Government Resources

• US Department of Health and Human Services Twitter
• US Department of Health and Human Services Facebook
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Twitter
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facebook
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
• U.S. Food & Drug Administration
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Education
• U.S. Department of Energy
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of State
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Small Business Administration

Practice Good Hygiene

• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve.
• Stay home if you become sick.
• Wash your hands frequently. Use sanitizer if soap is not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash hands after using shared keyboards and work machines.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Read about avoiding Corona virus stigma

Other Information for Individuals and Households

• People who are at higher risk
• COVID-19 and Pregnancy
• Interim Guidance for Household Readiness
• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations for U.S. Households
• If you are sick or caring for someone
• EPA: Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19