In order to keep our community updated on the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, Cerro Coso is providing this webpage. Our goal is to provide you with resources and the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19).
More recent updates are available of the Student Resources Page and the Faculty Resources Page
Update March 30, 2020
To ensure the safety of children, staff and students the Child Development Centers are CLOSED during the Coronavirus pandemic. For further information contact Jessica Krall at Jessica.krall@cerrocoso.edu.
Update March 23, 2020
As instructional activities shift to online or alternative environments, please stay in close contact with your professors for the most up-to-date information regarding your own classes.
At this time, all student services and learning supports are also transitioning into remote delivery format, with the exception of proctoring. These services and supports will be available remotely for a limited time on Monday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 24th. They will be fully open again for all students at posted times starting Wednesday, March 25th. At this time, all proctoring services are being suspended in order to decrease the spread of germs and keep students and staff safe. Please see the recent communications that have been sent to all students and posted to the Student Resources page. Continue to look for updates in your inboxes and on the website.
Update March 19, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
First and foremost, I want to thank all of you for your patience in giving your executive team, faculty, and classified leadership time to get a plan together to address the ever changing environment in which we are living with the looming fears of COVID – 19 With the risk factor in Kern County remaining low, it has provided us the opportunity to think through how to best protect ourselves and keep students and employees safe A personal thank you to the Cerro Coso employees serving on CSEA, CCA, and the Academic Senate as they have been supportive and a voice of reason as we move forward into an implementation phase.
The initial response college wide has been to deploy disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer widely across our multiple sites, offices and classrooms Also, a widely disseminated message to all regarding regular washing of hands, social distancing, keeping your hands off your face and using recommended techniques when sneezing or coughing to decrease the spread of germs has been accomplished However, as the spread of those contracting the virus continues to rise, and even though Kern County’s risk factor remains low, it is now not “if” but “when” numbers begin to rise in our area Therefore, we have begun implementing a plan to continue to educate and serve our students while mitigating as much contact as possible between all of us.
To date we have reduced on-campus student traffic by taking this week for faculty to migrate their face to face classes into the online environment This was done through the support of the Office of Distance Education and the various online training resources for those faculty who had yet to utilize canvas and its tools Students were also provided the opportunity to log into online workshops to prepare to be an online student
As many employees as possible are being outfitted with technology to support them working remotely. The exception is those whose jobs require them to be present on campus mostly in the areas of Maintenance and Operations, Information Technology, Safety and Security, Child Development Centers, and the Print Shop.
Below are operating guidelines Cerro Coso will be following beginning March 23rd until at least June 30th:
- Beginning Monday March 23 all those employees whose work allows them to will be working remotely, with skeleton crews coming into the office to perform essential tasks
- Monday, March 23 and Tuesday, March 24 all Student Services Departments will be closed for the purpose of migrating services online The intent is to have services up and running for students on Wednesday March 25
- Beginning Monday, March 23 the only classes that will continue on our various college campuses will be a small handful of science and CTE labs that cannot be transitioned online. Students are to access their classes, ensuring social distancing, and then leave immediately when class is over
- Tutoring, and library services are all being offered online, with proctoring being suspended
- Access to buildings will be determined by the few classes that remain face to face, with the building being open at least between 7:30am and 6:00pm, Monday – Thursday, and 8:00 – 12:00 noon on Friday Security will be policing the area to ensure that those who are present are there for essential school business
- At this time, Computer Labs are going to be made available during specific times Please check the website for campus locations and times open This said, this service will be evaluated in the first weeks and adjusted per student need
- The IWV Child Care Center and the Heather Street Child Care Center in California City will remain open
- As of now, parking permits are not enforced; however, illegal parking activity such as parking in the fire lanes or handicapped areas will still be enforced
- All Kern Community College District Board of Trustee meetings will be held remotely throughout the rest of academic year
- All College meetings will be moved to zoom
- All travel involving students, regardless of activity or destination has been canceled through the remainder of the spring semester All travel for employees has been canceled outside of our district service area
- Any planned events that would bring together groups for social type gatherings or professional development will be cancelled
The last bullet brings me to announcing that we are cancelling all commencement ceremonies throughout our area for this year However, we will be innovating and creating an online event to honor those students who are reaching this milestone of completing their degree and/or certificate of achievement Other celebrations that will also need to be reimagined are such as the Phi Theta Kappa Induction Ceremony, the SGA Student Awards Reception and Ceremony, Access Program End of Year Celebration, and the Honors Luncheon
To this end, please know that these actions are firmly grounded in keeping you and others as safe as possible from the possibility of contracting the corona virus, and also as time goes by conditions could change and we will need to address yet another circumstances Please visit our college website at https://www.cerrocoso.edu/campus-safety/coronavirus-covid-19-updates where you will find up to date announcements and resources for all employee groups and students Thank you again for being supportive of one another, our students, and working together in creating the best environment possible during these trying times.
Warm Regards,
Jill Board
President
Cerro Coso Community College
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 3/16/2020
Update on Self-Care
List of courses that will transition from on ground to Online beginning March 23.
As instructional activities shift to online or alternative environments, please keep in close contact with your professors for the most up-to-date information regarding your own courses.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 3/14/2020
COVID-19 Student Resources
Cerro Coso is taking the next step of transitioning most on-ground classes online. Read the above link for resources and help.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 3/13/2020
Update
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update 3/11/2020
Update
What You Need to Know
Cerro Coso Community College is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. You may hear the virus called by several different names including, Coronavirus, Novel Coronavirus, Covid-19, 2019-nCoV or others. According to California Department of Public Health, the health risk to the general public in California remains low. As of March 1, 2020, there are a total of 40 positive cases in California. 24 are from repatriation flights. The other 16 confirmed cases include nine that are travel related, two due to person-to-person exposure from family contact, two due to person-to-person exposure in a health care facility and three from unknown sources. Approximately 300 persons have been tested in California to date.
The California Department of Public Health recommends the following steps to prevent the spread of all respiratory viruses including coronavirus:
- Washing hands with soap and water
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth and face with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Stay away from work, school or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.
We are attaching several information pages from the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control to further inform you of the coronavirus.
For more information
Relevant News
Resources
corona virus
