Fall Semester Kick-off: Safety Overview

Aug 20, 2020 | Intercom

Good morning NMC community,

Thank you to the 225 people who attended our virtual opening conference Monday as we prepare to kick off the new fall semester together. While the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us in many ways during the last several months, you have done significant work to meet the needs of our learners while keeping each other safe. Our Reopening and Reimagining Fall Learning Committees have addressed these issues and have developed important resources to help this academic year. We’ve highlighted some of the most important items and updates below. Please visit nmc.edu/coronavirus for the latest information and additional resources. It will take all of us working together to reach our goals. If you have questions or feedback, we want to hear from you. Please use the Coronavirus Information Feedback Form or email publicrelations@nmc.edu.

Keep Safe

Masks

Every employee received an NMC face mask and an Exposure Control Awareness pamphlet through interoffice mail. Masks are required for everyone while on NMC’s campuses, unless alone in your office. Please also practice social distancing and other safety guidelines highlighted at nmc.edu/keepsafe. Please note that plastic face shields do not replace face masks. Employees who have medical concerns should speak with Hollie DeWalt in Human Resources. Accommodations will be made, where possible, but wearing a face covering is required.

Health Screening & Training

Please remember to complete the health screening questions every time you come to campus. Attached to this email you will find the Exposure Control Awareness pamphlet with those screening questions and additional safety information for NMC employees.

Please be sure to complete the exposure control training in the SilkRoad learning portal before you come to campus. It’s short, informative and required. If you have any questions about how to access it, please contact Human Resources.

Safety Guidance for Students

Student Life will be greeting students at many building entrances during the first two days of class. They will offer a mask if a student does not have one and share the requirement to wear it inside all buildings.

• Students without a mask cannot stay in class. They should be offered a mask and can stay if they wear it.
• If a student says they cannot wear a mask, they need to contact Disability Services to establish the veracity of their claim and the necessary path forward. They still cannot enter without a mask.
• If a student persists in refusing to wear a mask and will not leave, do not argue the efficacy of masks but point to the requirement from the state and college to do so.
• If a student without a mask will not leave, as a last resort, call security.
• Please enter a Red Flag incident report on students you encounter that will not wear a mask. Judicial Affairs will follow up with these students.

Attached to this email you will find a flowchart on steps to take if a student tells you they have tested positive for COVID-19.

Campus Cleaning & Sanitizing

Keeping our campuses clean during this time is critically important and will require a collaborative effort. Custodial crews will clean all public spaces daily following CDC recommendations for disinfecting spaces and high-touch surfaces. This includes countertops, toilet rooms, drinking fountains, waiting rooms, seating, door handles, push/pull devices and light switches.

Disinfectant spray, towels, wipes and gloves will be in all classrooms, labs and offices. Users should wipe down workspace surface areas before and after use. Also, maintain proper hygiene and health practices, including washing hands frequently with soap and water or, if soap is unavailable, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout our campuses, including classrooms. You can order additional hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies through central stories or through facilities at (231) 995-1144.

COVID-19 Testing

Anyone exhibiting signs of COVID-19 must seek immediate medical attention. If feeling ill, students can contact NMC Health Services at (231) 995-1255 or their health care provider. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care physician. If you are ill, you should self-isolate, avoid close contact with others and notify NMC human resources of your absence.

NMC currently has no plans for widespread COVID-19 testing on campus, but limited testing is available through Health Services. Individuals can be tested at no cost at community sites in Michigan like Northwest Michigan Health Services. Most insurance companies will also pay for testing.

Possible Exposure Reporting

NMC has had one reported case of COVID-19 that we quickly reported to you in July. Despite our safety efforts, we may see additional cases on campus this semester. If we do, we will continue to report them to you via email and on the COVID-19 cases webpage to keep you aware of possible campus exposures. We are also developing a dashboard for that same webpage to monitor the impact of the virus on our campus. Later this week we will share the information we are monitoring that may influence the College’s reopening stage.

Limiting Time On NMC Campuses

NMC remains in stage 2 of its re-opening plan. This week some adjustments were made to the plan to allow for food service, to keep buildings unlocked during classes and to allow campus activity on Fridays when necessary. Work that can be completed remotely should continue. Please consider posting your contact information on your office door while you are working remotely. Offices should stagger shifts and limit the number of employees in an office.

Stay Informed

Our top priority has been, and will continue to be, the safety of NMC students, employees and our community. We are carefully monitoring COVID-19 in Michigan and across the United States, as well as information from public health leaders. The next few weeks will be critical as we move into a new semester on our campuses. We have all done considerable work to prepare for this semester to develop a comprehensive safety plan and flexible learning options, but will also be ready to adapt our plans, if needed, as the health situation changes so we can continue to meet the needs of our learners. We promise to keep communicating with you about any potential changes.

If you have additional questions related to COVID-19, please check out the Employee FAQs and other resources on the NMC COVID-19 web hub. If you still have questions, please submit them through the Coronavirus Information Feedback Form or email publicrelations@nmc.edu.

Thank you for your work, and your continued flexibility and support.

Fall 2020 Opening Conference Presentation and Followup Q&A

Aug 17, 2020 | Intercom

Thanks to the 225 NMC employees who joined us at Opening Conference today as we kicked off the fall semester! As promised, here are the questions and answers we did not have time to address in today’s meeting. You can also view a PDF of the full presentation here.

• Is WH 104/105 going to be one classroom for fall rather than two separate classrooms?
  • We will base it on what is requested through Central Scheduling. It can be easily configured for either option. 
• Will we be completely closed after Thanksgiving to students (printing, computer use, library etc.)?
  • Yes. For the sake of safety, the campus will be closed to in-person activity.
• Will we be able to have limited access testing in classrooms after Thanksgiving?
  • We will not have any in-person activity after Thanksgiving. Testing will need to be done in some virtual manner. 
• Will students have the option to live on campus after Thanksgiving?
  • Students are encouraged to return home, but special accommodations can be made on a case by case basis with Residence Life as needed.
• Are there plans regarding opening the North Hall gym and what would restrictions be if any?
  • At this time there are no plans to open the North Hall fitness center. We will continue to assess the recommendations for inside activity.
• What are the responsibilities of faculty and staff if faced with students who refuse to honor safety protocols and/or dismiss the dangers of the pandemic? What are employees supposed to do? How much do employees push back when faced with refusal? What if a student/employee is unwilling to wear a mask on campus?
  • As far as employees go, there really isn’t a provision for working onsite and not wearing a face covering. Employees who have medical concerns should speak with Hollie DeWalt in Human Resources. Accommodations, where possible will be made, but wearing a face covering is required.
  • Student Life will be greeting students at many building entrances during the first two days of class. They will offer a mask if a student does not have one and share the requirement to wear it inside all buildings.
    • Students without a mask cannot stay in class. They should be offered a mask and can stay if they wear it.
    • If a student says they cannot wear a mask, they need to contact Disability Services to establish the veracity of their claim and the necessary path forward. They still cannot enter without a mask.
    • If a student persists in refusing to wear a mask and will not leave, do not argue the efficacy of masks but point to the requirement from the state and college to do so.
    • If a student without a mask will not leave, as a last resort, call security.
    • Please enter a Red Flag incident report on students you encounter that will not wear a mask. Judicial Affairs will follow up with these students.
• Once the fall semester begins, will we be allowed to work on campus on Fridays?
  • We are asking if work can be done remotely to continue with that practice. If there are items that cannot be completed remotely then you may come to campus.  
• Is Futures for Frontliners tuition free or in-district tuition? 
  • It covers in-district tuition and general fees.
• What protections are in place for Adjunct Faculty who do not have NMC health insurance?
  • Adjuncts are entitled to the 2 weeks of COVID-19 leave under the Families First Paid Medical Leave Act. This is paid at 100% if for the employee’s own COVID-19 illness or quarantine, and at 2/3 if to take care of a child or family member.  There is an additional provision for employees who have been employed more than 30 days which provides for extended leave (up to 10 additional weeks) to care for a child whose school or daycare is closed. This would be paid at 2/3.  This last extended leave can only be used after an initial two-week leave.
  • For further information please contact Hollie DeWalt in Human Resources.
  • Adjuncts can also enroll in health insurance coverage through other channels including the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

If you have additional questions related to COVID-19, please check out the Employee FAQs and other resources on the NMC COVID-19 web hub. If you still have questions, please submit them through the Coronavirus Information Feedback Form or email publicrelations@nmc.edu.

COVID-19 case flowchart

Aug 14, 2020 | Intercom

NMC has developed a flowchart to give NMC employees guidance on what to do when a student tests positive for COVID-19; you can find the document here and find a link to the document at nmc.edu/keep-safe. The document will also be printed out and distributed to NMC departments.

New Online Student Graduation Application

Aug 11, 2020 | Intercom

The NMC graduation application has moved online! If you know a student ready to complete the last of their degree requirements, let them know to apply to graduate on NMC Self-Service. They can get to this new application by logging into MyNMC and selecting “Self-Service Menu” (or going directly to NMC Self-Service) and then selecting “Apply to Graduate” under the “Student Records” tab.

If you or the student has any questions about this process, email us at records@nmc.edu or call (231) 995-1049.

Return to Campus Survey Results

Aug 7, 2020 | Intercom

NMC’s Office of Research, Planning, & Effectiveness conducted a Return to Work survey in June to better understand faculty and staff concerns, as well as understand what would make them feel more comfortable about returning to campus when it’s safe do so. Over 75% of faculty and staff provided insight into what they are feeling in the survey.

Here’s what we learned from our survey that can be used to encourage further exploration.

We asked what concerns faculty and staff had about returning to campus.  The majority (71%) reported concern with “getting exposed to the coronavirus at the office”.

We also asked for one word to describe how they feel about returning to campus. “Cautious” and “apprehensive” topped the list although several responses also included “optimistic” and  “ready”.

What can we do to alleviate these concerns?  We asked what would make them feel more comfortable about returning to campus and here’s what they shared:

• Availability of a vaccine (64%)
• Office hygiene protocols, such as nightly deep cleans (49%) and hand sanitizer stations  (49%)
• Wearing masks in the office (48%)
• Limiting the number of employees in the building by staggering their hours or days (39%)

Read the full survey results here.