Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and good hygiene (specifically hand washing) are additional critical elements in the plan to return to campus. These are shared responsibilities that reduce our likelihood of becoming sick while also reducing the chances we might make someone else sick should we be infected and not know it.

CCC requires all students, employees, and visitors to wear face coverings at all times while in all buildings (except when alone in a private office), in shared spaces and all outside areas where physical (social) distancing is difficult to maintain, unless impractical due to a physical impairment or disability. CCC will provide face coverings for students, employees and visitors. Individuals may wear their own face coverings as long as they meet the below requirements. Please note the following general guidance regarding use of face coverings, surgical masks, N95 respirators and clear face shields:

• A cloth face covering is a reusable item made from cloth fabric, two layers in thickness. It serves to protect others from exposure to illnesses the wearer may be carrying. Scarves, bandanas, gators, etc. are not acceptable face coverings in CCC buildings or on campuses. Face coverings should be cleaned daily after use. Proper wearing of face covering includes:
  • Washing your hands before putting on your face covering.
  • Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
  • Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
  • Make sure you can breathe easily.

• A disposable surgical mask is a disposable face covering approved for health care environments. These are generally reserved for health care workers and emergency responders but may be used by other individuals as a temporary measure when cloth face coverings are not available.
• An N95 respirator is a device evaluated, tested and approved to reduce the wearer’s exposure to fine particles. An N95 respirator is tight fitting and must be fit-tested. N95 respirators are not appropriate or necessary for most employees and should be reserved for health care workers and emergency responders in contact with individuals who are ill and are also needed by facilities maintenance personnel while performing specific tasks that generate fine dust.
• It is not known if face shields provide any benefit as source control to protect others from the spray of respiratory particles. CDC does not recommend use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings. Some people may choose to use a face shield when sustained close contact with other people is expected. Therefore, unless a face shield is coupled with a face mask, it is not considered an acceptable masking practice on our campus.
• Face coverings or masks must cover the nose and mouth and rest snugly above the nose, below the mouth and on the sides of the face. Face coverings and masks that incorporates a valve that is designed to facilitate easy exhalation or mesh masks or other covers with opening, holes, visible gaps in the design or material or vents are not adequate face coverings because they allow droplets to be released from the covering.
• Face shields must cover the wearer’s forehead, extend below the chin and wrap around the sides of the face. Face shields in front of the user’s nose and mouth do not meet the requirements.
  • Disposable face covering procurement is coordinated through Campus Services. Disposable face covering are available by contacting College Safety at 503-594-6650 or stopping by the College Safety office located in McLoughlin Hall, room 113.
  • Students may also obtain a disposable face covering at the Associated Student Government office in the Community Center. Departments on campus will also have a supply of face coverings available.

Accommodations

Students who cannot wear face coverings due to personal health conditions should follow the process established by the Disability Resource Center for requesting a reasonable accommodation by contacting the DRC at drc@clackamas.edu or 503-594-6357.

Employees who cannot wear masks or face coverings due to personal health conditions should reach out directly to Director of Human Resource Operations Vicki Hedges at vickidu@clackamas.edu or submit a Service Desk Ticket to Human Resources. Human Resources will assist the employee in submitting a request for reasonable accommodation related to the use of masks or face coverings.

Frequent hand washing is an equally important element of preventing disease transmission. CCC encourages students, faculty, staff and visitors to perform appropriate hand hygiene upon their arrival to campus every day.

Hands must be washed for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water or by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (handwashing with alcohol-based hand sanitizer is not recommended before eating, preparing or serving food and after using the restroom). CCC is working to significantly increase the number of touchless hand sanitizer dispensers throughout our campuses.

When students, employees and visitors return to our campuses they will be required to monitor their own health daily by completing the Daily Self-Health check-list before coming to campus.

Daily Self-Health Checklist

Employees and visitors must not come to campus if sick. Employees must immediately report their illness to their supervisor. Students likewise must not come to campus if ill and must report their illness to their instructors.

Students, employees and visitors should stay at their residence if they have one or more of the following: cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion and runny nose are also symptoms often associated with COVID-19, but are non-specific.)

Students, employees and visitors should seek immediate medical attention if they experience trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to awaken, bluish lips or face, other severe symptoms.

Individuals who have a chronic or baseline cough that has worsened or is not well-controlled with medication should stay home.

Any person who starts to feel sick while on campus should immediately go home. Students and employees must notify their instructor or supervisor and immediately go home. Individuals developing or reporting primary COVID-19 symptoms while on campus should move to an outside area away from other people while awaiting transportation home or to a health care facility.

Daily monitoring of one's health and well-being prior to coming to campus can aid in early detection of infectious disease and is an effective measure to prevent community spread of COVID-19. In our ongoing effort to protect the CCC community, we have established a new practice: All students and employees must review a COVID-19 Daily Self-Health Checklist before coming to campus. If you know of a visitor coming to campus, please ask them to also review the COVID-19 Daily Self-Health Checklist.

See the Daily Self-Health Checklist.

According to the college's Return to Campus plan, CCC requires all students, employees and visitors to wear face coverings at all times while in public (including all buildings), in shared spaces and where physical distancing is difficult to maintain, unless impractical due to a physical impairment.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors are all equally responsible for compliance with provisions of the Return to Campus Plan. The health and wellbeing of the college community is dependent on the cooperation of each individual. In a case of non-compliance, individual(s) may be referred to Human Resources or Student Conduct as appropriate.

Students who do not comply with the requirement will be subject to the CCC Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Policy, which states: "Failure to conduct oneself in a safe manner in all college programs where there is an ability for an individual to cause harm to self or others" are grounds for disciplinary action (page 48 of the Student Handbook).

College employees who do not comply with the requirement may face disciplinary action in accordance with their Association Agreement or the Employee Handbook.

To report incidents of noncompliance, contact your instructor, immediate supervisor, Human Resources or College Safety. Questions regarding implementation or enforcement of the Return to Campus plan may be directed to Tom Sonoff, Director of College Safety, at thomas.sonoff@clackamas.edu or 503-594-1698

• Return to Campus policy

Over the next several weeks and months, as our communities stabilize from the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home restrictions are lifted, Clackamas Community College will begin to bring students, faculty, staff and visitors back onto our campuses.

The return of the college community back to our campuses will look very different from what we are used to. The mix of returning students, faculty, staff and visitors will vary, and in some cases, a segment of the college community may continue to work and learn remotely. One thing is clear, however—the management of the process is without precedent and will require flexibility, cooperation and patience from all.

The Return to Campus guide incorporates direction from the State of Oregon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Clackamas County Public Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the World Health Organization (WHO), along with practices being followed by other institutions of higher education, government agencies, and private companies. CCC encourages all students, faculty, staff and visitors to follow OHA's and CDC's Public Guidance on COVID-19.

Employees may not come to campus if sick and must immediately report their illness to their supervisor. Students likewise may not come to campus if ill and should report their illness to their instructors.

Any person who starts to feel sick while on campus should immediately notify their instructor or supervisor and immediately go home.

Students, faculty, staff or visitors who develop or report primary COVID-19 symptoms:

• Should seek medical care and COVID-19 testing from their health provider or local public health authority.
• If the person has a positive COVID-19 viral (PCR) test, they should remain at home for at least 10 days after illness onset and 72 hours after fever is gone, without use of fever reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving.
• If the person has a negative viral test (and if they have multiple tests, all tests are negative), they should remain at home until 72 hours after fever is gone, without the use of fever reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving.
• If the person does not undergo COVID-19 testing, the person should remain at home until 72 hours after fever is gone, without the use of fever reducing medicine and other symptoms are improving.
• Any student, faculty, staff or visitor known to have been exposed to COVID-19 within the preceding 14 days should stay home and follow instructions from local public health authority.

If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.

Clackamas Community College has launched a new app to put COVID-19 news and resources at your fingertips. On the app you can:

• Take the daily wellness survey.
• Access resources.
• Contact College Safety.
• Report non-compliance issues.

How to get the app:

• Download the Rave Guardian app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Enter your phone number.
• Verify your phone number.
• Select COVID-19 for your location.
• Verify your contact information.
• Choose whether or not to get receive instant updates.
• Enable location-based alerts.

Student services are available remotely Monday-Thursday during summer term. CCC is closed Fridays from June 19 to Sept. 4.

See a full list of student services and contact information.

Until further notice, all CCC campuses are closed to the public. In an effort to take all prudent measures to protect the health and safety of the college community from COVID-19, all CCC buildings are officially closed to the public and events are canceled.

As the college slowly re-opens this fall, it will reduce the number of participants for all events both internal and external. Event spaces should be prepared as follows:

• Require fixed setup to ensure minimal contact of furniture by multiple people.
• Provide hand sanitizing stations at entrances and exits.
• Provide cleaning wipes for media cart and require each user to wipe keyboard and other touchable surfaces before and after each use.
• Provide larger spaces for groups depending on expected number of participants, ensuring six-foot distance between each person.
• Face masks are required to enter buildings.

For more information or questions, contact Events and Conference Services at events@clackamas.edu.

Requests to utilize campus facilities must fit in one of three categories:

• Internal events (student-focused events, internal meetings and events like in-service, athletics, fundraisers, music festivals, theater, etc.).
• Sponsored events (High School Partnership events, CTE events, veteran support groups, Clackamas Fire, tree school, etc.).
• External events (organizations/individuals renting our facilities).

Requesters must complete the following prior to using campus facilities:

• Internal events: CCC Return to Campus Request form.
• Sponsored events: Sponsored Event Reservation Request form.
• External events: Hosted Event Reservation Request form.

The following will then be considered:

• Current county risk level (low, moderate, high, extreme):
  
  • High or extreme risk:
    
    • Internal event requests (participants only) approved on case-by-case basis.
    • No sponsored or external requests will be considered.
  • Low or moderate risk:
    
    • Internal events with attendees will be considered based on occupancy rates and other guidelines set by OHA.
    • Sponsored and external events with attendees will be considered based on occupancy rates and other guidelines set by OHA AND:
      
      • Priority for space is given to student-related instruction and activities;
      • Appropriate staffing levels at building/campus location must be available. Priority for sponsored events before external events;
      • All external event requests will follow established Facility Use Fee structure;
      • Any event canceled due to COVID-19 will be refunded.
• Number of activities/events already scheduled at each campus location:
  
  • If all criteria are met, the review team will determine whether there is capacity/allowable occupancy to hold an event on campus (determined by how many other activities and the number of people already scheduled). If approved, scheduling will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis as campus occupancy/activity level allows.

Dear CCC community,

Late last week, Governor Brown announced the lifting of COVID-19 mandates when the state reaches a 70% vaccination rate or June 30, whichever came first. This means the removal of mask mandates, social distancing requirements, and capacity limits, with a few federal restrictions. While this is hopeful news for the state, we need some time to learn what this means for CCC.

Currently, the college is enforcing wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and limiting room capacities, as per our Return to Campus Plan. The college’s Return to Campus Task Force has been discussing the merits and challenges of continuing to enforce the current Return to Campus guidelines and whether changes need to be made. 

The college is working with our local health authority to review CDC recommendations, with the goal of determining the best course to ensure the safety of our students and employees.  A determination will be made during the week of July 5 regarding changes to requirements in our current Return to Campus guidelines.  

Clackamas Community College is striving to be deliberate, thoughtful, and reflective while making informed recommendations and decisions as we carefully start to re-open and bring more people back to our classrooms and our campuses.

David Plotkin and Tara Sprehe

Co-chairs, Return to Campus Task Force

Good morning,

As we head into summer and fall registration, I want to share an update on our Return to Campus work. Based on what we currently know, we plan to offer the majority of our courses online this summer. This fall, we are planning a gradual return to campus, with more classes being offered in-person and an increase of in-person student services. However, we acknowledge that we may need to adapt based on the number of COVID-19 cases and vaccinations, along with recommendations from the CDC and area health authorities.  

The college has a Return to Campus Task Force focusing on topics such as academics, students, employees, facilities/safety, and technology. The purpose of the group is to modify, as needed, the existing Return to Campus Guide as we gradually increase the occupancy of our campus locations. They are also listening and responding to the campus community regarding questions about re-opening and ensuring concerns are being addressed.

I know many of you are anxious to return to the classroom and learn in person with your peers and our instructors. I ask for your continued patience as the health and safety of our students are of the utmost importance to us.

As conditions change, we will continue to update and modify the www.clackamas.edu/return-to-campus page and the www.clackamas.edu/student-resources page. 

Be well,

Good afternoon,

As cases of COVID-19 continue to surge across the state, Gov. Brown announced last week a two-week freeze starting Wednesday, Nov. 18, and ending Dec. 2.

Some of the freezes include:

•     Limiting social get-togethers to no more than six people
•     Limiting restaurants and bars to take-out and delivery only
•     Closing gyms and fitness organizations
•     Limiting grocery stores and retail stores to 75% capacity

What does this mean for Clackamas Community College? There are no direct impacts to colleges in the governor’s two-week freeze. Classes being held in person will continue as scheduled, and all other online classes and virtual student services will continue. Athletics is currently on hold for two weeks due to a confirmed COVID-19 case.

Reminder, if you have a class on campus, you must complete the COVID-19 Daily Self-Health Checklist prior to coming on campus. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, contact your instructor(s) or College Safety at 503-594-6650.

If you have any questions about the status of your classes, please contact your instructor(s). For up-to-date information about COVID-19 and CCC, visit www.clackamas.edu/return-to-campus. For student resources, visit www.clackamas.edu/student-resources.

Also, I ask that you continue to wash your hands, wear a mask, and watch your distance.

Stay safe and be well,

I hope this message finds you safe and well. I know this year has been challenging for most of us, but I want to commend you for making your education a priority and attending Clackamas Community College.

We know the recent wildfires have impacted the college community. Many of you have had to evacuate, were prepared to evacuate, or are caring for and housing others who have evacuated. The poor air quality resulting from the fires is also having a negative impact on the livability of our community.

To allow time for you to recover from the wildfires, Clackamas Community College is canceling the first week of fall term classes. This means that all classes will now begin on Monday, Oct. 5. The term will end at its current date, Dec. 12. If you have a question about how the delay of fall term impacts your class or schedule, please reach out directly to your instructors.

Important dates to know:

• Oct. 5 – First day of classes
• Oct. 11 – Last day to drop a class with a refund
• Oct. 11 – Automatic withdrawal date for students who have not attended class, signed into Moodle, or spoken with their instructors.
• Oct. 12 – Disbursement of financial aid will begin
• Nov. 6 – Last day to drop classes and not receive a grade
• Nov. 6 – Last day to submit petition for graduation
• Dec. 4 – Last day to change grading option

Good afternoon,

For the last two months, a CCC Return to Campus Work Group has been developing a plan for the college to slowly and safely return to campus when it is safe to do so. As part of this work, we have created a new Return to Campus webpage (www.clackamas.edu/return-to-campus) and a new COVID-19 Student Resources webpage (www.clackamas.edu/student-resources).

On the Return to Campus page you will find information on our current status, safety guidelines and information, and our DRAFT Return to Campus plan. On the Student Resources page there is information on emergency funding, Chromebook checkouts, online learning resources, and other helpful resources.

CCC's Return to Campus plan was developed using guidelines from the Governor's Office, the Oregon Health Authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), OSHA, and best practices from other colleges and universities. The plan covers the logistics of how we will re-open the college, including:

• Preparing work and student environments
• Safety and hygiene
• Personal protective equipment
• Compliance and enforcement
• Health monitoring
• Daily self-health checklist
• Occupancy guidelines
• Safety plan worksheets

CCC has also launched a new app to put COVID-19 news and resources at your fingertips. On the app you can:

• Take the daily wellness survey.
• Access resources.
• Contact College Safety.
• Report non-compliance issues.

How to get the app:

• Download the Rave Guardian app from the Apple Store or Google Play.
• Enter your phone number.
• Verify your phone number.
• Select COVID-19 for your location.
• Verify your contact information.
• Choose whether or not to get receive instant updates.
• Enable location-based alerts.

Though CCC plans to remain online through fall term, we are working to return some classes to campus that cannot be taught online. We will update our website and continue to communicate with you as we progress toward fall term. The safety of our students, employees, and the community is of the upmost importance to the college. I ask that you do your part to keep our community safe by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and watching your distance. Take care and stay well.

Kind regards,

President Tim Cook

COVID-19 update

Last week the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) and the Oregon Health Authority released guidelines for resuming in-person higher education activities. As of June 14, Clackamas Community College is allowed in-person instruction if we can meet the minimum COVID-19 public health standards.

Please know that we are not opening all our buildings and resuming all classes in person this summer or even this fall. The college’s Returning to Campus Work Group is working on a plan to safely re-open in stages.

• Oregon Health Authority Guidance for the Conduct of In-Person Instructional, Residential, and Research Activities at Oregon Colleges and Universities

It is expected our plan will continue to evolve and change as our state’s response to the pandemic changes. We are also working on a “Returning to Campus” webpage, which we will keep updated as we progress on our work.

Stay well and be safe.

Kind regards,

Message to CCC students about the extension of online learning through fall term

This Friday we will start to see some openings across the state amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, we still do not know when Clackamas County will begin to reopen and to what degree. Because of this, we have decided to move fall term online, with some exceptions for particular programs.

As a reminder, the date fall registration opens was moved to June 1 to allow more time for faculty to plan for classes and for us to better define which classes are remote and which ones are online. “Remote” means classes will be taught at a set time and day each week, and “online” means there is no dedicated time and day to meet as a class.

The decision to remain online is not an easy one as we would like to open our doors and see our campuses filled with students, staff, and faculty again. But we want to provide as much certainty as we can to you now, so you can plan for the fall. If businesses start to open up more over the summer and rules for social distancing are loosened, we may be able to offer face-to-face classes. We will be closely monitoring this.

Your safety is of the upmost importance to me. We have a team that is planning how we can safely open the college when the time is right (even if we are not having face-to-face classes) so we can serve students in person.

COVID-19 and related shutdowns are becoming much longer than many of us anticipated and hoped. Many of you are tired. Many of you are frustrated. And, I think all of us would like this to be over. I want to ensure that CCC is here for you. We are dedicated to your education and together, we will get through this.

Kind regards,

Dr. Tim Cook

President, Clackamas Community College

Message to CCC students about the extension of online learning

I hope you and your families are doing well and staying healthy. Our landscape continues to change regarding the state’s response to COVID-19.

On April 7, Gov. Brown announced we are to teach online through June 13 and limit the number of people on campus through June 13. This means our buildings will remain closed to the public and everyone except critical employees will remain working from home through spring term.

Since Clackamas Community College has already committed to be fully online spring term, there are no changes to your courses this term. However, in light of this news and the likelihood of another extension, we will offer online learning through summer term. This means all courses where possible will be held online this summer.

While this is not the news we were hoping to hear, I know that it is for the good of our community. This is a stressful time for all of us and the uncertainty of when we can resume classes in person may be causing additional anxiety. Please know that our student services are still here for you. Whether you need help with advising, would like to talk with a counselor, or need tutoring assistance, those resources are all available remotely.

I miss seeing you all on campus, and I miss being on our beautiful campuses. Thank you for your continued adaptability and dedication to your education at CCC. Stay strong, stay safe.

For more information regarding our COVID-19 response and resources, visit www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus.

Dr. Tim Cook

President, Clackamas Community College

Message to students on rescheduled graduation ceremonies

At Clackamas Community College, our commencement ceremonies are joyous events. It is a time we get to celebrate your accomplishments with your friends and families. We get to see the pride in your faces as you cross the stage. We get to see the hugs you share with loved ones after the ceremony. We get to honor the friendships you built with your peers and the mentorships you developed with instructors.

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you today to let you know that both CCC’s 2020 GED/adult high school diploma and our degree and certificate commencement ceremonies scheduled for June 11 and 12 are postponed until a later date.

Given the advice of public health officials, the restrictions put in place by state authorities, and our own sense of obligation to safeguard the health of our community, it is impossible to imagine we could or should hold commencement this spring.

Be assured, however, that once we are on the other side of this difficult and extraordinary time, we will find a way to hold commencement and properly recognize the Class of 2020 with all the pomp and circumstance you deserve. We will be seeking your input on how commencement will be delivered and when.

Though we cannot go forward with our physical gathering in June, I want you all to mark the commencement dates on your calendars (June 11 for GED/adult high school diploma ceremony and June 12 for the degree and certificate ceremony). We will be looking for special ways to celebrate you and the Class of 2020 on those days.

I also want to assure you that, yes, for all eligible graduates, degrees will be conferred! If you are planning on completing your degree/certificate during spring term, please go online and Petition for Graduation by May 17. For those who petition to graduate, you will still receive your diplomas in the mail, and you will still be proud Clackamas Community College graduates.

While we need to delay this year’s celebrations, what does not need to be postponed is our pride in what you have accomplished. And when we do convene to celebrate the Class of 2020, it will come with an added dose of praise and congratulations for the tremendous resiliency our students have shown in the face of great adversity.

Thank you again for the flexibility and resolve that you have demonstrated over the past few weeks as we have adjusted to our new, current realities. I emphasize current, because I know that we – as individuals, as Cougars, as a community – will get through this. And we will have your commencement. Go, Cougars!

Dr. Tim Cook

President, Clackamas Community College

Message to CCC students on the extension of online classes

Firstly, I want to commend you for prioritizing your education during this stressful time as we continue to attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Secondly, I want to thank you for your flexibility and adaptability as we enter spring term. We have all been asked to change how we interact with each other and how we navigate this world.

With a COVID-19 state mandate to move classes online through April 28, Clackamas Community College students have shown great resiliency. To create some stability for our students, as well as our staff and faculty, during these unprecedented times, we have decided to extend all online courses through the end of spring term.

This means that if you have a class starting online next week, it will remain online through all of spring term. The few health sciences classes that have in-person components will continue to offer those components in-person.

The good news is that our instructors have been planning for this scenario. They are well prepared to help you succeed in your classes. Our student services teams are also ready to assist you through the term with remote advising and tutoring.

For resources on how to learn online, visit https://online.clackamas.edu. Please continue to check our www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus page for updates and resources. Together, we will get through this.

Dr. Tim Cook,
President, Clackamas Community College

Message to CCC students about spring term fees and deadlines

Clackamas Community College recognizes the many challenges our students are facing because of the impacts of COVID-19. We are working to remove as many of those obstacles as we can for you. The following are some changes to fees and deadlines for the upcoming spring term:

• The college is waiving the $50 late registration.
• The $30 deferred payment fee for students who have balances at the end of the second week will also be waived.
• The deadline to drop and receive a refund has been extended to April 19.
• If you meet the prerequisites and a course is not full, you can register without instructor approval through April 5.
• If you are currently on a wait list or a course is full, you will need instructor permission to register.

Please know that Enrollment Services and Student Services staff members are available remotely in case you need our help. For more information about CCC’s response to COVID-19 and resources available to you, visit www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus.

Chris Sweet

Registrar, Clackamas Community College

Message to CCC students:

This spring we will be learning together online for the majority of CCC’s programs. For many of you, this will be your first time taking an online class and you might have some questions. We understand this may be a stressful time for you and family and learning a new way to attend class can be an additional concern. But we are here for you. We will take your phone calls, answer your emails, connect with you with video conferencing, and we even have live chat on our website.

Some previously scheduled spring term classes simply could not be moved online because of the nature of the coursework. For a list of canceled courses, visit www.clackamas.edu/canceled-courses. For information on our response to COVID-19 and available resources, please visit www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus.

Classes start April 6

As a reminder, all spring term classes start April 6. Classes currently noted as “online” in the schedule will remain online for the entirety of spring term. Courses that aren’t noted as “online” (for example, “hybrid” “MW or TTH”) will start as online and move to hybrid or face-to-face later in the term when it is appropriate to bring students back to campus.

Lastly, it came to our attention that a number of students may not have received the message I sent out last week, so here it is again in case you did see it. Stay safe and stay healthy.

Dr. Tim Cook
President, Clackamas Community College

Message to CCC students

Yesterday, Gov. Brown released an executive order directly impacting Clackamas Community College, mandating online instruction through April 28 and limiting on-campus operations effective tomorrow, March 21. These orders will have several impacts to students and our day-to-day functions.

What does this mean to your classes spring term?

• All spring term classes are canceled March 30-April 3. All classes will begin April 6.
• Classes currently noted as "online" on your schedule, will remain online for all of spring term.
• Courses that aren't noted as "online" (for example, "hybrid" or "MW or TTH") will start as online and move to hybrid or face-to-face later in the term if it is appropriate to bring students back to campus.
• Classes that cannot be moved online will be canceled by the end of the day Monday, March 23. Visit www.clackamas.edu/courses-registration for a list of canceled courses.
• Programs exempt from the mandate that will still be offered in person are:
  • Nursing
  • Nursing assistant
  • Clinical laboratory assistant
  • Medical assistant
  • Dental assistant
  • Emergency medical technician programs

Expect to hear from your instructor(s) with further details about your course(s).

How can you access student services

• All CCC buildings on the Wilsonville and Oregon City campuses will be closed through April 28.
• Chat live with our team at www.clackamas.edu/cougarconnect.
• To help you learn online, we have resources for you at online.clackamas.edu.
• We are offering one-on-one assistance via phone, email and video conferencing.

What if you don't have Wi-Fi or a computer?

• Some companies are now offering temporary aid. Visit our resource page for more information: www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus
• Students receiving federal financial aid can use their refund (after tuition and fees are paid) to purchase a laptop.

What won't change?

• Our high-quality education.
• Our small class sizes.
• Our caring staff and faculty.
• Our dedication to you and your success.

We understand this is a stressful and uncertain time for our students, and the information is changing rapidly. For general updates and resources, visit www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus. We will continue to update you as the situation changes.

We will certainly miss seeing you on all campus this April and are looking forward to when we can all meet again face to face. Until then, please take care of yourselves and your families.  Clackamas Cougars are strong and resilient, and we will navigate this all together.

Dr. Tim Cook

President, Clackamas Community College

Effective 1 p.m., March 17, all CCC campuses are closed to the public through April 5. In an effort to take all prudent measures to protect the health and safety of the college community as the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) accelerates, all CCC buildings are officially closed to all people, except active CCC students taking finals or conducting official college business and CCC employees. This closure includes family, friends and visitors of the community. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation.

Clackamas Community College Student Services Available Online

Following recommendations from the Oregon Health Authority, we recognize we need to support you fully and safely while also reducing potential exposure to COVID-19. Effective immediately, CCC will expand student support services via phone and email and begin moving individual advising and admission appointments to phone or video conference options (e.g., Zoom or Skype) wherever possible. Many important student activities, including applying for admission, registering for classes, and paying bills are already available at www.clackamas.edu and through the myClackamas student portal. Staff will assist you with how to access these services online as needed. See the contact list below for how to access each department.

Drop-in services may be limited as we move to serve more students virtually and as we practice social distancing* in all of our service areas. We also ask that students make appointments instead of waiting in lines. You can continue to expect great customer service from all of us at CCC during this time even as we adjust to these new conditions. We appreciate your patience as we work to serve your needs.

What is social distancing?

The Center for Disease Control defines social distancing as avoiding crowds and mass public gatherings, and when possible, maintaining a distance of a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (six) feet from others. Social distancing also means staying home when ill, avoiding contact with people who have symptoms of illness, and not shaking hands. For a complete overview and updates, please visit www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus.

Financial Aid & Important Deadlines

As of today, financial aid will disburse spring quarter as planned on March 27. The deadline to drop a course has been extended to April 19, and late registration and late payment fees are under review. The scholarship application deadline has been extended to April 30.

Contact Student Services: Access student services via phone, email, or online:

We understand these are challenging times and you may have a lot of questions. Your health and education and the health and safety of our staff is very important to us. As a reminder, if you are sick, stay home. Use one of the resources above and we will help you without you having to come to campus.

Additional Information:

I don't have internet access; what are my options?

As long as Clackamas remains open under modified operations, computer labs are available for students at the Oregon City campus. Students who do not have internet access can explore various temporary solutions. Some companies like Comcast may be offering temporary aid for those affected by the coronavirus but CCC cannot recommend any specific service.

I don't know how to use video conferencing; what are my options?

Clackamas is using Zoom as an online meeting space. Students who would like to use Zoom to manage their business at CCC can request to do so by contacting the CCC student services department at the contact information above. Students can sign up for Zoom for free with tutorials located here.

CCC students,

In an effort to protect the health of our students, those who are ill, have health issues or have other concerns regarding COVID-19, you are encouraged to not come to campus for finals this week. Please communicate with your instructors on how to meet any remaining course requirements. We will work to find ways for you to successfully complete your classes.

Clackamas Community College knows that the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) throughout Oregon is of concern to our students, staff and community. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy educational environment, but recognize the way we provide service needs to shift in response to recommendations from the governor, the Oregon Health Authority, public health officials, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 

This morning, the state of Oregon released updated measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. CCC will follow the state’s recommended measures along with new guidelines from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Unless otherwise noted, the following guidelines are in effect immediately and will remain in effect until April 8, but will be evaluated and are subject to change and extension.

Academic calendar

• Finals will be held next week as scheduled.
• Classes are canceled the first week of spring term (March 30-April 3).
• Beginning April 6, where possible, classes will be shifted to remote/online learning (e.g., Moodle).
• Where online learning is not feasible (e.g., labs), class sizes will be limited or room sizes expanded to provide social distancing.
• We are urging instructors to be flexible in attendance policies and to consider accommodating reasonable concerns brought by students, especially those who are sick and/or are considered high risk.

What is social distancing? The CDC defines social distancing as avoiding crowds and mass public gatherings, and when possible, maintaining a distance of at least three feet from others. Social distancing also means staying home when ill, avoiding contact with people who have symptoms of illness and not shaking hands.

Community education

• Community education classes are canceled through April 8.
• All community education in senior centers canceled through spring term.

Campus operations

• College campuses and student services will remain open and operational.

Events

• All large gatherings over 250 people are canceled as mandated by the state.
• Audience admission is canceled at collegiate athletic events and activities, except for student participants, essential personnel and credentialed media.
• College-associated gatherings and group activities that do not allow for individuals to maintain a distance of three feet or more from one another will be canceled.
• The following events are being canceled (Note: This list doesn’t include everything.):
  • March 12 — NWAC basketball finals
  • March 12 — Vocal Jazz Festival
  • March 13 — Welcome Center groundbreaking
  • March 13-14 — Instrumental Jazz Festival
  • March 23-27 — Environmental Learning Center camps
  • April 16 — Skills Competition

Miscellaneous

• CCC is limiting all school-related non-essential travel, including in- and out-of-state.
• All non-essential meetings above 20 people are being limited.
• Offices will remain open, but minimally staffed.

We recognize implementing such measures may raise questions, and cause disruption and concern. We ask that you accommodate these changes in how we operate so we can provide as much service as possible during this challenging time. We are also asking that everyone take personal responsibility in making sure to frequently wash your hands with soap and lukewarm water, cover your cough/sneeze with a tissue or the inside of your elbow, and stay home if you are sick or have symptoms of illness.

We are dedicated to continuing essential academic operations and other services to support you, and we will continue to consult with local and state health authorities regarding any closure decisions. We will keep this webpage updated (www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus). Our priority is to provide you and our staff with a safe learning environment — this is the principle that guides all of our decisions. Thank you for your support, grace and sharing the responsibility for the health of our community.

Good Afternoon,

With concern about the COVID-19 virus growing throughout Oregon, we want to update you on the actions Clackamas Community College has taken so far to respond to concerns and to let you know there are no cases of coronavirus connected with members of the college community that we know of at this time.

On March 8, the Oregon Health Authority released a response for schools, recommending against schools and campuses closing where there are no cases of COVID-19 and to consider all other alternatives before closing if a COVID-19 case is detected among students, staff or faculty.

Taking this under advisement, we anticipate continuing to offer courses on campus, in a face-to-face format. We appreciate the challenge that comes from balancing student health and providing high-quality education.

We are urging instructors to be flexible in attendance policies and to consider accommodating reasonable concerns brought by students, especially those who are sick and/or are considered high risk. We are also working to prepare for the possibility of moving more classes to online formats. For those who may need to self-quarantine, please work with your instructor(s) about learning from home or other alternatives.

In addition, campus services are continually scaling up their cleaning, using EPA-approved products that are effective against COVID-19. Several times a day, staff are wiping touch points (door knobs, light switches, etc.) with these disinfectants to reduce the chance of contaminate spread.

We are actively in contact with local health departments and are following the guidance of the Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County Public Health Department.

If you do develop symptoms or feel sick:

• Stay home.
• Seek medical advice. Call your medical care facility before visiting to check if they have facility-specific precautions in place to protect other patients and employees.

Remember, COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t recognize race, nationality or ethnicity and neither should you. Stigmatizing specific groups doesn’t stop the spread of COVID-19.

To keep the college community informed, we have developed this webpage (www.clackamas.edu/coronavirus), which we will keep updated as more information comes or as the situation changes.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the CCC community healthy!

Good morning,

The coronavirus (COVID-19) officially made its way to Oregon last week. This message is to inform you that we are actively staying in contact with local health departments and there are no connections of any cases of coronavirus with Clackamas Community College at this time.

Campus Services has been wiping touch points with disinfecting wipes twice a day and using an electrostatic sprayer daily for the last few weeks and will continue to do so. They will also be installing permanent and freestanding hand sanitizers this week.

Students, faculty and staff with flu-like illness are asked to self-isolate at home until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Here’s some information from the Oregon Health Authority on what you can do:

There are things everyone can do to prepare for this virus and prevent the spread of other viruses like influenza. That’s because the same things that protect against cold and flu germs also prevent COVID-19.

To protect yourself, your family and your coworkers:

• Wash your hands often with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue, sleeve or elbow (not hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• Stay home if you are sick. 
• Keep your immune system strong by eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and regular exercise, and by taking care of underlying health conditions.

There are also basic steps every household should take to prepare for any unexpected event:

• Learn about your employer’s sick leave and telecommuting policies.
• Establish a childcare plan in the event your kids need to stay home from school.
• Make sure you have the kinds of foods, drinks, medications and pet supplies you would want if you needed to stay home and limit your contact with other people for a couple weeks.
• Get to know your neighbors, especially those who might need extra help like seniors or people living alone.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the Oregon Health Authority. As the spread/containment for the coronavirus evolves, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Oregon Health Authority, county health guidelines and the college’s pandemic procedures. We will also continue to keep you informed and supported.

For questions, please contact Public Information Officer Lori Hall at lori.hall@clackamas.edu.

Dear CCC Community,

On Monday, July 12, the college's Executive Team received and reviewed a list of recommendations from the Return to Campus Task Force on how we should respond to the governor lifting COVID-19 mandates.

The recommendations are:

• The college has reaffirmed its decision to not mandate vaccinations for students or employees.
• The college has and will continue to communicate to employees that questions to students or fellow employees about their vaccination status are not appropriate.
• The college will no longer mandate social distancing or mask-wearing for employees and students that have been vaccinated. However, those who are vaccinated may still wear a mask if they choose to do so.
• The college will ask those who are not vaccinated to continue to practice social distancing when possible and to wear a mask on campus.
• There will no longer be COVID-19 room capacity limitations.

After much discussion and consideration, the Executive Team decided they would like more input on these recommendations from the college community. Over the next two weeks, members of the task force will be meeting with association leaders and students. Additionally, we would like your feedback through this survey. Please respond by July 29 as the Executive Team will review all input on August 2.

As a reminder, there is no expectation for all employees to return to campus fall term. Those who have been working on campus (e.g., College Safety and Campus Services) will continue to do so, as well as those who have applied for and have been approved to work/teach on campus.

As we are being thoughtful and deliberate in reopening our campuses, we do not want to rush these decisions. As such, it is likely any changes will take place in mid-August at the earliest. We thank you for your continued patience and support.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to either of us, or submit a question or comment on the Return to Campus webpage.

David Plotkin and Tara Sprehe

Co-chairs, Return to Campus Task Force