Campus Updates

On Wednesday, June 24, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced that North Carolina would remain in Safer at Home Phase 2 until July 17. Governor Cooper also announced Executive Order 147 requiring face coverings when people are in public places as officials seek to stabilize concerning trends of increasing viral spread. Throughout the pandemic, Cleveland Community College has been and continues to be committed to adhering to all federal, state, and local guidance to help ensure the safety of our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.

Points to remember as we implement this requirement effective today, June 26 at 5 p.m.

• Where social distancing of at least six feet is not possible, masks are required in open public areas, indoors and outdoors, including classrooms.
• Please bring your own mask or other face covering to work or class. If you do not have a mask, please contact Allen Kniceley – HR, Safety, & Security Manager – at kniceleya@clevelandcc.edu or 704-669-4037.
• Employees are not required to wear face coverings if occupying their own office space alone.

This Executive Order includes exceptions that may pertain to you while on the CCC campus. Please review the exceptions (Sec. II, C, 1-11.) here https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO147-Phase-2-Extension.pdf

Please note also that people who decline to wear a face covering for these reasons will not be required to produce documentation or any other proof of a condition.

I encourage you to adhere to all guidance that we have previously provided, including:

• Do not come to work if you are sick
• Social distancing – maintain a distance of at least six feet, where possible, in all work and learning spaces
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer frequently throughout the day
• Adhere to campus and directional signage
• Please contact Human Resources if you have questions about leave benefits.
• Clean your workspaces and classrooms as directed (“wipe in/wipe out” procedures)

We will contact Summer Term students today to give them this information. We have also updated our COVID-19 Information Page so feel free to point your students or visitors there for the latest guidelines and requirements at www.clevelandcc.edu.

We know that COVID-19 is going to be part of our lives for the foreseeable future. Keeping that in mind, we are working hard to keep you informed with the decisions that affect you and your students. Thank you to everyone for the role you are playing in the critical work that we are doing and its benefit for our students and our communities. Thank you also for your patience as we work through these challenges.

Dear CCC Community,

Public Health officials have confirmed that a CCC employee and a student have tested positive for COVID-19. Both individuals are currently isolating at their respective homes. In compliance with the requirements of the Clery Act, the College is sending this Emergency Notification to the campus community.

We are not able to share their names or other identifying information for privacy reasons. But please rest assured that CCC’s Human Resources and professionals from the Cleveland County Health Department are working to notify anyone who may have had contact with the affected individuals.

As the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in North Carolina and around the country increase, the number of employees/students with COVID-19 on our campus may also increase. CCC has worked to reduce the density of our campus population to slow the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming local health care and other community systems. Courses have been transitioned to online delivery when possible, and many employees are teleworking. Both of these measures allow us to properly clean and disinfect our facilities.

The College will continue to follow the guidance of public health officials and infectious disease experts to the fullest extent possible to further reduce community transmission of the virus. Employees or students presenting symptoms of COVID-19 must immediately self-isolate. Anyone who develops symptoms is advised to call his/her primary care provider or local public health department for medical advice. Meanwhile, please continue to practice social distancing and/or wear a face covering per CDC guidelines.

The well-being of our campus community remains our highest priority. For more information on CCC’s response to coronavirus, please visit our website at clevelandcc.edu.

Since late March, when the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary for Cleveland Community College to shift as many classes as possible to virtual formats, I have been impressed by the dedication and superb teamwork that CCC students, faculty and staff have shown.  The College has remained open, transitioning courses to virtual formats, finishing the Spring semester strong, marking the graduation of the proud Class of 2020 and registering students for summer courses.

On May 8, Governor Roy Cooper announced Phase One of a gradual plan to ease restrictions.  As of today, this phase extends through Friday, May 22, at 5:00 p.m.  CCC is following the Phase One guidelines.

Our goal now is to move toward returning to our wonderful campus, where we can resume learning, training and working in person.  Once we receive an update from Gov. Cooper, CCC will provide information regarding its plan for returning to campus while ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.  In entering this new phase, all of us will need to continue working together and taking common-sense measures to safeguard ourselves and each other.

We expect an announcement about Phase Two from the Governor’s office today or tomorrow.  As soon as we have more details about the state’s Phase Two, CCC will provide an update about a return-to-campus plan.  Please stay tuned!

It’s hard to believe we are 12 days away from the end of the semester. I want to thank you for your hard work and perseverance during this unprecedented time. Many of you are nearing completion of your spring courses, and have done so while simultaneously serving as homeschool teacher and in some cases, caregiver for family members who are sick. Or, perhaps you are considered an essential worker and have completed your coursework while also faithfully serving on the front lines during this pandemic. Whatever your journey has looked like the past few weeks, I want you to know I am so proud of what you have accomplished.

While the 2020 spring term may not end with the typical graduation and pinning ceremonies we have grown accustomed to, one thing remains true…when this semester ends you will have accomplished an important piece of your academic journey. If you are completing a program or certificate this semester, I applaud you for your persistence and dedication, and I wish you success as you transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce. If you plan to enroll in the summer or fall terms, I encourage you to register for courses as you originally intended; I assure you our faculty are prepared to provide high-quality instruction regardless of delivery method, and our tutoring staff and CARE team members will be there to help you along the way.

Cleveland Community College is committed to helping you achieve your educational goals. Don’t lose sight of the finish line…May 11 will be here before you know it.

Stay healthy and safe.

Warm regards,

Jason Hurst, Ph.D.
President

We Hear You!

Over the past few weeks CCC has worked hard to stay connected with our amazing students. We love hearing from them about their victories as well as challenges. Our Care Team continues to reach out, answer questions, offer guidance and provide resources students may need to finish the Spring 2020 semester STRONG.

We send a big thank-you to all upcoming graduates who recently completed a survey from the Office of Student Affairs. A majority of those who responded said they want an in-person graduation ceremony. CCC will do its very best to make that happen.

Governor Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order runs through April 30. We do not yet know if it will be extended into May. In the meantime, we are moving forward with plans for summer semester. Registration is open, and advisors are working to help students stay on track.

Students, we hear you…and we are here to help you forge ahead! Stay tuned for more updates.

We can’t say this enough: we are here to help! Don’t give up on your goals. Contact your Care Team member if you need help with ANYTHING. Life has thrown us a curve, but together we will not just survive…but thrive. Now is a time for all of us to do something great for ourselves, each other and our community. Let’s do this! Together.

We are all feeling the stress of difficult circumstances. Students may feel extra pressures and strains. In response, CCC has created a Care Team to ensure we are doing all we can to ease students’ stress about their courses. Each of our students is assigned to a Care Team member who will contact the student each week. Our goal is to make sure our students have as much support as possible, whether it is help with classwork or resources available for your family. Our students and their success remain our top priority at CCC.

Cleveland Community College cares about the health and well-being of our community. As we all take precautions during this uncertain time, CCC remains focused on serving our students, industry partners and the larger community. The North Carolina Community College System office has recommended we implement the following practices:

• Effective March 23, campus will be closed to students and the public until further notice.
• Effective March 23, all employees able to telework will begin working from home until further notice.
• All shop classes, labs and clinicals are suspended until further notice.
• Continuing Education courses and Adult Basic Education, Adult High School and High School Equivalency classes/labs are suspended until further notice.
• Effective March 30, classes (excluding those listed above) will resume in an online format.

Based on the information currently available, the following changes are in effect:

• Spring break will extend through Sunday, March 29
• Classes will resume on Monday, March 30
  • All possible curriculum, CECHS, and CCP courses will transition to an online format
  • Students enrolled in shop and lab courses unable to be transitioned to an online format will be contacted with additional information prior to March 30
  • Continuing Education courses and College and Career Readiness (Adult High School) will resume as originally scheduled on March 30
• For more information, contact Student Affairs at 704-669-4081 or admissions@clevelandcc.edu

Plans are subject to change in this rapidly evolving situation. Please check for updates on a regular basis.

With the rapidly changing conditions of the coronavirus pandemic, CCC is adjusting schedules for all curriculum classes, workforce/continuing education classes, early college classes, and sponsored events.

• Spring Break will move to March 16 – 21.
• All employees will operate on a normal schedule until further notice.
• The college hours of operation will be 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday).

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.