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Elliott: Why Central Arizona College campuses will be fully online beginning March 25

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Central Arizona College has been closely monitoring Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have provided several updates during the last several days regarding the situation, including actions taken by the college.

Please remember that most people who get COVID-19 have very mild or no symptoms and most recover on their own. Those at higher risk are older adults and people with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.

Central Arizona College has no confirmed cases, but Pinal County has five confirmed cases (all from the same family) of COVID-19. However, our concern is and always will be the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

Spring break begins this week. And, to mitigate and slow the potential spread of the virus and to help protect the college community following spring break, the college will be closed the week of March 23-27 to allow for extended social distancing and to allow faculty additional time to migrate courses to an online format.

Courses will resume fully online

Beginning Wednesday, March 25, all instruction not already online will resume as fully online courses for the remainder of the semester. Students in programs requiring lab components will receive instructions from faculty teaching those courses on or before Wednesday, March 25.

Students who may need access to technology should monitor the college website for information about hours and access to services such as borrowing laptops.

Students should direct questions to instructors, and faculty should direct questions to their dean.

Campus housing

Students who reside on campus are strongly encouraged to refrain from returning to campus given they have suitable alternative living arrangements. These student are welcome to return to campus briefly to collect belongings.

Students who live on campus who do not have a suitable alternative should return to campus. Residence halls and food service will be open to support students.

For students living in housing, residential life staff will communicate the process for collecting personal items and for returning after spring break.

Events

All events of 50 or more will be postponed or canceled. Event organizers will provide updates regarding new dates or cancellations.

Athletics

The National Junior College Athletic Association has suspended all athletic competitions until April 6.

Employees

Hourly, part-time and student employees should submit a time sheet for hours that would have been regularly worked during the week of March 23-27. Employees are not expected to take sick leave or vacation time for the closure. All employees will be compensated as normal.

It is understood that some employees may have essential functions that must be administered on campus during the week of March 23-27, and these employees are encouraged to work with their direct supervisor.

Ongoing communication

Because this situation changes daily, please continue to monitor email, Facebook and the College’s website, centralaz.edu.

All official college communication from the administration will be directed through the division of public relations. Decisions will be based solely on official reports from the CDC, the Arizona Department of Health Services, and the Pinal County Health Department.

Jackie Elliott, Ed.D.
President/CEO
Central Arizona College

Editor's note: The above notice sent late Sunday evening, March 15, to Central Arizona College staff and students.