By Mackenzie Gregory and
The Scene staff
The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on schools, businesses, hospitals, governments and organizations throughout the United States, and St. Louis Community College is no exception.
The biggest changes began on March 13, when STLCC decided to extend spring break from one week to two.Five days later, officials announced that courses would go online March 30 so students could practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, a respiratory illness that has been declared a pandemic.
Commencement and other activities are being postponed. “Non-essential onsite employees” will work from home.
The college has created a page on its website for coronavirus-related information and updates at https://stlcc.edu/messages HYPERLINK “https://stlcc.edu/messages/covid-19.aspx“/ HYPERLINK “https://stlcc.edu/messages/covid-19.aspx“covid-19.aspx. Also, people with additional questions can call a hotline at 314-539-5113.
Below is a timeline of the college’s COVID-19 warnings and announcements, but it omits information that later became obsolete because of changes in decision-making (or at least makes note of the changes):
March 10
Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Andrew Langrehr sends an email to employees with safety information regarding coronavirus following news of the first COVID-19 diagnosis in the St. Louis region.
“The College’s first priority is the health and safety of everyone in our community – our students, our faculty and our staff,” he writes. “We are working to proactively address a rapidly changing situation.”
Langrehr suggests that anyone with fever or respiratory symptoms consult the U.S. Centers for Disease Control website at https://www.cdc.gov. He asks employees to contact supervisors in case of illness and be understanding if students decide to self-quarantine.
Langrehr also gives a laundry list of instructions on how employees could begin preparing for changes in college operations, including a possible switch to online courses. (That switch later became a reality.)
March 12
Chancellor Jeff Pittman cancels STLCC’s Staff Development Day scheduled for March 17 and instructs employees to work in their normal locations. (That is no longer the case.)
The college creates a web page for coronavirus-related information and updates at https://stlcc.edu/messages/covid-19.aspx and sends emails to students on the subject of COVID-19’s effect on the college.
March 13
Langrehr announces that spring break will be extended to a second week, continuing through March 27.
“This move is an effort to keep large groups of people from congregating in order to stem the spread of COVID-19,” he writes. “This step also is based on thoughtful feedback from faculty and staff that some time will be needed after our scheduled spring break to move course material into an online format and to get training on Blackboard and Collaborate.”
Langrehr also sends employees an Online Education training document to help them with this process so students can “engage in most of our courses again on March 30.”
Students and faculty are asked to fill out questionnaires to help with college planning.
March 17
The online Forest Park employee newsletter lets people know that STLCC is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation, including potential exposure issues and how the pandemic may impact students, faculty and staff.
“Please assure your students that the College is focused on this concern and is working diligently and will keep everyone informed,” it states. “Be mindful that this is an evolving, rapidly changing situation. We want to provide solid information, as well as provide guidance to faculty and staff to help our students and ensure learning outcomes.”
People on campus are asked to wash their hands upon entering buildings. Those who notice areas that need attention should contact the Facilities department at 314-644-9153 or email fixit@stlcc.edu.
The newsletter states that STLCC hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from March 17-27 on all campuses with normal hours resuming on March 30. (That is no longer the case.)
Finally, the newsletter announces that STLCC Night with the St. Louis Blues watch party on March 24 at the Enterprise Center has been canceled.
“Full refunds will be processed automatically and all ticket holders will receive an email,” it states.
Also on March 17, Jo-Ann Digman, executive director of the STLCC Foundation, announces that the foundation canceled Employee Giving Appreciation Game Night on March 31 and postponed An Evening with Mark Weber and Friends on April 2 and Bowling for Scholars fundraiser on April 3.
March 18
Pittman informs the STLCC community of five major decisions:
- Spring commencement in May is being postponed because of CDC recommendations that gatherings be limited to 10 people to slow the spread of coronavirus.
- The college’s leadership team is compiling a list of “essential on-site employees” who will be designated to work on campus.
- STLCC is developing processes for other employees to temporarily work from home.
- Additional options for employee leave are being considered.
- Courses will be moved online March 30. Officials are looking at ways to deal with those with lab or studio components that can’t be handled online. They may have to be “paused.”
“Many difficult decisions are being made with careful thought, input and consideration,” Pittman writes. “Please know that all of these decisions are centered around preserving the health and safety of our College community. My heartfelt thanks go to all who are working through this uncertain and difficult time. Not only do I view these issues through the lens as chancellor, but also as a husband, father and neighbor.”
March 19
Forest Park President Julie Fickas announces that all entrances to the campus will remain locked, except those to the Student Center and Library.
“If you need to gain entrance to buildings that cannot be accessed through these entrances, please contact campus police at 314-513-4300,” she writes. “Thank you for your understanding.”
Also on March 19, Khouloud Hawasli, STLCC’s Information Technology Director of Enterprise Services and Operations, notifies employees that Skype Audio Conferencing has been enabled with their Skype for Business accounts.
This will allow them to “connect with co-workers or business partners, start conversations with instant messaging, make video calls and schedule meetings with up to 250 people.”
Also on March 19, Robin Phillips, STLCC associate vice chancellor for Human Resources, outlines Work from Home Guidelines that will be in effect through April 17 for most faculty and staff.
Plans call for all employees, whether full- or part-time, to continue receiving regular paychecks.
“The College has designated a limited number of individuals as essential onsite employees,” Phillips writes. “Those employees have been notified by their supervisor about when and if they need to report to a physical work location.
“All other employees should be working from home, and your supervisors will be in touch about specific work assignments and expectations.”
People who need to come to campus and collect items may do so from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 23 and 24 and 8 a.m. to noon March 25. Non-essential-onsite employees who want to enter buildings briefly at other times need advance approval.
March 20
STLCC announces that the Child Development Laboratory Center on the Florissant Valley campus will reopen to parents on April 20, that the Forest Park dental clinic is closed until further notice, that Archers Market campus food pantries will reopen for students on April 20 and that campus food service will resume April 20.
March 22
Forest Park President Julie Fickas reminds employees to follow CDC guidelines at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019 HYPERLINK “https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html“- HYPERLINK “https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html“ncov/pr HYPERLINK “https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html” Keep up with STLCC coronavirus-related communications at https://www.stlcc.edu/messages/covid-19.aspx.
Fickas notes that she is practicing “social distancing” and will report to campus on a limited basis during the COVID-19 crisis.
“Please take care during this time,” she writes. “Remember that we are walking through something that has never occurred before and that no one in the world knows the best way to navigate. We can only do our very best each day and put one foot in front of the other as we move forward. We are teaching our students much more than discipline content as they watch us walk through this. Thank you, again, for all you do!”