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Posts Tagged COVID-19

Safe Return to Campus Town Hall Webinar on October 4, 2021

28 September 2021

Please join Interim Chancellor Dr. Jannett N. Jackson and her Cabinet team for a Town Hall meeting to discuss our Return to Campus “soft launch” plan.  This Town Hall session will take place on Monday, October 4, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am. Zoom details are below.
The meeting agenda will include:
  • Vaccination Policy Updates for Employees & Students
  • Return to Campus Planning for Classified Professionals
  • Campus Facilities Update
  • Campus Public Safety Update
  • HEERF3 Spending Plans
  • Time for Q&A

Students, employees, and community members are all cordially invited to attend.

When: Oct 4, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Town Hall: Safe Peralta Return to Campus

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84345764342pwd=NnhBZ29mRWMzR29oWWlQamRVc0JDdz09
Passcode: 393416
Or One tap mobile :
US: +13462487799,,84345764342#,,,,*393416# or +17207072699,,84345764342#,,,,*393416#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 720 707 2699 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 843 4576 4342
Passcode: 393416

The Town Hall meeting will be recorded and made available on the Peralta Colleges YouTube channel.

Filed under: Announcements. Tagged: , , ,

Chancellor’s Announcement – Back to Campus Update August 18, 2021

18 August 2021

August 18, 2021 

  

Dear Peralta Community,  

  

Thank you to all the faculty, staff, and administrators who are working so diligently to prepare for the fall semester that begins on Monday, August 23, 2021.  We’ve accomplished a lot to get ready and there’s still much to do.   

  

Vaccination Policy  

The PCCD Board of Trustees approved the first Bay Area community college district vaccination policy for students and employees, which we announced on August 5th. Employees, contractors, and students are required to show proof of vaccination (or a recent negative COVID test result) in order to be on campus. The draft administrative procedure regarding vaccinations has been posted on the Safe Peralta website and you can read it here.  We’ve also just posted the draft COVID-19 Prevention Plan.    

  

All of these documents and plans have been shared with leaders from all three collective bargaining units. We’ve met with the Peralta Federation of Teachers, and they have already indicated approval. We have met with IUOE Local 39 and they understand the policy and are not opposed. We have reached out to SEIU Local 1021 and hope to discuss with them shortly.   

  

Upcoming vaccination opportunities are posted on the Safe Peralta website. Free COVID testing for students is available at the Roots Clinic. We are investigating potential partners for on-campus testing service for students and employees.   

  

To aid with vaccination status tracking and campus access, employees should use Company Nurse online, a service offered by our insurance provider ASCIP. The screening and vaccination information submission form guide is available online at Safe Peralta.  Employees can start the process on the Company Nurse website here.   

  

Students and contractors should use the Campus Shield app. Campus Shield is available for both mobile devices and desktop computers but we recommend using the mobile app when visiting a campus. Once installed, use the COVID Health Assessment function within Campus Sheild to answer the screening questions for campus entry.   

  

We understand that many questions may come up regarding the vaccination policy.  Please send your questions to Human Resources at hr@peralta.edu.  There are FAQs posted on the Safe Peralta website, for employees and for students, and we’ll be using your feedback to get these FAQs updated.    

  

Facilities  

In my August 10th Announcement with Vice Chancellor of General Services Atheria Smith, we provided a building cleaning schedule. With “Help from HPLE” (High Performance Learning Environments), the cleaning teams have made excellent progress.  As of last night, August 17, 2021, the buildings that were prioritized for cleaning at all four colleges and the District office have been cleaned, tested, passed the tests, and are ready for use.   

  • Following CDC guidelines, plumbing for our water supply has been flushed in order to prevent Legionella and other potential problems from water systems after a prolonged shutdown.   
  • HVAC systems have been examined and we are working through the list of things discovered during that examination including the changing of air filters.   
  • Signs for posting on campuses with information about indoor mask requirements and CDC recommendations for mitigating the spread of COVID are currently being printed. These will be posted on the campuses on Friday, August 20th.   

We will open with limits on August 23rd.  DGS, working closely with IT and Risk Management, is trying to standardize the entry process for all campuses. Berkeley City College will have a slightly different access procedure given the process for facial recognition and temperature-taking already in use there. We will share the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) with the Vice Presidents of Administrative Services at each of the campuses.  

  

Buildings prioritized for opening have been cleaned and tested. Marina Security will have patrol officers stationed at those building entrances to review COVID access credentials (Company Nurse for employees and Campus Shield for students and visitors).  Kiosks will be available at Laney, Merritt, and COA to help students and employees with access to Campus Shield and Company Nurse. These kiosks will be staffed from 7:30am to 8:30pm Monday through Friday, with additional time planned for weekend classes.  

  

All campuses will have security teams patrolling 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As always, if you need to report a security or safety concern, or need an escort from a campus location to the parking lot, you can call the Campus Public Safety dispatcher at (510) 466-7236.  

  

DGS will be providing daily updates as we continue to prepare for the limited opening on August 23rd. We will be posting those updates on https://safe.peralta.edu/.  

  

Flex Day  

Please join me on Thursday morning, August 19th, to kick off the district-wide Flex Day for professional development. I’ll be sharing more about my vision for our community and the need for “ubuntu” here at Peralta.  The morning session begins at 8:30am – please register for the opening session here.   

  

The situation with COVID-19 and the Delta variant is changing rapidly and we ask for your patience as we work to maintain a safe environment for students and employees.  Please visit https://safe.peralta.edu/ to keep up with the latest developments here at PCCD.  

  

Again, thank you all for your dedication in serving the students of the Peralta Community College District.   

  

Be Safe, and Stay Well,  

Jannett N. Jackson, PhD  

Interim Chancellor 

 

Filed under: Announcements, Peralta News. Tagged: , , , , ,

Campuses and District Office Remain Closed through Summer Semester

29 June 2020

Dear Peralta Community,

The Peralta Community College District college campuses and the district office will remain closed through August 2, 2020.  Personnel performing essential functions may be required to work on-site.

On June 18, 2020, the Alameda County Public Health Officer issued Health Officer Order No. 20-14a which extended Shelter in Place indefinitely. It has not been rescinded. We realize the open-ended nature of this order makes planning difficult and hope this update is helpful.

District continues remote service and work-from-home

Even with this revised order, the Peralta Community College District—including the College of Alameda, Berkeley City College, Laney College, Merritt College, and the District Office—will remain in remote service modality through the end of Summer 2020 semester (August 2, 2020).   Most classes and services will continue to be offered remotely, and most employees will continue to work from home, during that time frame.

It may be possible at a later date to restore limited campus operations under certain conditions. The District’s emergency operations team continues to assess conditions and develop plans based on the guidance in the health order and on institutional capacities. Any future changes in the District’s current operating model will be shared in advance.

Return to Campus Task Force

I have convened a Return to Campus Task Force to make recommendations on a safe transition back to work on the campuses and at the District Office.

Thank you to the custodians, groundskeepers, and engineers, who have been reporting to campus throughout the shelter in place orders and to the Administrators, Classified Professionals and Faculty who continue to demonstrate remarkable dedication to serving the community and meeting the mission.

We will continue to focus on keeping the community safe and supporting student educational needs during this time and into the future.

Take good care,

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Chancellor

Filed under: Uncategorized. Tagged: ,

College Campuses and District Office to remain closed through June 2020

27 March 2020

The Peralta Community College District college campuses and the district office will remain closed through June 30, 2020.  Personnel performing essential functions may be required to work on site.   

 

Classes that can be conducted remotely will resume on Monday, April 6, 2020. Faculty will continue the excellent work of converting face-to-face classes into remote instructional formats. Also, important student services will be provided remotely.  Classes and services that cannot be transitioned to a remote format will not be able to proceed until the campuses reopen.  We will continue to explore the possibility of resuming instruction of programs that prepare essential sector critical infrastructure workers identified in Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20 but cannot be converted to a remote modality.  

 

Thank you to the many administrators, faculty and staff who have been working tirelessly to transition on this unprecedented scale.   

 

I realize this is a difficult situation. We will do all we can to keep this community safe and support student educational needs, during this pandemic and into the future.  

 

Take good care, 

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Chancellor 

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News. Tagged: ,

COVID-19: March 20, 2020 Update from Chancellor Stanback Stroud

20 March 2020

Following Alameda County’s “Shelter-in-Place” order, Governor Newsom has now issued the same directive statewide.  The PCCD Emergency Management Team has been convening via Zoom every day to respond to the emergency and facilitate institutional and academic continuity.

I would like to thank those of you who have stepped up in support of the effort.  Your flexibility in these uncertain times has been invaluable as we navigate these paths. Your commitment and perseverance in service to students and the community is inspirational.

Please be reminded, all classes are canceled March 23-April 5, 2020. Remote instruction is scheduled to resume on April 6, 2020.

Over the next two weeks, faculty will continue the excellent work of converting face-to-face classes into remote instructional formats. Non-instructional faculty and staff will continue to provide important student services using remote formats.

Thank you to the many faculty and staff who have been working with us to transition on this unprecedented scale.  We will continue to disseminate information related to the many details that are being worked out in order to maintain institutional and academic continuity.

The health and safety of members of the Peralta community remains our top priority. We will continue to make sure our decisions are informed by the latest information from local, state, and national health authorities as well as the state chancellor’s office.

Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley has projected, based on data from the California Department of Public Health, that the need for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will continue well into June and perhaps beyond.   Vice Chancellor Siri Brown and her team, the college Vice Presidents of Instruction, the District and College Academic Senate leaders, Distance Education coordinators and leads are exploring options for laboratory, career education, and activity classes.  Thank you to the more than 35 science discipline faculty who participated in the Labster demonstration as they consider remote laboratory instruction.

We will continue to update you as the situation evolves. The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus.

Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.

Thank you for the incredible job you are doing as we respond to the emerging information.

Take good care,

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud, Chancellor

Filed under: Announcements, Peralta News. Tagged: ,

COVID-19 Update: Information For Students

18 March 2020

Dear Students,

As the majority of Peralta Colleges faculty (College of Alameda, Berkeley City College, Laney and Merritt College) prepare to transition their classes to a remote delivery format, please know that you have options and support during the challenging times we face with the COVID-19 public health crisis.  Note that this information applies to partial closure and full closure conditions for our college communities.

The latest information about COVID-19 at the Peralta District always available here: https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/

Classes Resume April 6, 2020

  • We are working hard to convert as many classes to a remote form of instruction by April 6th. The majority of the classes will be taught through “Canvas”. Canvas is the name of the online classroom software that is used at the Peralta Colleges. Prior to April 6th, faculty are receiving training, preparing to teach online and we are exploring ways to convert as many disciplines as possible to an online format.
  • For classes that CANNOT be moved to a remote form of instruction, you will receive notification with details and next steps before April 6th.

 

Student Support for Learning Online

  • Student Resources for Distance Education: Canvas https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/442
  • Low Cost Internet: https://foundationccc.org/What-We-Do/Student-Success/California-Connects
  • Comcast is offering 2 months free internet to low-income households https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19
  • Be sure to communicate with your faculty if you are not familiar with online learning or need additional support to be successful in the class
  • Make sure you check your Peralta email daily. To forward your Peralta email to your gmail or yahoo see here for instructions
  • Check your email daily so that you don’t miss communication from your instructors or other key announcements
  • We are working to increase our online accessibility and support for DSPS students who may have concerns about moving to remote forms of instruction. Please email your counselor and instructor with concerns

Online Tutoring

  • Peralta’s Online Learning Platform (Canvas) has free Online Tutoring that may help students be successful in the transition to online learning

Pass/No Pass Grading Option

Many classes can allow a student to change to a Pass/No Pass grade option. This may provide you with a sense of ease in this transition. Please contact your instructor(s) to see if this is an option for your course. Note that choosing this option may impact whether or not the UC or other 4-year colleges accept a course for transfer. It is recommended that you contact your counselor who can assist you in making this decision. For the current spring 2020 corona virus related emergency, this option may only be available for late start classes.

Excused Withdrawal

Our hope is that each student can successfully finish this semester. If not, please consider the following options and know that you can attend classes this summer and fall—enrollment begins April 6, 2020.

  • “Excused Withdrawal” (EW) occurs when a student is permitted to withdraw from a course(s) due to specific events beyond the control of the student affecting his or her ability to complete a course(s). This can include illness of the student or someone they care for (documentation is required). It can also include a student statement that they are unable to transition from a face-to-face class to an online learning format
  • Excused withdrawals are not counted in progress probation and dismissal calculations.
  • Excused withdrawals are not counted toward the permitted number of withdrawals or counted as an enrollment attempt
  • Excused withdrawals do not result as F grades on student transcripts. Instead an “EW” will be on the students’ permanent record and transcript

Incomplete Grade:

Incomplete Grades (I) may be provided to students where faculty agree and if you have successfully (C or better) completed this class by (2/3 or 75% of the semester).  If the faculty agrees to give an I grade, there is a form that must be completed and signed by the faculty and student. The form must describe what course work the student is to complete to replace the I grade with a final course grade. An I grade allows students one year to complete the work. Remember, that not all faculty can or will agree to give an I grade.

Waiving of Some Financial Aid Regulations

The federal government has relaxed Financial Aid penalties in light of the COVID-19 health crisis. Absence and a decrease in units due to illness and/or COVID-19 related issues might not negatively impact a students’ financial aid. For more information or for questions about your particular situation, please go to the financial aid office at your college. More information is also here.

Graduation and Transfer

More information will be sent about alternative formats for graduation ceremonies and the impact of the emergency on students seeking to transfer this fall.

For additional information on any of the above items, please email Dr. Siri Brown, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, at sbrown@peralta.edu.

Filed under: Announcements, Peralta News. Tagged: , ,

COVID-19 Update: Classes cancelled to April 6, 2020

16 March 2020

In light of the “shelter in place” directive issued earlier today by Alameda County, all classes at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, and Merritt College are cancelled from March 23, 2020 to April 6, 2020. All four college campuses as well as the District office, currently closed for Spring Break, will continue to be closed to April 6, 2020.

All employees will continue to work remotely while the college campuses and district offices are closed. Employees (including student workers) will maintain their respective schedule and continue to be paid during this time.

Additionally, travel on behalf of the district is now suspended, including previously approved travel plans.

Services for students will be available following Spring Break, beginning on March 23 through the April 6 campus closure period, but are offered online and not via in-person contact.

The health and safety of members of the Peralta community remains our top priority. Peralta Community College District will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are always available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/. Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.

Thank you for the incredible job you are doing as we respond to the emerging information.

If you have questions, please contact Mark Johnson at markjohnson@peralta.edu.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News. Tagged: ,

COVID-19 Update: Campuses Closed March 14-21, 2020

13 March 2020

A Message from Chancellor Regina Stanback Stroud to the Peralta Community:

Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, and the District office will be closed starting tomorrow, Saturday March 14, 2020 through Saturday, March 21, 2020.  All employees are asked to work remotely while the college campuses and district offices are closed. All employees (including student workers) will maintain their respective schedule and continue to be paid during this time. 

 

I recognize that there are some jobs that cannot be done remotely. If this applies to you, please contact your manager promptly for guidance and instruction. 

 

Student services will continue to be available remotely (online or via telephone) during the campus closures. 

 

The health and safety of members of the Peralta community remains our top priority. Peralta Community College District will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

 

The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are always available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/. Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community. 

 

Thank you for the incredible job you are doing as we respond to the emerging information.  

A PDF version of this announcement is available here.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News. Tagged: ,

COVID-19 Update: Spring Break Moved to March 16-21, 2020

11 March 2020

At an Emergency Meeting on March 11, 2020, the Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees voted to approve the following changes to the academic calendar:

  • Spring Break (originally scheduled as the week of April 13-18) has been moved to the week of March 16-21, 2020.
  • Flex Day (a faculty training day originally scheduled March 19, 2020) will now be held on Monday, March 30, 2020.

These changes, made with appreciated support of the Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT), are a response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) intended to increase social distancing and better protect our community.

Yesterday, on March 10, 2020, Chancellor Regina Stanback Stroud announced that face-to-Face classes at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College are cancelled on Wednesday, March 11, Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2020.

Cancelling classes March 11-14 allows instructional faculty to attend trainings offered at their respective college and evaluate optional resources for potentially transitioning their classes to remote forms of instruction as needed. College administration will communicate times and locations for trainings.

The health and safety of members of the Peralta Community remains our top priority. PCCD will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Faculty opting to use remote forms of instruction will begin doing so following Spring Break on Monday, March 23, 2020, and continue through Saturday, April 4, 2020 (faculty may continue to teach face-to-face, however, we strongly encourage faculty who can opt to use remote forms of instruction to do so).

Resources for faculty regarding remote methods of instruction are available at:

Resources for students regarding preparation for online and hybrid classes are available at https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/442.

Please note:  The Colleges and District Offices will remain open.  Administration and staff are expected to report to work unless they are ill. The aim of this approach is to maintain academic continuity and proactively take steps to protect the community by reducing the number of people gathered in public spaces.

The latest updates from Peralta regarding COVID-19 are always available at https://web.peralta.edu/health-services/coronavirus/. Peralta serves a diverse community of learners and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming environment of belonging. Please treat each other with respect and kindness in these challenging times. You are all important members of our community.

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, Board of Trustees, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News, Press Release. Tagged: , ,

COVID-19 Update – March 10, 2020

11 March 2020

Face-to-Face classes at Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College and Merritt College are cancelled on Wednesday, March 11, Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, 2020.  

 

Cancelling classes on the above stated dates will allow instructional faculty to attend trainings offered at their respective college and evaluate optional resources for potentially transitioning their classes to remote forms of instruction as needed. College administration will communicate times and locations for trainings.   

 

The health and safety of members of the Peralta Community College District (PCCD) continue to be our top priority. Information regarding COVID-19 is rapidly evolving.  PCCD will continue to follow the guidelines and best practices for institutions of higher education as recommended by the Alameda County Public Health Department, the California Department of Public Health, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

 

The PCCD Board of Trustees has scheduled an Emergency Meeting on Wednesday, March 10, 2020 to consider recommended changes to the academic calendar.  The  

Chancellor recommends:  

  • the scheduled Spring Break during the week of April 13-17 be moved to the week of March 16-20, 2020.   
  • the scheduled March 19, 2020 Flex Day be changed to Monday, March 30, 2020.  

 

Faculty opting to use remote forms of instruction will begin doing so on Monday, March 23, 2020, and continue through Saturday, April 4, 2020 (faculty may continue to teach face-to-face, however, we strongly encourage faculty who can opt to use remote forms of instruction to do so). 

 

Resources for faculty regarding remote methods of instruction are available at: 

 

Resources for students regarding preparation for online and hybrid classes are available at https://peralta.instructure.com/courses/442. 

   

Please note:  The Colleges and District Offices will remain open.  Administration and staff are expected to report to work unless they are ill. The aim of this approach is to maintain academic continuity and proactively take steps to protect the community by reducing the number of people gathered in public spaces.    

 

We will continue to update you.    

 

 

Filed under: Announcements, Berkeley City College, College of Alameda, Laney College, Merritt College, Peralta News, Uncategorized. Tagged: ,

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