Archived Messages
July 2020
July 17, 2020
As the situation with COVID–19 develops, we will continue to make proactive decisions that are grounded in providing services to our students, while also doing our part to help stop the spread of the virus. As such, South Louisiana Community College has opened a limited computer labs for student use.
- Lab space is limited to seven (7) students at a time.
- You will be asked to wait in your car if a space is not available or if you arrive too early for your reservation. You will not be permitted to stay in the building.
- Computer lab times can be scheduled in increments of one-hour. You will be limited to one visit per day.
- When you arrive, please let the computer room staff know if you are completing an exam.
- SLCC labs will be restricted to SLCC students only. Friends, family, and children will not be permitted in the lab or the building.
- SLCC will be following the CDC protocol of 6 feet between students and complete a cleaning of the computer, keyboard, mouse, and desk between each use.
- When you leave the lab, immediately wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds.
- You should complete a reservation to use the lab. Limited walk-in space will be available.
Given the dynamics of the virus, lab availability will be posted in two weeks increments and is subject to change.
Go here to book a time slot: Reservations.
July 9, 2020
SLCC is offering guidance to its international students in response to July 7, 2020, news release by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) guidelines posted on Monday July 6 modified the temporary exemptions related to the online study policy instituted for the spring and summer semesters.
For the Fall 2020 semester, international students cannot take classes solely online. SLCC has changed many of its fall courses to the HyFlex hybrid model which meets on-campus in classroom for specific day(s) and time, and the remainder of the course is completed online with set due dates. This option will allow our international students to continue their education at SLCC. Under the new guideline, students will be allowed to take more than one class or three credit hours online which was the previous limit for international students.
SLCC recently eliminated all out-of-state and international tuition and fees which furthers supports our many international students’ efforts at obtaining a quality, affordable education. In the 2019-2020 academic year SLCC had over students from 20 different countries around the world.
July 2, 2020
Greetings,
While SLCC remains in Phase Two of the COVID-19 Reopening Protocol, the college has made the decision to require everyone entering SLCC Buildings to wear a face mask.
The only edits are located under Phase Two as follows:
- Effective 7-08-2020, students are required to wear a mask to enter a building, obtain services, and to attend class.
- Effective 7-08-2020, all vendors, to include repair/service providers, must wear a mask to enter a building.
Cloth face coverings are an additional step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 when combined with every day preventive actions and social distancing in public settings. While a cloth face covering may not protect the wearer, it may keep the wearer from spreading the virus to others.
- Wear your Face Covering Correctly
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
- Put it over your nose and mouth
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
- Make sure you can breathe easily
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html
Let’s all do our part to stay healthy!
MAY 2020
May 18, 2020
SLCC re-established essential services at its campuses on Monday, May 18, 2020. To maintain proper safety protocols during Phase 1, campus staff are returning to offices in limited capacity and will continue to offer our full range of services to current and prospective students through phone, e-mail, chat features, and video calls.
All guests to campus will be required to have an appointment and to complete a screening questionnaire prior to entry. Summer 2020 courses will be taught in an online format.
Main contacts:
- Admissions admissions@solacc.edu
- Financial Aid financial_aid@solacc.edu
- Registrar registrar@solacc.edu
Campuses:
- Acadian (Crowley) acadian@solacc.edu
- C.B. Coreil (Ville Platte) cbcoreil@solacc.edu
- New Iberia newiberia@solacc.edu
- Lafayette admissions@solacc.edu
- T.H. Harris (Opelousas) thharris@solacc.edu
- Evangeline (St. Martinville) evangeline@solacc.edu
- Franklin franklin@solacc.edu
- Young Memorial (Morgan City) youngmemorial@solacc.edu
- Gulf Area (Abbeville) gulfarea@solacc.edu
May 6, 2020
Dear Students:
This is a follow-up from the previous email sent to you earlier this week about the CARES Act Student Emergency Grant. After reviewing the United States Department of Education’s (USDOE) guidelines, South Louisiana Community College has determined that the following students will be eligible to receive CARES Act Student Emergency Grants:
- students with active enrollment in a Title IV eligible program between March 1-31, 2020,
- students who filed a FAFSA no later than March 13, 2020, and
- students who were eligible to receive Title IV funds within the spring 2020 semester
Students in the following categories are NOT eligible to receive the emergency funds:
- students who are incarcerated,
- students who are cross-enrolled and whose “home institution” is a non-LCTCS college, and
- students who were enrolled only in online courses prior to March 1, 2020.
If you meet the eligibility requirements and were enrolled in two (2) or more LCTCS colleges during March 2020, the college with the most academic history (i.e., the college where you have earned the most credits) will award the funds. Students who fall into this category will receive one (1) payment.
South Louisiana Community College is currently finalizing the list of students that meet all eligibility requirements as outlined above. We want to carefully review all students to make sure that everyone that is eligible receives the funds. We appreciate your patience.
Currently, there is nothing for you to do. If you are eligible to receive funds, we will communicate directly with you through email. If you do not receive a follow-up email, it means you did not meet the USDOE’s eligibility requirements.
We have developed the attached Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) document to assist you in understanding the reasoning behind these eligibility requirements and how the funds will be distributed.
Please be sure to check your email daily for further communications regarding your eligibility for the CARES Act emergency financial aid grant.
Please stay safe, and we look forward to continuing to be your higher education institution of choice.
Sincerely,
SLCC Administration
May 4, 2020
Dear Students,
As a result of the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Congress approved the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). The CARES Act was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020. In efforts to stimulate the economy and to assist college students during this time, emergency financial aid grants have been allocated for students who meet strict eligibility guidelines as established by the United States Department of Education (USDOE).
Rest assured, we are working as quickly as possible to determine which students will receive funds based on the eligibility requirements as established by the USDOE. Currently, there is nothing for you to do. If you are eligible to receive funds, we will communicate directly with you through email. If you do not receive a follow-up email, it means you did not meet the USDOE’s eligibility requirements.
Please be sure to check your SLCC email regularly for further communications regarding your eligibility for the CARES Act emergency financial aid grant.
Please stay safe, and we look forward to continuing to be your higher education institution of choice.
Best Regards,
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
APRIL 2020
April 27, 2020
A Message from the Testing Center
To accommodate students needing to take the Accuplacer exam, SLCC's Testing Center is administering the test online. Testers must be able to access wifi and have a computer/laptop with a microphone and webcam. You will be required to scan your room and materials in your possession before starting the test.
Below is the process to register. Proctors are having to monitor one student testing at a time, so the number of slots is limited. Testers are advised to check ALL campuses for available slots. Below is the process to register for an ACCUPLACER exam:
www.solacc.edu/students/testing/index
Click on "ACCUPLACER"
Select the " I want to take the ACCUPLACER - What do I do now?"
Determine which exam(s) you need to take
►Technical Degree Students do not need ACCUPLACER
►Practical Nursing Applicants need Math, Writing, and Reading
►Associate Degree Students typically need Math and Writing
** If you have college credit in English or Math you may not need to take the ACCUPLACER.
Choose your testing location below
Acadian Campus
C.B. Coreil Campus
Evangeline Campus
Franklin Campus
Gulf Area Campus
Lafayette Campus
New Iberia Campus
T.H. Harris Campus
Young Memorial Campus
Complete the registration and payment sections
If you require special accommodations for testing you must submit an application to Disability Services two weeks prior to testing. For questions, contact the Testing Center at (337) 521-9031.
April 21, 2020
A Message from the Campus Bookstore ––
RENTAL ITEMS STILL MUST BE RETURNED. While the bookstore is currently closed, you can visit the bookstore website at slcclafayetteshop.com for information on how to safely return your rented textbooks, including options for shipping your rentals to the bookstore - visit the website for more information. We will announce guidelines for in-person return of your rented textbooks once we know more about a timeline for reopening the bookstore.
The SLCC Campus Bookstore will reopen as soon as it has been determined it is safe to do so.
The safety of our customers and associates is our top priority. Upon reopening, the bookstore will announce any additional social distancing measures we will be taking to ensure the safety of our customers and associates.
We will have more information about graduation sales and order pickup once we know more about a timeline for reopening.
We realize that without our students, there is no bookstore, and we appreciate your support. We understand how frustrating this has been for everyone, we miss you all and look forward to seeing you all again soon.
April 20, 2020
A Message from Admissions Regarding Registration
SLCC will begin registering incoming students for the Summer semester the week of April 23. Summer courses for incoming students will be offered in an online format. SLCC is offering two types of online courses for students to choose from: “synchronous” courses which meet at specific times using online meeting tools and “asynchronous” courses which allow students to login at times that work with their schedule. For more information about the differences between these two types of online formats, visit https://www.solacc.edu/academics/summer-2020-programs/distance-education-classes.
You will be assigned a date to register based on the date you were fully admitted. The date you are assigned will be the first date that you will be able to register for classes. Until that day, you will have an advisor hold on your account. You should check the email account used on your application for notification of your assigned registration date. Email notifications will begin on April 20, 2020, and they will continue throughout the summer enrollment period.
April 15, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I hope your week has been going well!
If you have been watching Governor Edwards' press conferences or reading the news, you can see there might be some light shining through our COVID-19 clouds. We are not out of the woods, and indeed the long term effects are expected well into 2021, but things do seem to be stabilizing a bit in LA.
My thanks to you all for continuing to be strong and positive for one another, our students, and our communities. My interactions with students are predominantly positive as they recognize we are all going through the same challenges they are facing. Thinking about the future health and economy of our state and one another has many people feeling anxious which is very understandable.
I had a habit of reading articles during the day between calls and video meetings and realized that without much else going on in the world, I was continuously reading about the negative effects of COVID-19. This week I realized this approach is really not good for my psyche. I recognize everyone is different, but for me, I need to give myself permission to "pause" and think about other things, not just the current pandemic. So, I have changed my routine a bit and am feeling a bit lighter. - let me know what is working for you!
Internally, SLCC keeps rolling along. Like all of higher ed we are trying to work through the details of what federal stimulus dollars mean for the college and our students. We are also monitoring guesses about the state budget situation. I say guesses because nothing official has been released, but there is a continued loss of revenue to the state (all states) from many sources and while the ultimate financial impact cannot be determined at this time, it is likely to be negative for organizations which receive state funding.
Fortunately, Everyday Excellence continues to move us forward in working with students interested in Summer and Fall courses and programs. We are still reviewing options for some sort of Spring "commencement" and remain flexible in terms of operations while we are still under Stay-At-Home orders. While the remainder of the K-12 school year has been canceled, no other announcements or dates related to other state systems have occurred.
It has been a pleasure this week to hear about the SLCC Foundation distributing aid to the 130 or so students who have found themselves needing significant assistance. (Thank you to the Safety and Security Officers for their help.) Hopefully, these students and others will also be able to benefit from the other sources of support in our community. If you scroll down the front page of our website you can see some of the places folks can call for additional help.
Thank you all for the outstanding work you continue to do every day. Make sure to take a break and walk in the sunshine when possible so you can take care of yourself and those around you.
Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
SLCC has made some adjustments to its summer schedule and we wanted to let you know about these adjustments. Find out about your program and any format changes for Summer 2020.
April 7, 2020
We cannot thank SLCC enough for its support! You guys are awesome! (Hospital CEO who received PPE from our labs.)
South Louisiana Community College will emerge from this stronger and unified. Now more than ever we are seeing our Standards of Practice and Everyday Excellence in action. (SLCC staff)
It has been such a blessing to see how our SLCC team has put our hearts and minds together to provide Everyday Excellence to our students and community. (SLCC faculty)
Dear SLCC Familly,
I wanted to share with you some of the positive that has grown out of the COVID-19 challenge. The quotes above are just a few of the many I have seen as we have worked through so many issues over the last few weeks.
I think operationally "we got this." It is a matter now of planning for our future service to each other, students, and our community which must be our focus. Indeed, there is an amazing amount of good work going on in every division and across divisions. Your teamwork is inspiring!
As we seem to have adjusted to SLCC's new normal, I am going to continue checking in but will do so only once a week until the Spring semester is over. (As always, feel free to reach out at any time.)
I would advise us though not to believe everything is normal. We are hearing more frequently that our SLCC colleagues are dealing directly, in some way, with the effects of COVID-19 on their own family members. So, continue to stay vigilant about staying at home so you remain healthy for those who most rely upon you.
You have my sincerest respect for all that you do. Take care of yourself and those at home. Be kind to others.
Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
A Messge to Students from Admissions –
First, we hope that you and your family are remaining safe and healthy. We want to assure you that South Louisiana Community College continues to work on creating the best way to support enrollment and instruction that leads to the success of our students. We continue to follow the guidelines provided by local, state, and federal agencies.
This week we made the decision to move our summer schedule to online-only classes. Registration for summer and fall classes will begin as soon as our schedule is complete. We believe that this will provide the least disruption to our students, faculty, and staff. We will explain the different types of online instruction, provide examples of the types of assignments you will complete, and let you know what type of technology you will need to have a successful online experience.
In the meantime, you should continue to monitor your email, get the latest news at the Update Center on Coronavirus Info, and follow South Louisiana Community College on Facebook. While we may not be in our offices currently, we are still available from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm through online chats available for our admissions, financial aid, advising, and student accounts departments, and we are monitoring emails closely.
Take advantage of this time of social distancing to focus on your education and your future.
Sincerely,
Admissions
April 2, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I hope you are all continuing to stay healthy!
You may have seen the continuing unfortunate numbers around COVID-19 in our state. Please, please continue to stay at home so you can stay safe.
We all continue to be very busy serving students and one another. Academic Affairs, Enrollment Services, and the Registrar's office have put in an intense collaborative effort to recalibrate the summer schedule. This was such excellent work in such a short time to ensure students have the best options for summer.
Likewise, many discussions have occurred on options for Spring commencement but also August's convocation. SLCC and its students have much to celebrate, but we need to work within the current unpredictable environment. As we determine our best path forward for these events we will send more details.
If you are looking for something to make you smile, check out our students' submissions to our virtual talent show. You can see them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/EngageSLCC/posts/?ref=page_internal.
Keep up all of your good work. Take care of yourself and be kind to others.
Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
MARCH 2020
March 30, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I hope you all had some time this weekend to recharge. Believe it or not, it is starting to feel a little bit normal to walk upstairs to my SLCC office from my kitchen.
What continues to be uncomfortable is watching the numbers increase on COVID-19 in LA and the U.S. Please continue to be as safe as possible. You may know Governor Edwards has lengthened the Stay At Home timeline to April 30th which follows the federal announcement today.
The good news is that I think SLCC is in a position where we are adjusting well to our current environment. I don't think there is much to report on a day-to-day basis as in the previous two weeks so I am going to move to give just two college-wide check in emails each week.
I realize, and I hope you do as well, that the college is in a relatively calm place right now because of your good work. On behalf of our students and our community, my sincerest thanks once again.
Take care of yourself and those around you. Be kind to others.
Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
March 26, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
Good evening!
This email will be short but impactful. It will be brief because quite frankly, I am pretty beat this evening. However, what I want to share with you can be very helpful. Our own Dr. Kevin Browning, who has extensive experience with telecommuting, has put together a great guide for those of us who haven't been doing this from home on a regular basis. The guide is a quick and straightforward read and certainly has provided me with some things to think about in terms of better managing this current reality.
So, please take a few minutes to read through the attachment. Let Dr. Browning know if any of it resonates with you and then put into practice what you need for your own remote environment.
Thank you for all of the continued inspiration you are giving me and each other. I also ask each of you that has a healthcare worker in your family or circle of friends to please thank them on our behalf for their tireless efforts at this time (and if you are immediate family to these folks, thank you for juggling support of those at the front line with your SLCC responsibilities!)
Take care of yourself and those around you,
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
Dear SLCC Family,
Great job making it through 3/5 of the work week! Although I know a number of you are actually checking in and responding more than five days a week at this point. If so, please make sure to take some time for yourself even if it is just sitting outside with a cup of coffee or tea for a 10 min. break during the day.
The COVID-19 task force continues to meet via WebEx every day. I am thankful that the challenges we are facing are more and more manageable and I appreciate this team for all of the hours they have put in to understand and address issues.
I am also thankful for the health impact I think is evident as a result of how quickly everyone was able to start working remotely and the respect you gave the process as we scheduled folks to come on campus to retrieve items. Respect - that truly has been the core value of so much of what you have all done over the last two weeks. Respect for how we were trying to manage things, respect for the potential overwhelming feeling of students, respect for the pressure your colleagues were under, and quite frankly - respect for the "why" of doing things so quickly. As a matter of fact, I was asked to be part of a podcast about how we accomplished what we did in such a short time. (I always take the opportunity to talk about the great work of the SLCC family!)
Another outstanding effort came about from the SLCC Foundation late yesterday. For those of you who have supported the organization so strongly over the last few years, you will be proud to know the SLCC Foundation has opened an Emergency Fund specific to Covid-19 needs. This fund is open to both students and employees of SLCC.
If you are experiencing an emergency need due to the Covid-19 pandemic, please complete the online application. The applications will be reviewed by the Covid-19 Emergency Fund Committee. Likewise, if you feel fortunate and are able to give at this time, please go to https://www.solacc.edu/about-us/slcc-foundation/donate to make a donation to add to the emergency fund.
Please continue to stay safe and healthy. Be kind to yourself and others.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 24, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
Another day of moving forward for each other, our students, and our community!
I want to hopefully and optimistically say that it seems we are starting to settle in a bit in terms of operating remotely. I have participated in and scheduled meetings online which would have previously been held in person. I am starting to have external individuals reach out to meet via WebEx on business and community issues as well. The students in my GBUS class tell me while they are still a bit concerned or overwhelmed by the changes all around them they are adapting.
Speaking of adaptation, I want to give a shout out to our Allied Health and Nursing administrators, faculty, and staff. For those of you not involved in these programs, these SLCC family members are whipsawed with what they can, cannot, should, shouldn't, might, might not, shall, or shall not do with, for, and in support of students by accrediting bodies, certifying boards, medical organizations, testing companies, and state regulators. All are trying to do what is right as the health system is being strained and students still need a rigorous finish to their programs, but being in unchartered waters means sometimes folks are telling us to row in circles. So, send out some love to those currently on the front lines of the pandemic and those trying to figure out how to ensure our outstanding students are ready to enter the fight.
Hang in there and take care of yourself and those around you. Be kind to each other.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 23, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I sincerely hope everyone had a chance to get some rest over the weekend!
As you might have seen yesterday, the Governor issued a new Executive Order which addressed areas like health care education and training and also staying at home. Fortunately for SLCC, not much will change for us operationally or with respect to student instruction and training as we had previously implemented the new safety measures.
I continue to be impressed by the creativity of our faculty to ensure students are meeting learning outcomes - including tutoring! It doesn't mean I haven't heard about technology challenges, but the resiliency of our professors really is outstanding. I saw a posting about one of our Chemistry teachers yesterday and an article came out this evening:
I know to adapt to our new environment can be very stressful and if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, I hope you please take advantage of the Employee Assistance Plan. You can call counselors 24/7 at 800-252-4555 or 800-225-2527 or log into the website at www.higheredeap.com.
In the meantime, thanks to all who continue to keep student services moving forward. One thing I think exciting is the many students who are asking questions to ensure they can register for summer and fall classes. Our ability to make new and continuing students feel like we have everything under control means that they are trusting us to continue as usual in the future. What a statement to your resiliency!
Likewise, all of the work done by finance and administration means we are not missing a beat in terms of payroll, purchasing, and maintenance. I would also be remiss if I didn't recognize housekeeping's continuous efforts to clean and sanitize. Finally, I think we can all appreciate the tireless efforts of our Safety and Security office in the challenging (and sometimes thankless) effort to enforce social distancing across all our campuses.
Finally, my thanks to Corporate College and the WIOA staff. I recognize not all of those who experience SLCC through these two departments understand that they too must adhere to SLCC directives. I appreciate the instructors and staff who have been diligent and patient in educating folks that we cannot be "business as usual" at this time.
As we start a new week, say a prayer, light a candle, sing a song, or do whatever works for you to send some positivity out into the universe. We are about to see some numbers related to COVID-19 that will be concerning. We have at least a two-week lag before we can hope infection rates go down because of our efforts not be near one another. Hang in there and keep yourself and those around you healthy. Be kind to each other.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 20, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
You made it! With our core values of service, integrity, collaboration, and respect at the foundation of our work this week we have managed to excel in a very volatile environment. I could not be more proud of the ways in which we have shown folks how to take care of students and colleagues in light of the COVID-19 mandates to change operations to ensure everyone's health and safety.
To this end, please see below a statement released from LCTCS earlier today. The statement outlines additional steps colleges will be implementing in an effort to do more to "flatten the curve." Academic Affairs will be following up with an email to students with additional explanation. Also, as we look at changes to operations and instruction, more details will be forthcoming to your programs as appropriate with respect to the statement below.
In the meantime, please try and rest this weekend. I know you all have been burning both ends of the candle, so to speak. (Indeed, leaders from Academic Affairs got on a call when a group of us ended at 6:30 p.m.) Unless something significant comes along, I will suspend checking in until Monday evening.
Hang in there and take care of yourself and those around you.
Message from the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges System ~
"Louisiana’s Community and Technical Colleges join Governor John Bel Edwards and other state and federal officials and health care professionals in encouraging all Louisianans to take the COVID-19 health crisis seriously. The most important information we can provide to the community is to heed the advice of local, state, and federal authorities not to travel, not to gather in groups of 10 or more, and to frequently wash hands in addition to other CDC precautions. Depending on college specific spring break schedules, beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, and Monday, March 30, 2020, all LCTCS colleges will offer online-only instructional delivery to students for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. This includes extension sites, grant funded facilities, and other physical locations housing LCTCS employees. We understand that some students have limited access to technology, and we will do our best to continue working with students through alternate means to serve them on a case by case basis. However, because of the fluidity of this crisis and our unified efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, instructional labs on all campuses will not be available (for use by students) until it is safe to do so.
During this time of crisis, there is an unprecedented need to help provide additional training for healthcare and emergency personnel. As such, LCTCS colleges will work with local and state officials to implement safe in-person healthcare and emergency personnel training in groups of 10 or less with proper cleaning and disinfection before and after each training session. Additionally, as we work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the difficult decision has been made to postpone spring graduation ceremonies until further notice. We understand and respect the hard work and sacrifices students and families have made to get to this point, and we will honor this achievement at a later date when it is safe to do so.
Our college chancellors, faculty, and staff have done a tremendous job of responding to this crisis by taking swift and appropriate steps to protect students and others from the spread of this virus. These steps included standing up online delivery of instruction and making concessions to ensure student health, success, and completion remain our top priority. Last week, we implemented telecommuting provisions statewide for all employees. We will continue to monitor developments and follow the guidance of Governor Edwards, and the guidelines put in place by healthcare professionals as we work to do our part to end the spread of COVID-19.
Students and the entire community must know that their community and technical colleges are here to support them during this time. Our colleges are open for business in an online environment. The safety and wellbeing of our community and technical college family and the communities in which we live is paramount. For the latest college updates related to COVID-19, please refer to our college web pages and the LCTCS webpage."
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
Dear SLCC Family,
What an extraordinary day in our service to students. From the emails and social media I have received or seen, our move to remote instruction has gone very smoothly. Some of you have probably heard me talk about how moving it was to see my youngest watching a live stream of his A&P instructor at 8:00 a.m. like it was nothing new. True - it is the norm for our faculty to do what is needed to be done to engage students in learning - but you all know how different today really was for those who teach and for those who learn. On behalf of those counting on us to live our core values in everything we do - THANK YOU!
Today found business operations continuing as smoothly as can be expected as well. Collaboration (ooooh - another core value!) is rampant!
I ask that everyone be sure not to just walk into a campus without reaching out to ensure it is safe from a "number of people" perspective. Contact Stephen North for more information. I appreciate the folks ensuring that computer labs were not overrun today but that as many students as possible could do school work online at an SLCC location.
Finally, be aware that bad actors are really trying to take advantage of this challenging time across the globe. We need to be particularly vigilant about online scams and phishing. I will send a separate email about how we can all help protect SLCC's data a little later.
All in all, congratulations on a rigorous but satisfying day serving our students and each other. Hang in there and please take care of yourself and those around you.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 18, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I am sort of excited to send this check in at such an early time as I feel it means maybe our really, really long days are starting to shorten - at least we can hope!
Congratulations to faculty, staff, and administration who were deep in the trenches of modifications to ensure as much remote instruction as possible begins tomorrow. The word "modifications" seems an understatement as it was more wholesale redesign and reconfiguration. I know it was hard and I know it was stressful, but please know our students are now in the best situation to complete as we are the first college in the state to have figured this out and be ready to go. From instruction and training to Financial Aid, we are here to serve one another and our students. Did you know we are still managing enrollment for upcoming semesters? We got this!!
On a personal note, as an adjunct I appreciate the ideas I heard from Dr. June or the deans regarding ways to allow students to finish as quickly as possible without missing any learning outcomes in case more disruption occurs. Many of you know that my youngest is an SLCC student and I have been so proud every time he comes over to tell me that he has heard from a professor - and he heard from them all by 5:00 p.m. today!
Similarly, it is gratifying to read social media comments by students reporting that they have heard from various offices in student services and in just a few hours in most cases!
Without constant attention by IT, HR, Accounting, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and our Security office we would not be as responsive and connected as we are and as we have needed to be over the last few days. I also appreciate how the media is hearing about our methodic and deliberate progress from our PR office.
We have never exhibited Everyday Excellence at this scale or together at the same time. I truly believe you are unstoppable in your service to student success, people, sustainability, and community.
Congratulations on climbing to the top of the highest mountain we have ever had to scale together. We will learn tomorrow where some items still need attention, but these will be minor compared to what you have just accomplished.
Please keep in touch. I really enjoy hearing from you and I know your colleagues would love to see your face via WebEx. Please take care of yourself and those around you.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 17, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
Once again, I want to thank you for the inspiration so many of you have given me as we all work through various issues. Today, I know faculty were very thick in adjusting their approach to teaching our students. Staff and administration were also adjusting to a new normal. This work is key to ensuring learning and college operations can continue while we manage through the COVID-19 threats.
The good news in this message is that I have nothing major to announce in this email. No news gives us all at least another 24 hours to keep moving forward without interruption. I note this with a little bit of smiling sarcasm because I am glad for a bit of calm and hope any storm that follows is not so bad. I am concerned though that our lives and the lives of our students will be tougher, not easier in the coming weeks. I do believe the immense work you are all putting in, however, will help us weather whatever is next.
Thank you again for all of your efforts and keep up the great work! Have a good night and please take care of yourself and those around you.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 16, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
Many of you have heard me say that I believe we have the best faculty, staff, and administration in higher education and we are proving it! So many have been working tirelessly to ensure continuity in both academic instruction, training, business operations, and facilities over the last 48 hours -it would astound you. Or maybe not if you think of the caliber of your colleagues and supervisors and how Everyday Excellence is in everything we do. So many have been sandwiched between employees, colleagues, LCTCS, LA's Division of Administration, and the federal government when trying to address how we serve each other and our students - it often seems endless because policies, procedures, guidance, and advice are changing almost hour to hour.
To this end, SLCC is able to say that we will work with every employee to ensure they can continue in their respective roles at least through June 30th. In other words, supervisors are determining how every SLCC family member can deliver on their job responsibilities - maybe more creatively than we ever imagined. This includes part-time, adjunct, and student workers. COVID-19 was not on anyone's watch list when you committed to us that you would perform certain functions and now is not the time for anyone to be penalized because the virus has caused our everyday existence to change so drastically.
Each of you will have received (or soon will) an email from regarding VPN so you can essentially work remotely as if you were at your desk. Remote working/telecommuting will be the most significant part of SLCC's plan to not make one another and our students sick while still delivering on our mission.
You may also have heard that until further notice, no more than 10 people can gather at any time and that the distance between each person needs to be at least six feet. From students who want to take the TEAS test tomorrow morning to employees at the WIOA centers to welding classes we are working on how to abide by this latest "congregation" limit.
I know that right now the specifics of challenges are different between division, unit, department, and job function. I also know the smartest people in higher ed are working to find solutions. How do I know? Because not only is SLCC's task force in continuous contact with each other, but we are hearing from many SLCC employees with suggestions on how we can fulfill our mission. I love that so many people are not sitting back and waiting for magic instructions, but instead are owning that we are the only ones who can figure out how to do what needs to be done. Thank you to those who have reached out to me and others with your ideas! Innovation is a core value is it not?
The work I have seen occur over the last two days is so inspiring. Hang in there and be good to those around you.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
March 15, 2020
Dear SLCC Family,
I hope you were able to find time to rest this weekend. The current COVID-19 situation is updated so frequently it can be exhausting to try and keep up while addressing changes to your own households. In our case, we have elderly parents who live alone and far away and a brother who has respiratory problems.
As we each work to manage our changing environments, let's remember nothing will be perfect. Take a breath, do your best, and then move on to the next thing. Keep in mind that those around you will be working through many issues as well. For faculty who are adjusting to a new normal, remember students are adjusting as well. Before the outbreak, many of our students juggled priorities that competed with school and now those priorities may be heightened or coupled with additional anxiety about the semester. While we still want rigor and learning in every course, the way this is accomplished is not by aiming for perfect or by being inflexible with yourself, colleagues, or students. Just do your best and allow others to do the same, whatever "best" looks like for them.
As a reminder, no one is to be on campus tomorrow. Employees report back on Tuesday and Tuesday and Wednesday will have an intense focus on adjusting instruction and operations. SLCC's COVID-19 taskforce meets via WebEx tomorrow and I will send out an update later in the day.
Check in on each other and check in on your students. Caring for each other is of the utmost importance right now.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please don't hesitate to let me know. Have a restful evening.
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
Dear SLCC Family,
In light of the recent announcement by Governor John Bel Edwards concerning statewide efforts in response to COVID-19 and a resulting directive by LCTCS, please be aware SLCC will be closed Monday, March 16; no classes will be held and no employees should report to work as Emergency Leave will be granted to ALL employees. LCTCS has indicated that essential personnel needs to report on Tuesday, March 17. All SLCC employees are considered essential in this time of adjustments and should report to work as usual on Tuesday, March 17 to maximize the time to plan, test, and implement alterations to instruction and operations. SLCC is canceling credit and non-credit (Corporate College, WRU/ABE) classes on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 to implement alterations to instruction and operations. If the K-12 closures will affect your ability to report to work on Tuesday, please contact your supervisor to discuss your situation and appropriate procedures under SLCC’s leave policy.
While classes will be canceled next Tuesday and Wednesday, faculty, staff, and administration will actively be working to finalize plans for online delivery of instruction and alternate training schedules for unique programs of study to be used for the rest of the Spring semester. Therefore, on-line facilitation of instruction is expected to begin on Thursday, March 19. It is important to note, that all efforts to modify instructional delivery and college operations are centered on ensuring quality learning environments for students as well as safe work environments for faculty and staff. College personnel will continue to engage in all CDC recommended protocols.
Where applicable, faculty will move to a remote learning delivery model for courses effective Thursday, March 19. For programs associated with occupational competencies and clinical experiences, faculty will communicate to students by program as information and plans are finalized. Being sensitive to the lack of broadband in some areas, the College will ensure those students in need will have access at all college locations to dedicated computer labs for online learning and assessment with proper precautions taken for the health and wellness of students per CDC recommendations.
Preparing for alternative modes of instructional delivery and operations must be done so with a focus on the future and recovery post-event. Academic instruction continuity plans and information will be forthcoming. To be clear, SLCC intends to sustain operations at each location. College leadership is working closely to determine essential support services specific to instruction, workforce training, student services, finance, and administration and sustaining commitments to external stakeholders. Departmental leaders are finalizing plans for operations and will communicate directly with personnel regarding the staffing of essential services.
In summary:
- March 16: College closed and no classes held.
- March 17: All employees report to work and no classes held.
- March 18: All employees report to work and no classes held.
- March 19 through the end of the Spring semester: All employees report and classes resume (many classes resume on-line.)
The college leadership team has and will continue to meet regularly throughout this unprecedented event and we have formed a COVID-19 taskforce. Information will regularly come from the Chancellor’s Office inclusive of updates from Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration, Student Services, and Corporate College. Communication of timely and accurate information is paramount to deliver on the mission of our college. Our college family is committed to working tirelessly, innovatively, flexibly, and creatively to meet the needs of students, faculty, staff, and stakeholders. Please continue to visit our COVID-19/Coronavirus web page for important updates and information from the CDC. I sincerely appreciate all of those working tirelessly behind the scenes over the last few days to help us be as prepared as possible for our changing Spring semester. Notifications will be sent to students, the media, and other stakeholders as appropriate.
Thank you very much for your patience and flexibility as we try to manage aspects of the outbreak as it continues; I know that by working together we will come out on the other side better than ever. Please take care of yourself and your loved ones!
Natalie J. Harder, PhD
Chancellor
Dear SLCC Students,
As communicated by Chancellor Natalie Harder, South Louisiana Community College continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and related impact on the College. SLCC is making every effort to ensure the health and well-being of our faculty, staff, and students as we assist students in completing the spring 2020 semester.
As noted in Chancellor Harder’s email, South Louisiana Community College will be closed Monday, March 16th, for faculty, staff, and students. Faculty and Staff will report to campus on Tuesday, March 17th, and Wednesday, March 18th, to modify and finalize plans for online delivery of instruction and alternate training schedules for unique programs of study - Students should not report to campus on these two days.
All students will be notified by their faculty member Thursday, March 19th, by 8:00 a.m. via email or a Canvas announcement of their course options for the modified class. These course modifications may include, but not limited to,entirely remote, limited remote, and adjusted face to face meetings. Please be patient as the academic leadership and instructors work through the safest and most effective solutions for the variety of course types offered at the college.
Essential support services will be provided to students during this academic transition. The Division of Student Services will communicate any operational changes via email and/or post to the department’s website. SLCC will remain open with limited computer labs and support systems as we transfer to new learning and delivery methods. Computer and support services will be announced in Canvas at a later date. Additionally, we ask you to communicate any barriers for the reconfigured course to your instructor by email or phone call as indicated in your course syllabus, as they will do their best to mitigate them.
At this time, we do not anticipate graduation ceremonies to be impacted, but the College will be monitoring the situation weekly and notify you as soon as a change is necessary. We ask that you monitor your “my.solacc” email, your SLCC Canvas courses and the SLCC website (www.solacc.edu) for updates.
Thank you for your patience and support during this transition period.
Dear SLCC Family,
COVID-19 is a top priority nationwide and has the full attention of the executive committee. While the situation seems to change continuously, one thing remains constant and that is ensuring the safety of each of you and our students. In thinking of Everyday Excellence, our Standards of Practice call us to be thoughtful and vigilant in our approach to the health and welfare of the college and our community. So, out of respect for the health of one another and in service to our students and community, SLCC is suspending all non-essential, college-related travel and face-to-face meetings beginning March 13th until further notice. Please note the following:
Essential travel and meetings are defined as necessary or required for you to execute your job responsibilities AND/OR cannot be conducted electronically. More specifically:
- For Students: Student travel outside of the classroom, lab, or other learning environment is considered non-essential. However, the respective Dean may recommend a student’s travel as essential wherein the Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs will make the final determination.
- For Staff: Staff travel is considered non-essential except when accompanying students on approved essential travel or when not traveling will cause harm to the operations of the college.
- For Faculty: Faculty travel is defined as travel for academic credit or noncredit that is necessary to meet a graduation requirement based upon current operations (e.g. a campus is not closed.)
- For All Travelers: If employees have questions about whether specific proposed travel is essential, or seeking approval to engage in essential travel, they should first confer with their supervisor. Supervisors may recommend an employee’s travel as essential to the responsible Vice Chancellor, who will make the final determination.
Accounting will work directly with employees who currently have approved travel arrangements.
- All meetings are to use remote technology methods when feasible.
- Communicate one-on-one with a simple phone call or use instant messaging or video chat.
- Communicate with groups by setting up a conference call using Cisco Webex or the CiscoWebex Meetings Mobile App.
- Use Microsoft OneDrive to create, edit, share, and collaborate on online documents.
- Make preventive measures part of your routine now.
- Hand wash more often than usual.
- Cough/sneeze into your arm.
- Do not shake hands.
- Don’t share food or drinks.
- Avoid touching your face.
Faculty, staff, and students must make administration aware of any planned personal international travel. The college reserves the right to require individuals who choose to travel to affected regions to self-quarantine upon return.
We continue to update SLCC’s Covid-19 information page https://www.solacc.edu/updates and encourage you to use it to access the most recent information by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.)
If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor.
Dr. Natalie Harder
Chancellor
BATON ROUGE, La, March 13, 2020 - Today, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System announced college and system office closures for Monday, March 16, 2020, and Tuesday, March 17, 2020. For March 17, all essential personnel, as deemed by the System President and College Chancellor, should report to work. This decision adheres to the Executive Order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards today, which among other actions, seeks to reduce the amount of face-to-face public interaction to limit the potential spread of the Coronavirus or COVID-19.
Additionally, LCTCS colleges are adjusting their academic calendars as necessary to accommodate the Executive Order and to transition to the use of online instructional methods where applicable. For programs associated with occupational competencies and clinical experiences, faculty will finalize instructional plans during this transition period. For students who do not have access to broadband technology, each college will ensure that students can access dedicated computer labs for online learning and assessment with proper precautions taken for the health and wellness of students, faculty, and staff per CDC recommendations.
For each college's transition schedule or updated academic calendar, visit the college's respective website.
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