Campus Updates Related to COVID-19

Exterior of University Center

In response to the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton has announced several new guidelines. The goal of these announcements are to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus and to keep the campus community and their families safe.

Delayed Start Day

UACCM Chancellor Lisa Willenberg has announced that the beginning of UACCM’s fall semester has been pushed back to Monday, August 24. This is an adjustment related to a delayed start date for all Arkansas K-12 schools that will take place from August 24 to 26.

As a result, here are changes to the academic calendar:

  • August 24: Fall semester begins.
  • August 24-26: Extended registration for the fall semester.
  • There will be no fall break/student advising closures in October.
  • Start of finals pushed back to December 10.

 

Face Masks & Coverings

Beginning July 20, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson mandated that everyone in Arkansas ages 10 and older are required to wear a face covering over the mouth and nose in all public spaces—including both indoor and outdoor areas. This coincides with a resolution from the University of Arkansas System’s Board of Trustees and a local ordinance from the City of Morrilton, which require masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Face coverings are useful in drastically limiting the wearer’s potential to spread infection. From the early days of COVID-19, studies concluded that the illness is often spread by asymptomatic carriers. With this knowledge and the growing body of evidence that suggests masks are effective, the UACCM campus community should follow this protocol:

  • Students will be required to wear a face covering when entering buildings, inside classrooms, and while in public spaces or common areas, including hallways. UACCM will provide a face covering to students who do not have their own personal covering.
  • All faculty and staff at the UACCM campus will be expected to wear face coverings at all times when they are in the presence of others. When outdoors, masks are expected to be worn whenever social distancing is not possible.
  • Visitors will be required to wear a face covering when entering buildings, inside classrooms, and while in public spaces or common areas, including hallways. UACCM will provide a face covering to visitors who do not have their own personal covering.

 

Flexible Learning Options

For the fall 2020 semester, UACCM is offering students flexible class options that allow students to choose whether to take an in-person class physically, online, face-to-face/synchronous, or hybrid. While many classes have the option of in-person, synchronous, or online, career-specific labs do require in-person attendance.

On-Campus Instruction: Traditional brick and mortar, face-to-face courses will remain on the schedule. Classes/labs will be positioned in an attempt to adhere to social distancing guidelines. 

On-line Instruction: Online courses on the fall schedule will remain as planned.

Hybrid Instruction: Hybrid courses will remain on the schedule and follow the same practice of meeting both face-to-face and utilizing asynchronous instruction. As with the traditional face-to-face instruction classes/labs will be positioned in an attempt to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Face-to-face/synchronous: As a way to build flexibility and resiliency into classroom instruction, faculty members teaching classes this fall are preparing to deliver their courses with most students present in the classroom but some attending remotely. Students have the option to take a class in a synchronous format. In this type of class, students are viewing and participating in classes online while their instructor and classmates are on campus. To allow students to attend these classes, classrooms at campus facilities are equipped with webcams.

 

Signage and Facilities

Signage will be placed at entrances and around common areas to remind students to wear masks and be at a proper physical distance. Floor markings have also been placed in areas around student support services, such as Admissions and Student Accounts, to help students determine physical distancing.

The campus maintenance crew affixed plexiglass to counters or desks in high traffic areas to provide barriers between employees and those who need face-to-face services.

Campus facilities will also be upgraded with iWave Air Purification. These ventilation systems help provide protection against recirculating untreated air particles, allergens, and molds; however, the wearing of masks and maintaining physical distance from others are the most effective ways to prevent transmission via droplets and aerosols.

 

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