Dear students-

This week I want to provide additional details for our upcoming “Road to the Future: A Graduation Celebration.” I want to congratulate all of the graduates on this extraordinary accomplishment this year.

Here’s what you need so you can save the date (look for updates, including a map of the parade route on the graduation celebration page):

What: A graduate celebration car parade

Where: AACC Arnold campus. Cars will enter West Campus from Ritchie Highway and be directed into parking lots. When the parade begins, cars will follow a route through main campus lots, along Ring Road and eventually pausing at a grandstand to receive a diploma cover. Faculty and staff will be invited to line the route and cheer you on. A detailed map can be found on the AACC event page.

When: June 12. The start times of the parade for each school are listed below. (Don’t worry if you cannot make it at the exact time. We will make sure you are part of the parade.) Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

10 a.m. - School of Liberal Arts

10:15 a.m. - School of Science, Technology and Education

10:30 a.m. - School of Business and Law

10:45 a.m. - School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development

11 a.m. - Health Sciences

Who: All graduates from last summer and fall, and this spring are invited. 

We plan to stream the event so fellow students, family and friends can follow along and cheer on the graduates. As a reminder, this event does not replace the official graduation, which we hope to reschedule for a future date when we are able to come together again. However, if you would like to purchase regalia now, and even wear your cap and gown in the car parade, visit the AACC Bookstore. If you have any questions about your order, contact websales@aacc.edu. 

Until then, congratulations to all of our graduates!

Dear colleagues-

Yesterday marked the start of our summer term! We continue to meet the needs of our students and community despite the ongoing pandemic.

On that note, as I mentioned in my weekly update last week, AACC is launching a “Riverhawk Recovery Plan” that will lay out the structure for the college to gradually and responsibly return to face-to-face operations. This update provides an overview of what to expect as we work toward this long-term goal. A copy of the framework for the recovery plan can be found on our Riverhawk Recovery page.

On-Campus Classes June 1

As permitted within state and local guidelines, the college will begin limited in-person classes, labs and studios starting with a small group of Health Sciences, police academy and continuing education students in the health care field for their lab experience starting Monday, June 1. This has been a major undertaking and again I want to thank everyone involved behind the scenes in getting us to this point. Also, thank you to the many volunteers who have stepped up to help with checking in students and monitoring the hallways starting next week. We still need a few more volunteers for next week and throughout the summer. If you are able to volunteer starting June 1 but have not signed up yet for a shift, you can sign up now.

If you are interested in volunteering, or just seeing what it would entail, there are two very short virtual training sessions tomorrow, May 28, at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. Here are the links to each:

• 10 a.m.: https://zoom.us/j/91497523000?pwd=dWhQMWNXaFNZUk5mTWhuQUl4M0xVdz09
• 2 p.m.: https://zoom.us/j/94572579274?pwd=anh4dE9jWER0R0oxbUJORXZrLzBwQT09

Opportunities for volunteering and training will exist beyond this coming week as well.

Emergency Management Team

As we move into a recovery phase, we have replaced the Emergency Management Team with the Riverhawk Recovery Team. I want to thank the members of the Emergency Management Team for their commitment, dedication and hard work in planning and executing a collegewide response to the COVID crisis in a very short time period. I especially want to thank Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt., for her leadership on behalf of our students, faculty and staff.

Riverhawk Recovery Team

The Riverhawk Recovery Team is charged with preparing the college for in-person operations in alignment with state and county phases of recovery. I cannot emphasize enough that working at a distance and teleworking will continue to be a cornerstone of our plan and operations through the remainder of the calendar year. Though we will base our actions and timing on state and county decisions, we will determine our own timetable for AACC students, faculty and staff. 

Please be patient as we develop this plan. I know that many of you are eager for a clear course of action and to help with the process. This is no small undertaking, and many people throughout the college are involved. Holding fast to the college’s values, our goals are to: 

• Ensure the health and safety of our students and workforce
• Meet ongoing student and employee needs
• Help our community move forward
• Provide clear and consistent communications of current and future expectations, and considerations of the impact for students, employees and the community.

If you have not been tasked yet with assisting in the process, including next week’s limited reopening of select classes, please do not purchase supplies on behalf of the college at this time. Specific teams will acquire PPE, cleaning supplies and other items in bulk as identified by the recovery team. If you know of items needed or action steps to help the college phase in its recovery, please work with your supervisor to advise the recovery team through your supervising vice president.

Zoom Call 

As part of the recovery planning process, we are exploring the possibility of town hall Zoom calls for supervisors and the entire college community to learn more about the college’s recovery efforts. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Graduation Celebration

As a reminder, because we are unable to hold our traditional commencement ceremony at this time, you are invited to celebrate our graduates with our “Road to the Future: A Graduation Celebration” car parade on June 12 starting at 10 a.m. Please save the date and look for details and updates on our graduation celebration page.

Similarly, be sure to check the FAQs on the website, which we continue to update. Happy summer term, and thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to our students, colleagues and community.

Dear students-

As promised, this week we have more information on our celebration of graduates. Plus, we have details on the federal government’s CARES Act to share.

Graduation Celebration

We are excited to celebrate this year with our newest graduates by providing a “Road to the Future: a Graduation Celebration” car parade. All graduates from last summer, fall and this spring are invited to participate. Here are the newest details; don’t forget to save the date!:

What: A Graduate Celebration car parade.

When: Friday, June 12, 10 a.m., rain or shine.

Where: Arnold campus. We have begun to map out a tentative route that will begin with graduates’ cars entering West Campus from Ritchie Highway. Cars will be directed into the parking lots before beginning a route through the main campus lots and Ring Road, where they will eventually reach the grandstand to receive their diploma covers.

We’re working out the logistics, but we plan to invite faculty and staff to arrive in their cars before the graduates. They’ll park in the lots along the parade route, and cheer and celebrate our graduates as they pass. We plan to stream the event so family and friends can view the fun. For the latest and greatest parade details, visit our graduation celebration page. 

Meanwhile: Graduates, look for a surprise in the mail soon!

The CARES Act

Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency aid to eligible students who experienced “expenses related to the disruption of college operations due to coronavirus.”

AACC received $2.1 million that must be used for emergency aid to help eligible students. For information on the eligibility and limitations associated with this support, visit Student FAQs.

Eligible students will begin to receive this aid from AACC starting tomorrow. These emergency funds can only help a limited number of students and do not provide financial aid going forward. However, AACC’s financial aid office may be able to help students continue their path to completion.

Students may be eligible for additional federal or state aid, or one of our many AACC scholarships. Each year, AACC gives away more than $1 million in scholarships to eligible students. Just reach out to finaid@aacc.edu and connect with a team member who will help with the process.

Congratulations to everyone for successfully reaching the end of this historic spring term! I hope everyone can enjoy the Memorial Day weekend by taking some time for a much-deserved break.

Dear colleagues:

As promised, this week we have more information on the celebration of our graduates. In addition, we have further information on the federal government’s CARES Act.

Graduation Celebration

We are excited to celebrate this year with our newest graduates by providing a “Road to the Future: a Graduation Celebration” car parade. All graduates from last summer, fall and this spring are invited to participate. Here are the newest details so graduates can save the date:

What: A graduate celebration car parade

When: Friday, June 12, 10 a.m., rain or shine

Where: Arnold campus. We have begun to map out a tentative route that will begin by having graduates’ cars enter West Campus from Ritchie Highway. Cars will be directed into the parking lots before beginning a route through the main campus lots and Ring Road, where they will eventually reach the grandstand to receive their diploma covers.

We’re working out the logistics, but we plan to invite faculty and staff to arrive in their cars before the graduates. You’ll park in the lots along the parade route to cheer and celebrate our graduates as they pass. We plan to stream the event so family and friends can view the fun. For the latest and greatest parade details, visit our Graduation Celebration page.

Meanwhile: Graduates, look for a surprise in the mail soon!

The CARES Act

Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency aid to eligible students who experienced “expenses related to the disruption of college operations due to coronavirus.”

AACC received $2.1 million that must be used for emergency aid to help eligible students. For information on the eligibility and limitations associated with this support, visit Student FAQs.

Eligible students will begin to receive this aid from AACC starting tomorrow. These emergency funds can only help a limited number of students and do not provide financial aid going forward. However, AACC’s financial aid office may be able to help students continue their path to completion.

Students may be eligible for additional federal or state aid, or one of our many AACC scholarships. Each year, AACC gives away more than $1 million in scholarships to eligible students. Students can reach out to finaid@aacc.edu and connect with a team member who will help with the process.

Riverhawk Recovery Plan

I updated you yesterday about our plan to host Health Sciences labs on campus for the summer. Initially, we planned to open labs May 26. Now, in accordance with the county executive's order, we will delay the opening of summer health science labs to June 1 at the earliest, dependent on the relaxing of county restrictions. Much work and preparation has been done and I want to thank the Health Sciences faculty and staff, as well as all of the support teams, who got us to this point. Thank you again to the many volunteers who stepped up to help next week. We are planning to conduct two volunteer training sessions next week so we can practice this “new norm”.  We believe these training sessions are important as we prepare for this group students to return to campus.

This effort is one example of the many steps needed for our Riverhawk Recovery Plan. The plan will focus on the numerous implications of faculty, staff and a limited numbers of students returning to college buildings, offices and select classrooms. Ten teams have been formed to address the following areas, with technology being an integral part of many of these areas:

1. Planning
2. Enrollment
3. Health and safety protocols and PPE
4. Finance and logistics
5. Classroom/lab configuration and classroom management
6. Student services
7. Legal issues
8. Workplace procedures and environment
9. Communications

The Riverhawk Recovery Plan will need to unfold over time in line with the state and county phases of recovery. Already we have seen the need for flexibility and adjustment to match decisions of local and state leadership.

What we do know is that working at a distance and teleworking will continue to be a cornerstone of our plan and operations as we move beyond the end of the spring term, May 22. Please continue your ongoing work and operational planning with this as an underlying assumption through the fall term and remainder of the calendar year.

AACC Talent Share

As a result of our migration to online learning, many departments are experiencing increased workloads, while some areas of the college have greater capacity and availability. To help bridge that gap, Human Resources has created a program to assist departments in need and provide opportunities for employees to grow and advance the mission of the college: the AACC Talent Share.

This program is designed to match current critical needs with internal staff with the available talent to meet those needs. Project communication and coordination will be facilitated through the AACC Talent Share Padlet on the HR intranet.

Supervisors were sent an email from HR explaining how to request additional support, including details of the duties and skills required. Human Resources will post that need to the Talent Share Padlet. Managers with staff members who are able to offer some assistance will submit that information via a talent share form. HR will then work with the departments to connect the two parties. It’s that simple. 

Already so many of you have volunteered and continue to offer assistance in new and creative ways to help our students and our college during this difficult time. This is one more creative solution that supports our collective efforts. Thank you to everyone for their willingness to pitch in where needed and help us continue to move forward.

Congratulations to everyone for successfully reaching the end of this historic spring term! I hope everyone can enjoy the Memorial Day weekend by taking some time for a much-deserved break.

Dear students - 

This week I am excited to provide you with an update on our plans to honor this year’s graduates, as well as important bookstore information for the end of the term.

Recognizing Our Graduates

We have been working to provide an opportunity for our graduates and community to celebrate at the end of the spring term. The goal is not to replace a future commencement, but to recognize the achievements of this year’s graduates as close to the time of their graduation date as possible under the current circumstances.

With that goal in mind, AACC will hold a car parade of graduates in early June based on phase 1 of the state’s “Roadmap to Recovery.” While we are working on the details, we envision a timed event in which graduates will drive through campus and faculty and staff will be able to line the parade route to cheer on the graduates in a safe manner.

Please keep in mind that this celebration will not replace a commencement ceremony as we are still planning for a safe and appropriate celebration at a later date. We look forward to sharing more details about the graduation parade in the coming weeks, including a date of the event.

Bookstore Update

Rental Returns
Spring textbook rentals must be returned by May 31. If you rented a textbook from the AACC Bookstore, you should have received return instructions through the mail. If you have questions, contact Sarah Preis at sjpreis@aacc.edu. 

Loaner Laptop Returns
All loaner laptops must be returned by the due date stipulated in your agreement with the library. Details may be found in the .

If you have any questions regarding your loaner laptop, email the library at circdesk@aacc.edu. 

Textbook Buyback
The bookstore is conducting spring Textbook Buybacks entirely online, in partnership with the Nebraska Book Company (NBC). Details may be found in the  or on the AACC Bookstore website.

Win a Free Laptop

The bookstore will give away a laptop each week from June 1 through Aug. 29. There will be two ways to enter to win:

1. Register for any Digital Direct Access section between June 1 and Aug. 29.
2. Place your fall textbook order at aaccbooks.com between June 1 and Aug. 8.

Register and order early for the most chances to win.

Attendance Tracking

We have discovered that attendance tracking is based on the number of weeks in the session, and we are now beyond the established number of weeks. Since the original 15 weeks for the spring term has ended, attendance is not required for the remainder of the extended spring term. However, you will need to complete assignments and final exams as required by your instructor to complete the class.

I sincerely thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. Please remember to take care of yourselves and one another.

Dear colleagues-

This week I am excited to provide you with an update on our plans to honor this year’s graduates, as well as important bookstore information for the end of the term.

Recognizing Our Graduates

We have been working to provide an opportunity for our graduates and community to celebrate at the end of our spring term. The goal is not to replace a future commencement, but to recognize the achievements of this year’s graduates as close to the time of their graduation date as possible under the current circumstances.

With that goal in mind, AACC will hold a car parade of graduates in early June based on phase 1 of the state’s “Roadmap to Recovery.” While we are working on the details, we envision a timed event in which graduates will drive through campus, and faculty and staff will be able to line the parade route to cheer on the graduates in a safe manner.

Please keep in mind that this celebration will not replace a commencement ceremony as we are still planning for a safe and appropriate celebration at a later date. We look forward to sharing more details about the graduation parade in the coming weeks, including a date of the event.

Bookstore Updates

Rental Returns

Spring textbook rentals must be returned by May 31. If students rented a textbook from the AACC Bookstore, they should have received return instructions through the mail. If they have questions, email Sarah Preis at sjpreis@aacc.edu.

Loaner Laptop Returns

All loaner laptops must be returned by the due date stipulated in their agreement with the library. Details may be found in the Student FAQ. If they have any questions regarding their loaner laptop, they should email the library at circdesk@aacc.edu.

Textbook Buyback

The bookstore is conducting spring Textbook Buybacks entirely online, in partnership with the Nebraska Book Company (NBC). Details may be found in the Student FAQ or on the AACC Bookstore website.

Win a Free Laptop

The bookstore will give away a laptop each week from June 1 through Aug. 29.  There will be two ways students can enter to win:

• Register for any Digital Direct Access section between June 1 and Aug. 29.
• Place their fall textbook order at aaccbooks.com between June 1 and Aug. 8.

We encourage students to register and order early for the most chances to win.

AACC Talent Share

As a result of our migration to online learning, many departments are experiencing increased workloads. Other departments have employees with increased availability. To help bridge that gap, Human Resources has created a program to assist departments in need and provide opportunities for employees to grow and advance the mission of the college. AACC’s Talent Share is designed to match current critical needs with internal staff who have available talent to meet those needs.  

AACC’s Talent Share will launch next week.  An email will be sent to supervisors from HR with more details.

I sincerely thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. Please remember to take care of yourselves and one another.

Dawn

Dear students:

We are coming into the home stretch for the spring term. Though there is plenty of work to do for the remainder of the term, I want to congratulate you on your perseverance and incredible achievements to date. The shift to 100% online was disruptive and demanding, but I appreciate how you have risen to the challenge and stayed on course.

RESOURCE REMINDER

As I have shared with you before, I want to remind you that the college has many resources to help you succeed. We want to see you finish this term successfully so I encourage you to take advantage of the full range of support services available to you. Please speak to your faculty, an advisor or a counselor to ensure you are getting what you need at this time. Visit the Student FAQs to find support for Academic Health, Financial Health, and Mental and Physical Health. This information appears within the FAQs and alongside that webpage if you are viewing on a computer or at the end of the scroll if viewing on a phone.

MOVING FORWARD

As we get close to the end of the term, you will no doubt want to know how we will handle book buy-backs and equipment returns. We are working on that process now and should be able to provide you with details in next week’s update. I have mentioned before that we are also looking at ways to celebrate our newest graduates – the more than 2,000 students who will earn degrees and certificates. We should have an update on that for you next week as well.

As a final reminder, summer registration is underway for start dates of May 26, June 15 and July 7. No doubt some of you will look forward to and need a break. Once you recharge, I encourage you, though, to maintain your momentum. Your plans aren’t on hold and we want you to be ready for whatever comes next. Fall registration will open June 1. The online search for courses will be available then, and a printed schedule will be mailed shortly after that date.

CONGRATS TO US

Lastly, I thought you might want to know that AACC continues to be recognized as one of the best colleges in the country – not just the state of Maryland, but nationwide. Here are a few of the latest accolades earned by your college:

• The Best Associate Nursing Program in Maryland
• No. 18 in Best Associate Business Programs nationally by GradReports.com
• No. 6 in Best Online Associate in Computer Science Programs by bestschools.com
• Top 20 in best Culinary Program nationally by BestChoiceSchools.com
• No. 1 in Best Associate Degree in Information Technology nationally by GradReports.com 

I share this last information for a number of reasons. I want to remind you that you are in good hands. AACC prides itself on its academic excellence and the preparation you are receiving to transfer to a four-year program or apply directly to a job. Also, I want to remind you that as tough as our situation is today, you have chosen wisely by positioning yourself for success in the future. Know that we will always be a resource for you throughout your educational, professional and personal journey.

Congratulations again on your progress so far. Now finish strong!

Dear colleagues:

We are coming into the home stretch for the spring term. Though there is plenty of work to do for the remainder of the term and the coming terms, I want to congratulate everyone for the incredible achievements to date in supporting our students in this remote environment. It has required a tremendous amount of work, and I appreciate all that you are doing for our students, our colleagues and our community.

RETURNING TO CAMPUS

Some of you have asked what plans the college has in place to allow faculty and staff to return to campus and college offices. Under our Emergency Management team, we have created a cross-divisional subteam to work on a detailed Return to Work plan. As you know, we have decided to continue to offer courses and services online through the summer and into the fall. However, Gov. Hogan has outlined a “Roadmap to Recovery” for Maryland that includes three distinct phases. Our subteam will be mapping out steps that match the state’s plan and will articulate how faculty and staff may return to offices, depending on timing and decisions by the state. This planning is underway and will be shared with the college community soon.

ANNUAL LEAVE POLICY

I have some very good news to share for regular staff. In consideration of individuals who may have been unable to use their annual leave in FY20 due to COVID-19, staff will have an additional year to use their annual leave before it moves over to carryover leave. On July 1, 2021, any remaining annual leave will be moved into carryover leave. Additional details will be provided via email from Human Resources in the next few days and will be posted to the Faculty and Staff FAQs. 

BUDGET UPDATE

Lastly I want to share a brief update on the budget as a follow up to my message from last week. This morning, we presented remotely our FY21 budget to the County Council. While the county executive’s budget did not fund AACC’s requested increase, we have asked the County Council to provide $1.4 million to fund one-time payments for college employees. This would put AACC more in line with the one-time increases the county is funding for some county and library workers. The county’s capital budget continued funding for the new Health and Life Sciences building. However none of the college’s deferred maintenance projects were funded. Therefore the college also requested restoration of $1.7 million for technology capital project improvements. These two requests come from different budgets – operating and capital – and we will not know the County Council’s decision until mid-June. We will continue to work with individual council members to encourage their continued support of AACC, so stay tuned.

Because this update focuses on information specific to employees, I encourage you to look at the update provided to students. We are reminding them to take advantage of our many supports as they prepare to complete the spring term. Please continue to echo this encouragement and direct them to these services.

Thank you for your continued patience and hard work during this time. Take care and be well.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear students-

This is a brief update to give you some additional information about the pass/fail grading option and alert you to other important topics that we are addressing. Gov. Hogan continues to take steps to help our state reduce the spread of COVID-19 while preparing Maryland to begin reopening through a “Roadmap to Recovery.” We continue to monitor that information carefully to meet the needs of our students and community. Until then, we will stay engaged and connected digitally for however long the duration may be.  

NEW MICROSITE

To help support a sense of community and innovation despite the distance, we are launching a new campaign called “Riverhawks at Home.” A new microsite will serve as a digital hub for noncrisis content, and tagged posts on social media will provide snapshots of daily life. Join the digital community by sharing stories of positivity, learning a new skill, or downloading something fun for your home office or classroom. Within the microsite you’ll find student, staff and faculty contributions, Zoom backgrounds, photos and much more. Take some time to visit this new site and stay connected to the AACC family at riverhawksathome.com or with #RiverhawksatHome on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE ON PASS/FAIL OPTION – FORMS AVAILABLE MAY 4

As we have shared before, after your instructor issues a traditional grade, you will have the option to request that the grade be changed to a pass/fail grade (a grade of C or better is a “pass”). You must complete a form to request a change from a traditional grade issued by the instructor to pass/fail. Forms, available May 4, can be found on the left-hand navigation bar on Canvas. Once you have received your traditional grade, you must click on the link and follow instructions for filling out the request. The form will have several prompts for you to respond to before submitting online. 

We want to make sure that you make an informed decision when requesting a grade change to pass/fail. Please review your original grade with your instructor before requesting a pass/fail grade. The pass/fail option will not always be the best choice, especially if you are in or intend to take health professions classes, or transfer to programs with competitive admission criteria. A grade of pass may impact your calculated GPA, including the recognition of Latin honors, at time of graduation. 

A pass grade is considered a successful completion of the course for federal financial aid purposes and is considered in the maximum number of credits for which a student may receive federal aid. There are also considerations for those students who receive scholarships, use employer-provided tuition assistance or VA benefits, or receive tuition assistance through GoArmyEd. 

NEXT STEPS

We are also carefully reviewing the federal stimulus package to determine its potential impact on students and AACC. Please watch for future updates as we learn more.

We continue to explore alternatives for a future 2020 commencement since we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled May graduation. As a reminder, we have extended the fall registration period to June 1. We are actively working to build a comprehensive schedule for the fall to help you stay on track.

Thank you for your patience and your perseverance as we work together through these unprecedented times. Take care and be well.

Dear colleagues-

This update will give you additional information about the pass/fail grading option and the budget status, and alert you to other important topics that we are addressing. Gov. Hogan continues to take steps to help our state reduce the spread of COVID-19 while preparing Maryland to begin reopening through a “roadmap to recovery.” We continue to monitor that information carefully to meet the needs of our students and community. Until then, we will stay engaged and connected digitally for however long the duration may be.  

NEW MICROSITE

To help support a sense of community and innovation despite the distance, we are launching a new campaign called “Riverhawks at Home.” A new microsite will serve as a digital hub for noncrisis content, and tagged posts on social media will provide snapshots of daily life. Join the digital community by sharing stories of positivity, learning a new skill, or downloading something fun for your home office or classroom. Within the microsite you’ll find student, staff and faculty contributions, Zoom backgrounds, photos and much more. Take some time to visit this new site and stay connected to the AACC family at riverhawksathome.com or with #RiverhawksatHome on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE ON PASS/FAIL OPTION – FORMS AVAILABLE MAY 4

As we have shared before, students will have the option to request that their traditional grade be changed to a pass/fail grade (a grade of C or better is a “pass”). Students must complete a form to request a change from a traditional grade issued by the instructor to pass/fail. Forms, available May 4, can be found on the left-hand navigation bar on Canvas. Students must review the traditional grade issued by the instructor before clicking on the link and following instructions for filling out the request. The form will have several prompts for them to respond to before submitting online. 

We want to make sure that students make an informed decision when requesting a grade change to pass/fail. We want students to review their original grades with their instructors before requesting a pass/fail grade. The pass/fail option will not always be the best choice for a student, especially if they are in or intend to take health professions classes, or transfer to programs with competitive admission criteria. A grade of pass may impact their calculated GPA, including the recognition of Latin honors, at time of graduation. 

A pass grade is considered a successful completion of the course for federal financial aid purposes and is considered in the maximum number of credits for which a student may receive federal aid. There are also considerations for those students who receive scholarships, use employer-provided tuition assistance or VA benefits, or receive tuition assistance through GoArmyEd. 

BUDGET UPDATE

I have promised to keep you informed about our budget as we continue planning for the remainder of FY 2020 and seek approval for our FY 2021 budget. Consistent with prior budget practices and the model we have used to successfully prepare for and respond to the operational impacts of COVID-19, we are focusing on controlling the things we can control and planning for multiple scenarios. This Friday, May 1, County Executive Pittman will present his budget to the County Council. We anticipate a reduction to our request but will be able to provide more details after Friday. Look for a separate budget communication on or after May 1.

NEXT STEPS

I realize that many of us are anxious to get out of our home offices and back to the office. While we hope that can happen soon, we must take our cue from Gov. Hogan’s recovery plan, which includes three phases. Through the Emergency Management Team, we have a number of people, representing all divisions and constituency groups of the college, who are looking at the process so we will be ready when the time comes. The likelihood will be to observe social distancing and possibly other practices. Please know that we will keep you informed throughout the process.

We are also carefully reviewing the federal stimulus package to determine its potential impact on students and AACC. Please watch for future updates as we learn more.

We continue to explore alternatives for a future 2020 commencement since we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled May graduation. As a reminder, we have extended the fall registration period to June 1. We appreciate all that you are doing to actively build a comprehensive schedule for the fall to help students stay on track.

Thank you for your patience and your perseverance as we work together through these unprecedented times. Take care and be well.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear students:

This is an important update on plans being put in place for the balance of the summer term and for the fall term. While we continue to monitor state and federal information, we are actively working to build comprehensive schedules to help students plan ahead and stay on track. With that in mind, the following decisions have been made based on the best information we have at this time and in alignment with federal and state guidelines:

• All summer classes will be delivered online. While the decision had been made previously for summer to be online through July 7, we are now expanding that to include all courses in this summer term. The only and limited exceptions will be communicated to you through your faculty in selected programs. 
• All fall classes with start dates prior to Oct. 26 will be delivered online. This decision will allow us to build a robust schedule using online real-time and online self-paced instructional methods.
• To clarify, “real-time online” refers to classes that “meet” online at scheduled times, which will be stated in the course schedule. “Self-paced online” does not require consistent online “meetings” but requires the same level of assignment deadlines and communications with instructors and potentially with classmates on team projects. More detailed descriptions will be provided in the course schedules and FAQs. 
• By the first day of the fall term we will make a decision regarding the instructional formats for the second eight-week session that begins Oct. 26.
• While these decisions focus on class schedules, we will continue to evaluate the ability to provide some support services in person as directed by the state. Until that time, all support services will continue to be delivered online and through remote support.

Please know that these decisions are made with the best information available at this time. No doubt these decisions raise a number of questions about specific programs, resources and other challenges that we are unable to answer fully yet. Our intention is to allow enough time to build and communicate a full range of classes for you. In the near future, we will make every effort to address questions and concerns, communicate new information to you, and update the FAQs on the dedicated COVID-19 webpage.

In addition to these decisions, we are also carefully reviewing the federal stimulus package to determine its potential impact on students and AACC. Please stay tuned for future updates with more details as we learn more.

We continue to explore alternatives for a future 2020 Commencement since we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled May 22 ceremony.

Thank you for your patience and your perseverance as we work together through these unprecedented times. Throughout this pandemic, our first priority has been to the health and safety of our students and workforce. This commitment is followed by our desire to support you on your educational journey regardless of what the future holds.

I recognize how fluid the situation is and assure you that our decisions are intended to provide some stability that will allow you to plan ahead. We are committed to your success and to helping you achieve your goals. Please take care and be well.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear colleagues-

This is an important update on plans being put in place for the balance of the summer term and for the fall term. While we continue to monitor state and federal information, we are actively working on building comprehensive schedules to help students plan ahead and stay on track. With that in mind, the following decisions have been made based on the best information we have at this time and in alignment with federal and state guidelines:

• All summer classes will be delivered online. While the decision had been made previously for summer to be online through July 7, we are now expanding that to include all courses will be delivered remotely for the entire summer term. There are some exceptions that have been identified and communicated to individual faculty.  
• All fall classes with start dates prior to October 26 will be delivered online. This decision will allow us to build a robust schedule using only remote synchronous and asynchronous online instructional methods.
• We will have instructions shortly about how synchronous sections should be entered into the system so that students can see the days and times for such sections upon registration.
• Deans, assistant deans and chairs will collaborate to ensure that student needs are met, and a blend of synchronous and asynchronous sections are offered to students for summer and fall.
• While the language of synchronous/asynchronous is used internally and throughout higher education, we recognize that these terms do not resonate with students. Please know that we will use the more “user-friendly” language of “real-time online” and “self-paced online” which is more intuitive for students.
• Limited exceptions to the college’s requirements of online learning may be granted due to accreditation and extenuating circumstances (e.g. studio time) by the vice president of Learning and/or PVP depending on rationale, and only if and when state law allows.
• By the first day of the fall term, we will make a decision regarding the instructional formats for the second eight-week session that begins Oct. 26.
• While these decisions focus on class schedules, there is the expectation that at some point some or all employees will be able to work from their respective offices. Again, these decisions will be made as further guidelines are provided by the state.
• Similarly, we will continue to evaluate the ability to provide some support services in person as directed by the state. Until that time, all support services will continue to be delivered online and through remote support.

Please know that these decisions are made with the best information available at this time. No doubt these decisions raise a number of questions that we are unable to answer fully yet. Our intention is to allow enough time to build and communicate a full range of classes for students. In the near future, we will make every effort to address questions and concerns, communicate new information to you, and update the FAQs on the dedicated COVID-19 page.

In addition to these decisions, we are also carefully reviewing the federal stimulus package to determine its potential impact on students and AACC. Please stay tuned for future updates with more details as we learn more.

I know you are interested in the status of the college’s budget. We will have more information to share early next week, following the Board’s budget committee meeting tomorrow. The county executive presents his budget to the County Council on May 1 so we will provide another, more detailed, update shortly thereafter.

We continue to explore alternatives for a future 2020 Commencement since we will not be able to hold our previously scheduled May 22 ceremony.

Thank you for your patience and your perseverance as we work together through these unprecedented times. Throughout this pandemic, our first priority has been to the health and safety of our workforce and students. This commitment is followed by our desire to support our students on their educational journey regardless of what the future holds.

I recognize how fluid the situation and assure you that our decisions are intended to provide some stability. Through our continued collaboration, creativity and dedication to our students and to one another, we continue to meet our mission and the needs of our community. I am truly thankful for your hard work and for all you are doing. Please take care and be well.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear Students:

I have some important updates, but before sharing them, I want to first acknowledge the incredible work that is going on behind the scenes to ready us for delivery of remote classes and services. Your faculty and support staff have been pulling together to ensure you will have the necessary support, tools and resources to help you move forward and accomplish your goals.

During this extended spring break much has changed and the Governor has placed further restrictions impacting all of us. While we had previously announced providing limited in-person services and keeping some facilities open after the break, we are amending that decision to reflect the state’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Spring Term

• All classes and student services will be delivered remotely with the aid of technology through the end of the term, May 22.
•  There will be no physical access to buildings through the end of the term.
• As previously announced, all spring classes will resume online April 6.
• In addition all student services will be provided remotely through the balance of the term.
• This year’s commencement will not take place as scheduled but is being postponed until further notice. However students meeting the requirements to graduate this spring will still be able to earn their degrees and certificates.

Beyond Spring Term

• Details of summer plans are being developed and will be communicated in the next update. Please keep in mind that our summer schedule has always included a comprehensive list of online classes and that will continue this year as well.
• The start of the fall registration period will begin June 1, not in April, as previously scheduled.
• We are in the process of updating both student FAQs and will continue to update the FAQs to reflect changes. Look to those FAQs for detailed information about access to services, including books and laptops, as well as contacts for different departments.
• We know you have questions and will continue to have questions, so please review the FAQs thoroughly and continue to stay informed through this webpage.
• Also, please remember to check you MyAACC email account frequently for updates as well.

Again, I want to thank you for your cooperation to protect the health and safety of our community. This is an unprecedented situation, and we recognize how disruptive it is to you. The means and timing of your classes will differ, but the quality of the education will remain rigorous and our commitment to success unwavering. Rest assured that we are doing everything we can to support your educational journey and future goals.

Please take care of yourself and let’s continue to support one another. We will get through this together.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear Colleagues:

I have some important updates, but before sharing them, I want to first acknowledge the incredible work that is going on behind the scenes to ready us for delivery of remote classes and services. Thank you to the Emergency Management Team, essential personnel and other staff and faculty who have been working diligently throughout the break. Your spirit of community and commitment to our students and one another is extraordinary and greatly appreciated.

During the extended spring break much has changed and the Governor has placed further restrictions impacting all of us. While we had previously announced providing limited in-person services and keeping some facilities open after the break, we are amending that decision to reflect the state’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Resuming work on March 30

• Beginning March 30, all employees are to resume work remotely/telecommuting unless designated by your supervisor.
• There will be no physical access to any college buildings through the end of the term, May 22.  This includes Arundel Mills, GBTC, Sales & Service Training Center, CCPT.
• While telecommuting, employees must be accessible, responsive, reliable, and available by phone, email and/or chat, where appropriate.
• For faculty and staff who need brief, in-person access to files or other information to enable them to work from home, buildings will be unlocked Mon. March 30 – Wed. April 1 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• After April 1, access to buildings will require approval from supervisors. Again, the expectation is that all employees will be working from home and exceptions allowing access to campus will be made on a very limited basis.
  • The expectation is this access should be minimal since our last communication advised that employees should plan on telecommuting with minimal physical presence on campus
  • Securing office supplies alone should not be considered a priority
  • Please coordinate this access with your teams to ensure people’s visits to the office are staggered and incorporate social distancing
  • Beginning April 2, if employees need to come to campus to maintain critical operations, they need to advise their supervisor with the date, time and building to which they require access.  Supervisors will submit that schedule to Sean Kapfhammer, chief of police and director of public safety, via email to srkapfhammer@aacc.edu at least a day ahead of time to ensure that the building is accessible to your employees.  
• Essential personnel (e.g. Public Safety and Police) will continue to work on campus.
• As previously announced, all spring classes will resume online April 6.
• In addition, student services will be provided remotely through the balance of the term.

Student Communications

A related communication will go to students today as well. That communication will include:

• This year’s commencement will not take place as scheduled but is being postponed until further notice. However students meeting the requirements to graduate this spring will still be able to earn their degrees and certificates.
• Again, all spring classes will resume online April 6 and also student services will be provided remotely through the balance of the term.
• Details of summer plans are being developed and will be communicated in the next update.
•  The start of the fall registration period will begin June 1, not in April, as previously scheduled.
•  We are in the process of updating the student and faculty/staff FAQs and will continue to update the FAQs to reflect changes. We encourage you to read both sets of FAQs to familiarize yourself with information provided to our students.
•  Please continue to stay informed through this webpage.

Again, I want to thank you for your cooperation to protect the health and safety of our community. This is an unprecedented situation, and we recognize how disruptive it is to you, your families, our students, our college and the community at large. Working together, we will provide the necessary support, tools and resources to help our students move forward and accomplish their goals. The means and timing will differ, but the quality of the education will remain rigorous and our commitment to success unwavering.

Please take care of yourself and let’s continue to support one another. We will get through this together.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

To the College Community:

As a follow up to my message from yesterday, I want to clarify that we have learned an AACC employee has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Although we cannot release a name due to federal privacy laws, I want to assure you that this individual was not at any college property or location, did not have direct contact with students and had limited contact with some staff who are being informed directly by the Maryland Department of Health. Furthermore there have been no reported cases of individuals on college properties, locations, classrooms or offices.

AACC remains committed to the well-being of our students, faculty and staff. We continue to coordinate with local, state and federal public health authorities to ensure the ongoing health and safety of our community. 

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear AACC Students:

As we all know, Gov. Hogan has put strict limitations statewide in response to the novel coronavirus and encouraged all of us to work together to limit the spread. As a community college, we support a large workforce that serves thousands of all ages within our community. It was therefore reasonable to assume that, at some point, one or more of us would exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. That has now happened.

Our first priority is to your health and safety, followed by our desire to support you on your educational journey through this challenging and uncertain time. We will do our best to keep you informed of confirmed cases, but we also ask for your help. If you are exhibiting symptoms, we ask that you follow the guidelines provided by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health by taking the following actions:

1. Monitor yourself for fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other respiratory symptoms for the next 14 days.
2. Isolate yourself from others for the next 14 days. Contact your primary care provider if you develop symptoms.
3. If you are sick enough to seek care at an emergency room, please put on a mask and when you enter the facility, tell the front desk you have symptoms of COVID-19 and may have been exposed.
4. If you call 911, also tell the 911 operator you have symptoms of COVID-19 and were exposed.
5. Notify the AACC Health & Wellness Center at bamays@aacc.edu if you are tested or receive care for COVID-19.

In addition to these actions, please alert others you have been in contact with in recent days. This virus spreads mainly from person to person between people who are within 6 feet of each other, and people are thought to be most contagious when they are the sickest. COVID-19 illnesses range from mild to very severe respiratory illness. Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older individuals and those with underlying health conditions may be at greater risk. If you are in either of these categories, contact your health care provider for additional recommendations.

This is an unprecedented situation and it is natural to experience stress, anxiety, grief and worry right now. At the same time, it is important to get help if you need it. Stay connected to family and friends by phone, text, video or email, and explore the CDC’s advice about caring for yourself and those around you.

We share this information for your health and safety and that of our community. By working together, we can get through this challenging and uncertain time.

Thank you,

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

To the College Community:

As we all know, Gov. Hogan has put strict limitations statewide in response to the novel coronavirus and encouraged all of us to work together to limit the spread. As a community college, we support a large workforce that serves thousands of all ages within our community. It was therefore reasonable to assume that, at some point, one or more of us would exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. That has now happened.

We will do our best to keep you informed of confirmed cases, but we also ask for your help. Please do not rely on the college to notify others about your symptoms or contacts. Rather, we ask that you follow the guidelines provided by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health by taking the following actions:

1. Monitor yourself for fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other respiratory symptoms for the next 14 days.

2. Isolate yourself from others for the next 14 days. Contact your primary care provider if you develop symptoms.

3. If you are sick enough to seek care at an emergency room, please put on a mask and when you enter the facility, tell the front desk you have symptoms of COVID-19 and may have been exposed.

4. If you call 911, also tell the 911 operator you have symptoms of COVID-19 and were exposed.

5. Notify Suzanne Boyer at slboyer@aacc.edu if you are tested or receive care for COVID-19.

In addition to these actions, please alert others you have been in contact with in recent days. This virus spreads mainly from person to person between people who are within 6 feet of each other, and people are thought to be most contagious when they are the sickest. COVID-19 illnesses range from mild to very severe respiratory illness. Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older individuals and those with underlying health conditions may be at greater risk. If you are in either of these categories, contact your health care provider for additional recommendations.

This is an unprecedented situation and it is natural to experience stress, anxiety, grief and worry right now. At the same time, it is important to get help if you need it. Stay connected to family and friends by phone, text, video or email, and explore the CDC’s advice about caring for yourself and those around you. 

We share this information for your health and safety and that of our community. By working together, we can get through this challenging and uncertain time. 

Thank you,

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear AACC Students,

No doubt you are receiving countless communications about COVID-19 and what to do in preparation for different scenarios. I want to assure you that AACC is here for you.

Although this is spring break, please know the leadership team is addressing daily the consequences of COVID-19 and providing direction for our college with a sense of urgency. 

Our first priority is to your health and safety followed by our desire to support you on your educational journey through this challenging and uncertain time.

I know you have many questions and concerns so I wanted to take a moment to outline some of the current considerations and efforts underway to help you complete this spring.

First let me restate the current student schedule:

March 16-April 5
Extended Spring Break for students.

April 2
Student support services resume in person by practicing social distancing and remote access where possible.

April 6
Classes resume through remote instruction through the end of the term.

May 22
Spring term concludes, including all instruction and final exams.

Next, let me address specific areas as best we can at this point in time.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

• AACC will continue to support students so they may succeed in the courses they are taking spring 2020.
• Faculty have been working to migrate face-to-face courses to remote delivery.
• I recognize that some of you are concerned about the learning experience, adjusting to a new way of delivery and access to information and materials.
• We understand your concerns and faculty and staff have been benefitting from additional training to consider new and innovative ways to support you remotely while also ensuring that you can continue to feel a connection to the college and your major.
• The Virtual Writing Center, library, advising and more are poised to assist students in their academic needs remotely beginning April 2.
• Different approaches to learning, including remote delivery of hands-on labs, are being considered and a plan is being developed for our return to instruction April 6.
• You will receive direct communication from your instructor regarding your specific class(es) no later than March 28.
• I will also provide an update on our progress each week. Look for another update each Wednesday.

REMOTE/ONLINE LEARNING AND USING CANVAS

• We recognize that remote delivery of instruction may be new for many of our students. We also recognize that this method of delivery may pose some challenges for those who lack adequate access to devices and other technology.
• Beginning April 2, all services are available including access to computers in our Technology Learning Centers at Arnold, AMIL and GBTC.
• The College Bookstore currently has several devices in stock priced with an academic discount. The bookstore is also offering free shipping for all online orders to assist students at a distance.
• Students may be eligible for assistance through the college’s Helplink program. Please email studenthelplink@aacc.edu for more information.
• The college has a limited number of devices available to borrow from the Truxal Library in Arnold. Please email Circdesk@aacc.edu(using your aacc.edu student email address). We will be scheduling appointments for all device pickups.
• AACC’s faculty and staff are committed to maintaining high quality and rigorous instruction with the aid of technology, including Canvas— the college’s primary course management platform.
• To learn more about how to access, participate and succeed in remote instruction via Canvas, please visit https://aacc.instructure.com/courses/92592/pages/online-learning-and-using-canvas. Here, you will learn more about online student success, services at a distance and technical support.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT & STUDENT SERVICES

• We urge students to access student services remotely as much as possible.
• The following services are available to students beginning Thursday, April 2 through a combination of in-person following social distancing and remote access: Academic and Transfer Advising, Cashier, Disability Support Services, Employment Services, Financial Aid, Health and Wellness Center, Information Desk, Library, Math Lab, Military and Veteran Student Services, Personal and Career Counseling, Records and Registration, Student Achievement and Success (SASP), Technology Learning Center, Testing, and Tutoring.
• To promote social distancing, we encourage priority use of the chat feature on aacc.edu, MyAACC college email, phone, and MyAACC online services.
• We will offer limited in-person assistance on an as needed basis and have taken steps ensure appropriate social distancing.

PAYING FOR EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19

• Many students depend on jobs that are at risk given new state and federal directives.
• Please be sure you have contacted AACC’s Financial Aid Office at finaid@aacc.edu as many students do not take advantage of their full aid eligibility.
• Emergency support services, including AACC food pantries and the Helplink Program, are available to assist students experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Helplink and Food Pantry services will resume normal hours of operation on Monday, April 2 at the Arnold and Glen Burnie Town Center locations. Services will be accessible at AACC at Arundel Mills beginning by appointment only.

COMMENCEMENT

• Commencement is a very special occasion for our faculty, staff, and students, and their families. The college is giving thoughtful consideration of the needs of our students, particularly as it relates to graduation. We will communicate news regarding this year’s spring commencement through our weekly updates.

STUDENT SUCCESS BEYOND SPRING

• The College is already working to consider how summer session and fall registration may have to vary in order to address the changes in classrooms. Fall registration will now begin June 1.
• Additional changes about fall and summer will be communicated to you through the weekly update, and will be based on what we understand students need to continue at their rate of completing their degrees at AACC.

These are just a few of the many things that AACC is currently working on. Please check the student FAQs for more information and answers to your questions, and look for weekly messages from me about the latest news. 

As I shared in my previous communication, please remember to take time to care for yourselves along with your family and neighbors. We will get through this together.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

To the College Community:

Although this is spring break, I want to assure you the leadership team is addressing daily the consequences of COVID-19 and providing direction for our workforce and students with a sense of urgency. 

Our first priority is to the health and safety of our workforce and students. This is followed by our desire to support our students on their educational journey through this challenging and uncertain time.

Because of the rapid spread of COVID-19, decisions need to be revisited and amended. Last week our plan was to have all employees return to campus on March 30, 2020. Based on directives from our Governor and our President, we have amended that plan and are working with supervisors to develop more flexible and creative scheduling options with a heavy reliance on telecommuting.

What this will look like as we assess the situation today:

• March 30 employees resume work following social distancing recommendations, which include staggering schedules, alternating work days within the office and teleworking wherever possible.
• Onsite staffing should be appropriate for providing student services that cannot be delivered remotely or strikes a fair balance with remote support.
• The bottom line is that faculty and staff should plan to telecommute and not come to the college unless physical presence is required for essential and designated critical functions as communicated by supervisors (more detailed guidelines are being sent to supervisors).
• Again, this means staggering days and or hours in which employees are physically in the office while maintaining any minimally required counter service coverage. 

As you know, we have a dedicated web page — a one stop shop — enabling everyone to view current information, including a set of FAQs for employees and students that was posted before we left for break. We have recently updated the faculty/staff FAQs with more information and will continue to update them through the extended break. Please visit www.aacc.edu/virusinfo for that updated information as well as a video message from me that was posted Friday, March 13, 2020.

Also, the Faculty Resource Community is available on MyAACC (see FAQs for a reminder on how to access). The Virtual Campus will be available to support faculty beginning the afternoon of March 23.

Please keep in mind that this pandemic is unchartered territory and the situation remains fluid. I recognize the many challenges our faculty, staff and students face, from personal health concerns to the health care of loved ones to concerns about personal finances and child care.

I want to acknowledge and thank our emergency management team and the many other faculty and staff working in small teams creating recommendations and solutions to address the evolving challenges we face. 

While we don’t know when we will be able to return to normal routines, I am confident that we will get through the challenges presented by COVID-19 and will emerge even stronger. This requires continued creativity, innovation, collaboration and thoughtful decision making. Thank you for your commitment, hard work and patience. Most important, thank you for being a part of the solution. 

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

To the college community,

As you are aware, the governor announced late yesterday a number of statewide initiatives, including the closing of all public schools for two weeks starting Monday, March 16. Although we are not required to follow this mandate, we recognize the impact this decision has on our workforce and our students. In response, we have updated our plan.

The new dates are as follows:

March 16-April 5
Extended Spring Break for students.

March 16-March 29               
Extended Spring Break for faculty and staff. Essential employees will be on campus as needed.

March 23-March 27
Please note that while the college is closed for Spring Break, some faculty and staff designated by vice presidents will be needed to begin our preparation for remote learning. Those employees will be informed directly by their supervisors.

March 30
Faculty and staff report to work as informed by their supervisors to prepare for all instruction to be offered remotely.

April 2
Student support services resume in person by practicing social distancing and remote access where possible.

April 6
Classes resume through remote instruction through the end of the term.

May 22
Spring term concludes, including all instruction and final exams.

If faculty and staff have questions about this information, please ask your supervisor. For students, you will be contacted directly by your instructor about how your class will be delivered. More details are available through two FAQs: one for  and another for .

I realize this is a heavy lift and extremely disruptive. Please remember we are doing this in service to the entire community and in support of the state. I support the leadership role that the state is taking and am proud of the collective effort we are making. I thank all of you for your commitment and dedication to our students, to one another and to our community.

Please bear with us as we work through this ever-changing and unprecedented situation. As busy as we are, remember to take time to care for yourselves along with your family and your neighbors. We will get through this together.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear College Community,

As you know the college has been monitoring and planning how best to respond to the novel coronavirus. Currently, there are no confirmed cases associated with AACC, however, we’re at a stage where we all can play a role in protecting the health and safety of our community.

The following policies are based on best practices around social distancing to reduce or limit the spread of the disease and help “flatten the curve.” Beginning March 30, the majority of courses will be delivered remotely with the aid of technology. Because this continues to be a fluid, rapidly changing situation, this information will be updated no later than March 13.

SPRING BREAK

• Students
  • Spring break will be extended another week for students only. There will be no classes for students March 16-29.
  • Classes — including the start of the second eight-week session — will resume March 30.
  • Health Sciences clinicals and AACC-related internships in partnership with other organizations will continue as scheduled as determined by those organizations.
  • Beginning March 30, the majority of courses will be delivered remotely with the aid of technology.
  • Additional information regarding your individual courses will be provided no later than the week of March 23.
  • Services, such as the library, bookstore, Child Development Center, etc. will resume Thursday, March 26.
• Faculty and staff
  • Report for work March 23 as previously scheduled.
  • During the week of March 23, assess and prepare courses to be delivered through remote means.
  • Workshops to prepare for remote delivery will be provided the week of March 23.

COLLEGE EVENTS

• College events with more than 50 attendees, scheduled through April 30 are canceled.
• This includes all college-sponsored events such as the College Fair, spring concerts, etc., and applies regardless of location.
• This decision will be reevaluated on April 15 for events scheduled after April 30.
• Currently, this does not apply to athletic events.

TRAVEL

• All AACC-related out-of-state and international travel is suspended until further notice.
• Personal travel should be at your own comfort level and discretion.
• Should you choose to travel on your own internationally:
  • A list of international destinations with travel notices is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The CDC advises that you avoid destinations with a level 2 alert and level 3 warning. It is essential that you make the college aware of travel plans to level 2 and 3 countries.
  • If you choose to travel to locations with these travel notices, you will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to class or work.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Additional details and related FAQs for both students and college employees are being developed and will be available no later than March 13.
• Please revisit this page often for those updates.

REDUCING ANXIETY AND STIGMA

• We recognize that these decisions can create challenges and anxiety as this is an unprecedented global public health issue.
• Please remember that community counseling resources are available.  AACC counseling services will resume as of March 26.
• Throughout this process, we must work together to avoid the stigma that can accompany illness. We should not make assumptions about individuals we believe may have come into contact with someone with COVID-19.
• In keeping with our college values, discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated at AACC. Learn more about stigma and resilience related to COVID-19.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation as we work together. Please stay informed through this webpage and its related links, and support one another.

Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College

Dear College Community,

As we continue to monitor the novel coronavirus outbreak, we’ve had to make some hard decisions to best protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.

Effective immediately, college events with more than 50 attendees are suspended until further notice. This includes Thursday’s College Fair, spring concerts, etc. Currently, this does not apply to athletic events.

This is a fluid and rapidly changing situation. The college will continue to assess and take action appropriately. Please look for a comprehensive update tomorrow from Dr. Lindsay on the college’s additional plans.

Thank you,

Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt.
Vice President, Learner Support Services

Dear AACC Students:

Following confirmation of cases of COVID-19 in Maryland, we will continue to provide regular updates to you about AACC’s response to this evolving situation. Please refer to this webpage (also accessible from the home page) as your primary source for AACC information.

As spring break is approaching, everyone is reminded of the following:

• Check international travel advisories and restrictions.
• Students should follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for prevention and healthy travel.
• A list of international destinations with travel notices is available at the CDC website, which can be accessed through this page and related links.
• CDC advises that you avoid destinations with a level 2 alert and level 3 warning. It is essential that you make the college aware of travel plans to level 2 and 3 countries.
• If you choose to travel to these locations, you will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to class. As a reminder, AACC’s class attendance policy can be found in the college catalog. Faculty will explore options on ways to accommodate students who may need to temporarily complete assignments remotely.
• As no restrictions have been placed on domestic travel, you should travel at your own comfort level and discretion.

Through various health sources, we are learning more about COVID-19 and how it is transmitted every day. We ask that you be prepared for a range of possibilities in the future, from suspension of some operations, such as events, to moving more classes online to a suspension of some classes.

The college continues to be coordinating closely with county public health agencies on its response, including contingency planning, and will continue to do so. AACC is committed to doing everything it can to ensure the health and safety of our community.

Thank you for your continued attention to this evolving situation.

Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt.

Vice President, Learner Support Services

Dear Colleagues:

Following confirmation of cases of COVID-19 in Maryland and Governor Hogan’s recent news conference, we understand some members of our community have concerns about steps that may need to be taken in the event of widespread local, regional or national transmission of the virus. For that reason, we will continue to provide regular email updates to faculty, staff and students, and to this webpage. Please refer to this webpage (also accessible from the home page) for regular updates.

As spring break is approaching, everyone is reminded of the following:

• Check international travel advisories and restrictions.
• Faculty, staff and students should follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for prevention and healthy travel.
• A list of international destinations with travel notices is available at the CDC website, which can be accessed through this webpage and related links.
• CDC advises that you avoid destinations with a level 2 alert and level 3 warning. It is essential that you make the college aware of travel plans to level 2 and 3 countries. Our Manager of the Health & Wellness Center, Beth Mays, can be reached at 410-777-2480. If you do choose to travel to these locations, you will be asked to self-quarantine and self-monitor for 14 days before returning to work.
• Students will be asked to do the same before returning to class. Please remind students of AACC’s class attendance policy, which can be found in the college catalog. For students who are impacted by COVID-19, faculty are asked to do their best to work with them on course completion while maintaining the rigor of the course and meeting learning outcomes. Please contact your assistant dean if you have questions.
• As no restrictions have been placed on domestic travel, faculty and staff traveling on behalf of the college or related to their position at the college should do so at their own discretion. If an offsite event is cancelled and reimbursement is needed, please see these policies for clarification.

Students will receive a similar communications about AACC’s emergency planning. We encourage you to remind students to use the AACC website for information about the college’s response to this evolving situation.

Through various health sources, we are learning more about COVID-19 and how it is transmitted every day. We need to be prepared for a range of possibilities in the future, from suspending some operations and events to moving more classes online to a suspension of some classes.

As a reminder, it is essential that every department review and update its Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to ensure the plans are up-to-date and cover operations in the event we have any impact on campus. Faculty, too, should make sure they are prepared to use Canvas as needed.

The college continues to coordinate closely with county public health agencies on its response, including contingency planning. AACC is committed to doing everything it can to ensure the health and safety of our community. Thank you for your continued attention to this evolving situation.

Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt.
Vice President, Learner Support Services

Dear College Community,

As updates on the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to evolve and with recent guidance from the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we want to again assure you that the college continues to actively monitor developments regarding the outbreak of the COVID-19. At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed cases of coronavirus at Anne Arundel Community College, in Anne Arundel County, or in the State of Maryland.

President Trump has issued new travel restrictions and advisories, also noted in the CDC travel information. As the global community continues its efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the college is restricting any college sponsored travel to and from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and/or Japan. As additional information comes forward, we will continue to keep the college community up to date and informed through our email communication and webpage.  

We ask that you continue to familiarize yourself with the following actions recommended by the CDC to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. People who think they may have been exposed to the coronavirus should contact their healthcare provider immediately. If you know of students or employees who may have recently traveled to China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and/or Japan, please refer them to our Manager of the Health & Wellness Center, Beth Mays at 410-777-2480, to learn more about health resources available.

Thank you,

Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt.
Vice President, Learner Support Services

Dear College Community,

Following recent announcements from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we want to assure you that the college continues to actively monitor developments regarding the outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. The CDC states that the public health risk from COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States, but individual risk is dependent on exposure. Risk of exposure to COVID-19 by the general American public is considered low at this time.

In addition, we are not aware of any coronavirus cases in Maryland, at AACC, or connected to AACC. To provide our students, faculty and staff with general information and updates related to COVID-19, we have created a COVID-19 webpage.

We want you to know that AACC has a cross-divisional Pandemic Team in place that is monitoring national conditions in relation to AACC and will make recommendations about the best steps to take concerning our college. Keeping you informed is one of the first priorities. 

As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we assure you that the college takes COVID-19 very seriously and will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available through email, the website, and social media outlets. We want to remind you that it is still flu season and that you should take preventative measures to combat both the flu and Coronavirus. We appreciate your support and cooperation. 

Thank you,

Felicia Patterson, D.Mgt.
Vice President, Learner Support Services