Likely, we'll need to evolve with them. Look for weekly updates each Wednesday to keep you informed of the latest AACC decisions and resources.
Think you missed something? This is where you'll find current and past communications.
Dear Colleagues,
It was wonderful to see so many familiar and new faces at convocation. What a joy to gather and celebrate our accomplishments, explore upcoming challenges and enjoy each other during the slight pause before the start of our fall 2022 semester. Excitement is in the air and I believe our students feel it too.
A few reminders as we kick off the fall term.
COVID Safety Protocols
AACC is aligning our COVID-19 reporting protocols with the CDC and asks that employees and students report positive COVID tests to COVID Safety through our reporting form or by emailing COVIDsafety@aacc.edu. Instructions will be provided regarding the required isolation period and steps to take in order to be cleared to return to the office. If you have COVID symptoms, stay home, get tested and if you test positive, report to COVID Safety. For those who believe they have been exposed to COVID, there is no need to report to COVID Safety. CDC guidance states that instead of quarantining if you were exposed to COVID-19, you should wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day five. Faculty will be notified when a student may return to class and supervisors will be advised when an employee is cleared to return to the office.
Monkeypox Protocols
The college is following guidance from the CDC and the county health department regarding monkeypox. For information regarding the signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment, visit the CDC’s website section on monkeypox. Anyone with a diagnosis from a health care professional should stay home and report through our reporting form or by emailing COVIDsafety@aacc.edu. We will require documentation from a medical provider before you can return to the office.
Students with COVID-19 or monkeypox should contact their faculty members for guidance regarding classes if they are not permitted to be in class. Employees should contact their supervisors regarding whether they may telework or take leave if they are not permitted in the office.
Wishing everyone rest, resilience and a fantastic start to the fall term. It has been great seeing so many of my colleagues this week!
Dear Colleagues,
How exciting to think that commencement is just around the corner, along with the summer season! As I have shared previously, we have been hard at work on plans for moving forward this year and have recently made some decisions after extensive information gathering from you, employee group representatives and best practices.
We are hopeful that we are turning the corner on COVID-19, so below are important updates that will be implemented Aug. 15, 2022, unless noted otherwise.
Guiding Principles
Student Support Services
Faculty Teaching Online Classes and Faculty Office Hours
Academic and Administrative Offices
Other Important Information
To see current guidelines, visit the Riverhawks Reunite page on the website.
As always, we will be prepared to amend decisions, if needed, to ensure the continued health and safety of the college community. We know this has been a challenging few years, and I cannot thank each of you enough for your commitment to our community and students, and equally, for your creativity and positivity during difficult times. We appreciate your hard work and commitment to our students.
Have a great rest of the week as we all gear up for commencement and a well-deserved four-day weekend.
Dear Colleagues and Students -
As you know, next week is our spring break. This year has already been extra busy, so I hope you will be able to enjoy some time off to rejuvenate.
Following the break, we will not resume weekly updates but will share essential information on an as needed basis. Here are a few updates for this week:
Discontinuing health attestations
Completion of the Student Attestation (Health Pledge) will no longer be required as part of registration. This applies to online and paper registration for both credit and continuing education courses. Visitors to campus will no longer be required to complete an attestation form as well. We are actively reviewing and updating any references to attestations which may be found in forms or digital locations.
Calendar updates and days off
I want to make sure everyone is aware that the Board of Trustees approved the revised Academic Calendar 2021-2022 to include the observance of Juneteenth. As that day falls on a weekend this year, the college will observe the holiday on Monday, June 20. This day off is in addition to the approval of an employee appreciation day off following college graduation on Friday, May 27. The college’s official calendars are being updated. Please update your calendars as well.
Spring participation in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE)
This spring, AACC is participating in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), a national survey of institutional practices and student behaviors spearheaded by The University of Texas at Austin. CCSSE results will help us better understand our students’ college experiences and will be used to inform decision making and target institutional improvements to better engage students. Research shows that actively engaged students – with college faculty, staff other students – are more likely to learn and to achieve their academic goals.
The link to the survey will be sent out via email on Tuesday, March 29 to faculty and staff members. If you are an instructor or are a staff member who interacts with students, please encourage them to complete CCSSE. If you have any questions about AACC’s participation in this national benchmarking study, please contact Dr. Shuang Liu at Sliu4@aacc.edu. To learn more about CCSSE visit their website, or contact CCCSE at 512-471-6807 or info@cccse.org.
Second eight-week session begins March 28
The next session of eight-week classes begins March 28. Since this is the day we return from spring break, we encourage students to sign up now. Though students will be on break next week, they can continue to register online. An additional eight-week class is a great way for students to keep up the momentum and progress through their programs.
Have a great rest of the week and enjoy the spring break!
Dear Colleagues and Students -
As we approach the middle of this term, I recognize how busy you are! I hope you are taking care of yourself. For this update, we have some changes and some reminders.
Vaccine reporting and testing protocols conclude today
As noted last week, AACC has amended its health and safety policies to no longer require vaccine reporting and weekly COVID-19 testing effective today, which is also the last day to upload testing results. For faculty and students participating in clinicals, fieldwork, internships or externships in health care or clinic settings in the School of Health Sciences or the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, the vaccine mandate will continue for this term. An announcement will be forthcoming about future terms and requirements.
We continue to strongly encourage vaccinations and boosters as an added safeguard for individuals and our community. The Anne Arundel County Department of Health continues to offer vaccines and boosters on the Arnold campus. Please be aware that COVID testing will be available for the college community until next Wednesday, March 16.
Also, as a reminder, the college will continue to require masks indoors at AACC locations through the balance of the spring term, May 18. Masks become optional on May 19.
In-person Commencement at the Event Center at Live! Casino & Hotel
After further consideration, we are excited to announce that this year’s graduation will be held in person. Commencement will take place Thursday, May 26, at the Event Center at Live! Casino & Hotel. With the continued relaxing of COVID-related requirements, including the decision to make masks optional beginning May 19, we believe an in-person ceremony is the best course of action in service to our students. Details are still being confirmed, so be sure to look for more information on the event in the near future.
COVID-19 reporting remains in place
As a reminder, the college will continue to require reporting for individuals who:
It is important that all of us continue to follow AACC COVID-19 reporting guidelines.
Thank you for all you do to remain flexible with these ever-changing times.
Dear Colleagues and Students -
As expected, the CDC recently announced new COVID-19 guidelines, which update the classifications of low, medium and high risk for local jurisdictions. This is good news for our community as Anne Arundel County is no longer considered a high or substantial risk for COVID-19 and is now listed as low risk.
Vaccines and testing protocols conclude March 9
Based on the new CDC guidelines, AACC will be amending its health and safety policies to no longer require vaccinations and weekly testing effective March 9, which will be the last day to upload testing results. However, we continue to strongly encourage vaccinations and boosters as an added safeguard for individuals and our community. For faculty and students participating in clinicals, fieldwork, internships, or externships in health care or clinic settings in the School of Health Sciences or the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, the vaccine mandate will continue for this semester and an announcement will be forthcoming about future semesters and requirements.
Masks continue through May 18
The college will continue to require masks indoors at AACC locations through the balance of the spring term, May 18. Masks become optional on May 19.
This decision was not made lightly. We know there are different opinions on continuing the mask mandate through the spring term. That said, I believe this reflects our continued commitment to our workforce and students by providing an added level of safety for faculty and staff working on campus in a face-to-face environment.
COVID-19 reporting remains in place
Also, the college will continue to require reporting for individuals who:
It is important that you continue to follow AACC COVID-19 reporting guidelines.
Second eight-week session begins March 28
Just a reminder that the next session of eight-week classes begins March 28. As this is the day we return from spring break, we encourage students to sign up now. This is a great way for students to keep up the momentum and progress through their programs.
Planning for summer and fall underway
As I have shared previously, we are completing our plans for summer and fall. We will continue to monitor the situation and will be prepared to amend decisions, if needed, to ensure continued health and safety of the college community.
We are hopeful that we are turning the corner on COVID-19. We know this has been a challenging time, and we must be prepared for future adjustments.
Dear Colleagues and Students -
Another unseasonably warm few days this week. I do not want to get hopes up about spring weather (this is Maryland after all), but it’s a nice break from the bitter cold and an opportunity to get outdoors.
Here are a few updates this week:
Mask requirement at AACC remains in place
As noted last week, we are not removing the mask requirement at AACC at this time. The college will continue to make its own decision regarding face coverings and it may exceed state and local requirements. To date, we have relied heavily on CDC guidelines, especially for issues that have not been addressed or mandated at the county or state levels. It is our understanding that the CDC will update its recommendations for indoor masking soon, so we will continue to monitor and reevaluate our masking protocols during the spring term in relation to CDC guidance.
2022 Carmencement celebration
This year we will once again hold a Carmencement to celebrate graduates completing degrees and certificates. The previous Carmencements have been well attended and celebratory, allowing individuals, family and friends (and even some pets) to be recognized in a spirit of community. Given the volatility of COVID-19, it will also provide an added level of health and safety. The date of the celebration will be Thursday, May 26. Be sure to look for additional communications in the near future for other details.
Summer and fall plans
This week we are refining plans for the fall as well as for summer and will share further with the college community next week. As we have experienced over the past two years, making plans so far in advance can prove challenging with the continued uncertainty and fluidity of COVID-19. However, we anticipate that there could be adjustments made later this year that will impact the spring term. Thank you for your patience and stay tuned.
Take care, and enjoy this beautiful weather,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues and Students -
We once again seem to have a temporary break from the chill of winter. I hope you are enjoying this early taste of spring weather. Here are this week’s updates:
AACC Named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction!
I am so excited to announce that AACC has been recognized as a Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream. AACC was deemed an exemplar institution that has identified and implemented equity strategies that have proven to be successful. It was noted that colleges chosen for the award have developed equitable cultures that look deeply at outcomes for underserved student groups including Black, Latino and Indigenous students; have stronger focus on improving outcomes for students eligible to receive Pell grants; and provide clear links between evidence-informed efforts and improved student success metrics.
COVID Booster Update
To incentivize more Marylanders to get COVID-19 booster shots, the state is running the $2 Million VaxCash 2.0 Promotion. Residents who have received initial doses and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine at eligible locations in Maryland are in the running for $2 million in cash prizes, with drawings from now until May 3. In reviewing the website it states there is no need to apply. All Marylanders who meet the criteria are automatically entered for this promotion.
To register for a COVID booster shot appointment in Annex A (and at other county locations), visit the health department’s website.
Fall planning
While the spring term is in full swing, we are already planning for the fall as the schedule needs to be built before registration opens in April. As we have experienced over the past two years, making plans so far in advance can prove challenging with the continued uncertainty and fluidity of COVID-19. However, we want you to know that the process is underway and that we will provide updates as soon as we have them available. Thank you for your patience and stay tuned.
Thank you for all that you are doing to keep our community healthy and safe!
Dawn
Dear Students-
I hope everyone is enjoying this temporary winter thaw and getting into the swing of the spring term. It is so exciting to see many of you on campus, and I know faculty and staff feel the same!
Here are a few important reminders and updates:
COVID-19 Testing
A reminder, COVID-19 testing services are available at several AACC locations. These services are available at no cost, regardless of vaccination status. Days, times and locations are subject to change. Be sure to check our testing page for updates.
AACC’s Arnold campus, Mathematics Building Room 135*
Mondays, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
AACC at Arundel Mills Rooms 108 and 109
Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
AACC’s Glen Burnie Town Center Rooms 211 and 212
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
*We allow exposed employees/students and mildly symptomatic employees to obtain a test from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in Arnold. We will continue to monitor demand and adjust the schedule as appropriate.
KN95 Masks Available
KN95 masks are for sale at the AACC Bookstore. Individual masks cost $2.25 each. Non-KN95 masks are also available, including those in Riverhawk colors or Maryland flag patterns. The bookstore is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. More on the college's mask guidelines can be found on our face mask guidelines page.
Technology on Tap
If you have struggled with reliable technology for your classwork, students may borrow a laptop, hotspot and webcam from the Truxal Library for the term. More information about the equipment is on the accessing technology page of our website and delivery is available at no cost. To start, just email circdesk@aacc.edu.
Celebrate Black History Month at AACC
AACC is celebrating Black History Month with several events meant to inspire, educate and engage. Visit our Black History Month page to see information on art and library exhibits, a movie, discussions, panels and more.
Valentine’s Day Giveaway
Free AACC masks, stickers and candy are available for students at the below locations Monday, Feb. 14. Stop by and feel the love!
Be safe and stay well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
I hope everyone is enjoying this temporary winter thaw and getting into the swing of the spring term. It is so exciting to see students on campus, and I know many of you feel the same. Thank you for all that you are doing to keep yourselves and our students healthy, safe and learning!
Here are a few important reminders and updates:
COVID-19 Testing
A reminder, COVID-19 testing services are available at several AACC locations. These services are available at no cost, regardless of vaccination status. Days, times and locations are subject to change. Be sure to check our testing page for updates.
AACC’s Arnold campus, Mathematics Building Room 135*
Mondays, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Fridays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
AACC at Arundel Mills Rooms 108 and 109
Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
AACC’s Glen Burnie Town Center Rooms 211 and 212
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
*We allow exposed employees/students and mildly symptomatic employees to obtain a test from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays in Arnold. We will continue to monitor demand and adjust the schedule as appropriate.
KN95 Masks Available
KN95 masks are for sale at the AACC Bookstore. Individual masks cost $2.25 each. Non-KN95 masks are also available, including those in Riverhawk colors or Maryland flag patterns. The bookstore is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. More on the college's mask guidelines can be found on our face mask guidelines page.
Technology on Tap
If you know of a student that has struggled with reliable technology for school, students may borrow a laptop, hotspot and webcam from the Truxal Library for the term. More information about the equipment is on the accessing technology page of our website and delivery is available at no cost. To start, just email circdesk@aacc.edu.
Celebrate Black History Month at AACC
AACC is celebrating Black History Month with several events meant to inspire, educate and engage. Visit our Black History Month page to see information on art and library exhibits, a movie, discussions, panels and more.
Valentine’s Day Giveaway
Free AACC masks, stickers and candy are available for students at the below locations Monday, Feb. 14. Let them know they can stop by and feel the love!
Be safe and stay well,
Dawn
Dear Students-
We are encouraged by the continued decline of the COVID positivity rate in Anne Arundel County. Thank you for all that you are doing to keep yourselves and our college community healthy and safe. Based on the recent expiration of the mask mandate in the county, here are a couple of important reminders:
Face coverings
Face coverings continue to be required inside all AACC buildings. As you may be aware, Anne Arundel County’s mask requirement expired Monday, except for county buildings and health care settings. State buildings also require face coverings. As a reminder, the college will continue to make its own decisions regarding face coverings that may exceed state and local requirements. Check the college website frequently for changes and updates.
Student services
Our student services continue to offer a blend of in-person and remote services. We have increased in-person student services this spring term in alignment with our increase of in-person classes. Most in-person services are available Monday through Thursday. For flexibility and convenience, student services are also available remotely throughout the week. Please take a moment to learn the wide range of support services, from counseling to labs to the availability of devices, open to you. For the latest hours, visit the COVID-related pages of the website for Student Services in Arnold, Glen Burnie and Arundel Mills.
Be safe and stay well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
We are encouraged by the continued decline of the COVID positivity rate in Anne Arundel County. Thank you for all that you are doing to keep yourselves and our students healthy and safe. Based on the recent expiration of the mask mandate in the county, here are a couple of important reminders:
Face coverings
Face coverings continue to be required inside all AACC buildings. As you may be aware, Anne Arundel County’s mask requirement expired Monday, except for county buildings and health care settings. State buildings also require face coverings. As a reminder, the college will continue to make its own decisions regarding face coverings that may exceed state and local requirements. Check the college website frequently for changes and updates.
Student Services
Our student service programs continue to offer a blend of in-person and remote services. We have increased in-person student services this spring term in alignment with our increase of in-person classes. Most in-person services are available Monday through Thursday. For flexibility and convenience, student services are also available remotely throughout the week. Please make sure students know the wide range of support services programs available to them. For the latest hours, encourage them to visit the COVID-related pages of the website for Student Services in Arnold, Glen Burnie and Arundel Mills.
Be safe and stay well,
Dawn
Dear Students-
Welcome back! We’re excited to see you in person and on screen this spring. With the start of the term, we resume weekly updates to keep you informed of important news related to AACC’s response to COVID-19.
Recommended face coverings
Face coverings continue to be required in all AACC buildings. While not required, it is recommended that KN95 masks, which are available for purchase in the AACC Bookstore, be used for added safety. Be advised that the college will continue to make its own decisions regarding face coverings that may exceed state and local requirements. Check the college website frequently for changes and updates.
CDC guidelines are AACC standard for spring
As a reminder, report to COVID safety if you have symptoms, test positive or are exposed to someone with COVID. Do not come to campus. The college is following CDC protocols for individuals exposed to or testing positive for COVID. To clarify, the CDC makes the distinction between “up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations” and “not up-to-date.” That means individuals may be advised to follow different protocols depending on whether they have received booster shots or not. For example, anyone up to date with a booster shot and exposed to COVID may not be required to stay home. However, someone who is not current with their shot and exposed to COVID may be directed to quarantine for five days. In other words, students may be given different dates to return to class, which is a reflection of CDC guidelines. While the protocols may differ by individual, we hope this clarifies the process the college is following in accordance with the CDC.
Also, as you know, the college requires that students taking in-person classes or using in-person services this spring be fully vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. There may be confusion as to what “fully vaccinated” means. The CDC defines a person as “fully vaccinated” who has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. At this time, it does not require a booster, though it is encouraged. We will continue to communicate this information through updates as well as on the website, so please help reinforce this distinction if asked.
COVID testing location change – Mathematics Building Room 135
We have moved the location of the COVID student and employee testing site from the Johnson Building to the Mathematics Building Room 135. In addition, we have expanded testing at that location to allow exposed students/employees and mildly symptomatic employees to obtain a test between 10 a.m. and noon Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. We will continue to monitor demand and adjust the schedule as appropriate. We’ll also evaluate the option of including GBTC and Arundel Mills in the testing of mildly symptomatic and exposed students and employees.
While COVID continues, remember that it’s also flu and cold season. Stay warm and healthy and have a great start to the new term!
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Happy first week of spring classes! It is so exciting to see the parking lots filling up and the number of students attending class in person.
Helpful guide for spring
This week, ambassadors and staff are handing out information to help students navigate in-person classes and services. All of the information appears on our website, so this is one more point of contact to help our students stay up to date. Students who forget, or need another mask, can receive an AACC mask along with fun AACC stickers.
COVID Policies and Procedures
The college’s interim policies and procedures are now available on the AACC website as well as on MyAACC. You may wish to reference this information, such as requirements for face coverings and other procedures with your students. Thank you for continuing to follow our policies and inform our students.
Engagement Matters – It’s a Verb
Please be sure students are aware of the many ways we can and do support them. We know the greater the engagement, the greater the retention and success. Have a great start to the new term!
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Hopefully you received my email earlier today with a link to a video presentation providing an update on the spring term. Rather than provide a live broadcast as we did last year, this pre-recorded message gives you an overview of spring plans, enrollment, budget and more. Be sure to watch as the term begins this weekend.
CDC guidelines are AACC standard for spring
As a reminder, report to COVID safety if you have symptoms, tested positive or are exposed to someone with COVID. When you do, be advised that the college is following CDC protocols for individuals exposed to or testing positive for COVID. To clarify, the CDC makes the distinction between “up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations” and “not up-to-date.” That means individuals may be advised to follow different protocols depending on whether they have received booster shots or not. For example, anyone who is up to date with a booster shot and exposed to COVID may not be required to stay home. However, someone who is not current with their shot and exposed to COVID may be directed to quarantine for five days. Similarly, supervisors may be informed of different return to work dates for employees, which reflects the CDC guidelines. While the protocols may differ by individual, we hope this clarifies the process the college is following in accordance with the CDC.
Also, as you know, the college requires that students taking in-person classes or using in-person services this spring be fully vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis. There may be confusion as to what “fully vaccinated” means. The CDC defines a person as “fully vaccinated” who has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines. At this time, it does not require a booster, though it is encouraged. We will communicate this information to students as well as on the website, so please help reinforce this distinction if asked.
As noted last week, the AACC Bookstore now has for sale KN95 masks in packs of five. Masks are required indoors at all AACC locations, and N95 and KN95 masks are recommended but not required.
COVID testing location change – Mathematics Building Room 135
We are moving the location of the COVID employee and student testing site from the Johnson Building to the Mathematics Building Room 135. In addition, we will expand testing at that location to allow exposed employees/students and mildly symptomatic employees to obtain a test between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. We will continue to monitor demand and adjust the schedule, as appropriate, and will evaluate the option of including GBTC and Arundel Mills in testing of mildly symptomatic and exposed students and employees.
Spring open forums – Riverhawks Reunite plans
Yesterday, a reminder email was sent from Suzanne Boyer, executive director of Human Resources, for two open forums. One was held today at 3 p.m. today with almost 200 in attendance. The next session is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday. The agenda includes an interactive dialog on Riverhawks Reunite plans for the spring. Discussions will be held around vaccine and COVID testing processes, safety protocols, campus readiness for the start of classes and an opportunity for you to ask questions. Be sure to check your email for the Zoom login.
Have a great start to the new term!
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Happy New Year! I hope you were able to have a restful, healthy break. With the spring term fast approaching, it is time to resume the weekly updates.
Spring plans
As you know, we delayed the return of in-person services by a week – and then it snowed. This week resumes in-person student services beginning with hours that mimic the fall. Beginning Jan. 24, we will expand the number of days for most student services. We’ve added some in-person services that were not available in the fall as well. Plus, we continue to offer remote services throughout the week. This combination matches the blend of roughly 50% in-person and 50% online classes for the spring term and will continue to serve all of our students in an inclusive and equitable way. Don’t forget to continue checking the website for the latest information.
Also this spring, events will continue to be permitted indoors but must follow all safety protocols.
Erroneous emails/texts
The college has implemented new software to help with automated reporting of vaccine and COVID testing results. As we know, when new software is implemented, there can be unanticipated challenges. This morning, we experienced one of those challenges, which resulted in emails and text messages being sent to some employees and students in error.
If you are fully vaccinated and have reported that information to the college, you may ignore the email and text that you received this morning from Anne Arundel Community College noreply@vaxinfo.aacc.edu, under the subject “Action Required: [AACC] Weekly COVID Testing.” This message stated that “COVID Testing reporting is now open for the week. Please take a moment to provide your Weekly COVID Testing results before Wednesday. You must provide weekly test results to come to any AACC location.”
If you have any questions, email studentvax@aacc.edu.
Recommended face coverings
Face coverings continue to be required in all AACC buildings. While not required, it is recommended that KN95 masks be used for added safety. We are investigating making masks available for purchase in the AACC Bookstore. Be advised that the college will continue to make its own decisions regarding face coverings that may exceed state and local requirements. Check the college website frequently for changes and updates.
While COVID continues, remember that it is also flu and cold season. Stay warm and healthy!
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Happy New Year! I hope you were able to have a restful, healthy break. With the spring term fast approaching, it is time to resume the weekly updates.
Spring plans
As you know, we delayed the return of in-person services by a week – and then it snowed. This week resumes in-person student services beginning with hours that mimic the fall. Beginning Jan. 24, we will expand the number of days for most student services. We have added some in-person services that were not available in the fall as well. Plus, we continue to offer remote services throughout the week. This combination matches the blend of roughly 50% in-person and 50% online classes for the spring term and will continue to serve all of our students in an inclusive and equitable way. If you are unsure what this specifically means for your office or your position, be sure to review with your supervisor. Also, please continue checking the website for the latest information.
Also this spring, events will continue to be permitted indoors but must follow all safety protocols. College travel continues to be permitted, as allowed by the budget and at an employee’s discretion. Take appropriate safety precautions including vaccination, boosters, masking and following CDC guidelines. Keep in mind the possibility that some in-person events may be canceled, so attention should be paid to cancellation policies and refundable airfare as much as possible.
Open forums
As mentioned in my email Dec. 31 COVID update message, we will provide an open forum in mid-January for all employees to learn more about the college’s current plans and safety protocols. The first forum will be Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. The second will be Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. The agenda includes an interactive dialog on Riverhawks Reunite plans for the spring. Specifically, discussions will be held around vaccines and the COVID testing processes, safety protocols, and campus readiness for the start of classes. Questions will be welcomed. Look for a reminder email next week with links to the Zoom login.
Erroneous emails/texts
The college has implemented new software to help with automated reporting of vaccine and COVID testing results. As we know, when new software is implemented, there can be unanticipated challenges. This morning, we experienced one of those challenges, which resulted in emails and text messages being sent to some employees and students in error.
If you are fully vaccinated and have reported that information to the college, you may ignore the email and text that you received this morning from Anne Arundel Community College noreply@vaxinfo.aacc.edu, under the subject “Action Required: [AACC] Weekly COVID Testing.” This message stated that “COVID Testing reporting is now open for the week. Please take a moment to provide your Weekly COVID Testing results before Wednesday. You must provide weekly test results to come to any AACC location.”
If you have any questions, email employeevax@aacc.edu.
Recommended face coverings
Face coverings continue to be required in all AACC buildings. While not required, it is recommended that KN95 masks be used for added safety. We are investigating making masks available for purchase in the AACC Bookstore. Be advised that the college will continue to make its own decisions regarding face coverings that may exceed state and local requirements. Check the college website frequently for changes and updates.
Spring update broadcast
Last year we provided a special spring update via live broadcast. This year I will provide a similar, brief update on the many issues we will be addressing this spring, including our continued COVID recovery, enrollment and budget challenges. Stay tuned for more information on the date of that communication.
Interim CDEIO
I am pleased to share Dr. Kellie McCants-Price has agreed to continue in her role as our Interim Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. She will retain this position through June 30, 2023. I look forward to working with her as she provides the leadership AACC will benefit from.
While COVID continues, remember that it is also flu and cold season. Stay warm and healthy!
Dawn
Dear Students -
I hope that you had a safe and restful winter break. As we enjoy the final days of the break, I wanted to provide the college community with an update on our plans for the week of Jan. 3.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, my commitment to the college community has been to put the safety of our employees and students first and foremost. As a result of a current and projected spike in COVID-19 cases in the county, we have decided that the college will operate remotely from Jan. 3–9 to allow for an additional week buffer before folks return to campus.
There is a very small number of in-person winter classes scheduled to run during the week and we will work directly with the affected faculty and students to ensure they understand the impact on their classes.
Student Services Jan. 10–23
Spring Classes
Safety Protocols
As we all know, the pandemic continues to evolve and we must all do our part to ensure the safety of the college community.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
I hope that you had a safe and restful winter break. As we enjoy the final days of the break, I wanted to provide the college community with an update on our plans for the week of Jan. 3.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, my commitment to the college community has been to put the safety of our employees and students first and foremost. As a result of a current and projected spike in COVID-19 cases in the county, we have decided that the college will operate remotely from Jan. 3–9 to allow for an additional week buffer before folks return to campus.
There is a very small number of in-person winter classes scheduled to run during the week and we will work directly with the affected faculty and students to ensure they understand the impact on their classes.
Essential employees should report to work as scheduled. All other employees should work remotely and direct any questions to your supervisor.
Student Services Jan. 10–23
Spring Classes
Safety Protocols
As we all know, the pandemic continues to evolve and we must all do our part to ensure the safety of the college community. Thank you for your efforts as we continue to navigate these challenges.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I continue to feel grateful to each of you for all that you are doing to serve our students and keep our college community safe and healthy.
COVID Booster Update
Due to the demand for COVID booster shots, the Department of Health has expanded its clinic schedules in December to accommodate for the increased flow. To register for a booster appointment in Annex A (and at other county locations), visit the health department’s website.
Clauson Center Event
The Clauson Center for Innovation and Skilled Trades will hold its gifting and dedication ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 16, at 11:30 a.m. This is an exciting event as it is the first AACC structure built entirely through philanthropic dollars. Be sure to RSVP by Dec. 8 to foundation@aacc.edu.
Winter and Spring Registration Underway
Don’t forget to encourage students to continue their studies through the winter and spring. As you know, we have a variety of in-person, hybrid and online options available for them, especially as we increase the balance of in-person and online offerings in the new year.
Recent communications to students invite them to update their “flight plan” with AACC’s new Student Planning, Scheduling and Registration System. The new system makes choosing the right courses simpler and faster, including from their phones as well as computers. You can reinforce this message by alerting them to the new system that allows them to register, add, drop and withdraw more easily than ever. They can:
All of this is available at MyAACC through the Self Services -> Credit Students and by selecting Registration/Attestation -> Register/Drop/Withdraw -> Student Planning, Scheduling and Registration.
While registration is open for both terms, the winter sessions begin soon – Dec. 20 and Jan. 3. To secure their registration of spring classes, they will need to make the first payment by the Dec. 10 due date. You can remind students to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor to review the course requirements for the spring term.
Dawn
Dear Students:
Registration for spring classes begins today! Be sure to explore everything that’s available and sign up to continue your studies this spring.
A few things to keep in mind for the spring term:
For information:
Thank you for continuing to make AACC a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues:
Registration for spring classes begins today! Don’t forget to encourage your students to explore what we have available and sign up to continue their studies this spring.
A few things to keep in mind for the spring term:
Other reminders:
For information:
Thank you for continuing to make AACC a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Dawn
Dear Students-
Today begins the testing protocols for AACC students and employees who are not fully vaccinated, have not completed their Vaccine Certification, or did not disclose their vaccination status. We want to share some important reminders about the process:
Unvaccinated, Incomplete and Undisclosed Vaccination Status
If you have been identified as someone who must complete weekly COVID testing, you were recently notified via email with details about how to obtain your COVID test beginning today, Nov. 3. You also received additional information about how to log in to make an appointment for testing. If you are unvaccinated and plan to come to an AACC location for any reason, use the link in your weekly notification email (beginning Nov. 8) to provide your COVID-19 test results. If you do not receive your weekly link, beginning Monday Nov. 8 contact us at StudentVax@aacc.edu.
Testing Protocols
The college is offering testing services at certain AACC locations. Tests at AACC locations or Anne Arundel County-run locations are administered at no cost to students. For county-run sites, visit the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website. For more information, visit the college’s website.
Starting Nov. 8, results of COVID-19 tests must be uploaded between Monday and Wednesday of each week. Test results will be due by midnight each Wednesday.
If you have questions not addressed in the FAQs, feel free to email us. In addition, virtual open forums will be scheduled for students beginning Nov. 9.
Thank you for continuing to make AACC a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues -
Today begins the testing protocols for AACC employees and students who are not fully vaccinated, have not completed their Vaccine Certification, or did not disclose their vaccination status. We recently held open forums to answer questions and want to share reminders about the process:
Unvaccinated, Incomplete and Undisclosed Vaccination Status
If you have been identified as someone who must complete weekly COVID testing, you were notified via email Saturday with details about how to obtain your COVID test beginning today, Nov. 3. You also received additional information about how to log in to make an appointment for testing. If you are unvaccinated and plan to come to an AACC location for any reason, use the link in your weekly notification email (beginning Nov. 8) to provide your COVID-19 test results. If you do not receive your weekly link, beginning Monday Nov. 8 contact us at employeevax@aacc.edu.
Testing Protocols
The college is offering testing services at certain AACC locations. Employees must be tested at AACC locations or Anne Arundel County-run locations, at no cost to employees. For county-run sites, visit the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website. For information visit the college’s website.
Results of COVID-19 tests must be uploaded between Monday and Wednesday of each week, and test results will be due by midnight each Wednesday.
COVID-19 Testing Open Forums
For outstanding questions, a recording of the open forum for employees is available on the HR intranet page. Separate events will be scheduled for students beginning Nov. 9.
Related Questions for Vaccinated Employees
Can vaccinated employees use the college’s testing services? Yes, if you wish to obtain a rapid COVID test for screening purposes, you can find testing information on the website. If you are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do not come to campus, even for COVID testing. Report your symptoms to COVIDsafety@aacc.edu or use this link to submit a report. You may not return to campus until you receive an email from COVIDsafety@aacc.edu that officially states you are clear to return.
Are booster shots available for AACC employees? Yes, Marylanders 18+ in “at risk” occupations, including education, are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Annex A on the Arnold campus is a county vaccination site offering boosters. They accept walk-ins, or you can make an appointment through the county Department of Health website. Bring your vaccination card!
If you have questions not addressed in the FAQs, feel free to email us.
Thank you for continuing to make AACC a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Students-
As you are aware, the college requires students who are taking in- person classes, using in-person services or using AACC facilities to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit weekly COVID-19 test results. If you are unvaccinated, have chosen not to disclose your vaccination status or have not completed your Vaccine Certification, you are required to follow the college’s testing protocols.
Testing Protocols
The college’s COVID-19 testing protocols will begin Wednesday, Nov. 3, and results must be uploaded between Monday, Nov. 8 and Wednesday, Nov. 10. Test results will be due by midnight on Wednesdays each week.
The college is offering testing services at certain AACC locations. Students tested at AACC locations during the fall term will not be required to pay. However, students who choose to get tested at another location will not be reimbursed for the cost of testing. You will find times, dates and locations for the AACC-provided testing, along with FAQs on the website. Certain county-run locations offer free testing. For county-run sites, visit the Department of Health website.
Unvaccinated, Incomplete and Undisclosed Vaccination Status Employees
If you have been identified as someone who must complete weekly COVID testing, you will receive an email notifying you of your status along with details about how to obtain your COVID test, which AACC will begin offering on Wednesday, Nov. 3. Be sure to check your college-issued email account. If you are unvaccinated and plan to come to an AACC location for any reason, use the link in your weekly notification email to provide your COVID-19 test results. If you did not receive your weekly link, contact us at studentvax@aacc.edu.
Vaccinated Employees
Students who are vaccinated may use the college’s testing services even if they are not in testing protocols. If you wish to obtain a rapid COVID test for screening purposes, you can find testing information on the website. If you are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do not come to campus. Report your symptoms to COVIDsafety@aacc.edu or use this link to submit a report.
Informational Session
The Office of Student Engagement and the Student Government Association are working on a webinar to present in the next week or two that will address testing and other COVID questions. Students will be notified of that opportunity when details are available.
If you have questions not addressed in the FAQs, feel free to email us. Thank you for your support and patience as we work to make AACC a place to learn safely.
Also, remember to register for second eight-week classes, winter term and, starting Nov. 10, spring classes, at MyAACC or online!
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
As you are aware, the college requires employees who are working at AACC locations to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit weekly COVID-19 test results. If you are unvaccinated, have chosen not to disclose your vaccination status or have not completed your Vaccine Certification, you are required to follow the college’s testing protocols.
Testing Protocols
The college’s COVID-19 testing protocols will begin Wednesday, Nov. 3, and results must be uploaded between Monday, Nov. 8 and Wednesday, Nov. 10. Test results will be due by midnight on Wednesdays each week.
The college is offering testing services at certain AACC locations. Employees must be tested at AACC locations or at an Anne Arundel County-run location, at no cost to the employee. For county-run sites, visit the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website. You will find times, dates and location for AACC-provided testing, along with FAQs on AACC’s website. For more information, visit the college’s website and/or attend one of the next week’s open forums.
Unvaccinated, Incomplete and Undisclosed Vaccination Status Employees
If you have been identified as someone who must complete weekly COVID testing, you will receive an email notifying you of your status along with details about how to obtain your COVID test, which AACC will begin offering on Wednesday, Nov. 3. Be sure to check your college-issued email account. If you are unvaccinated and plan to come to an AACC location for any reason, use the link in your weekly notification email to provide your COVID-19 test results. If you did not receive your weekly link, contact us at employeevax@aacc.edu.
Vaccinated Employees
Employees who are vaccinated may use the college’s testing services even if you are not in testing protocols. If you wish to obtain a rapid COVID test for screening purposes, you can find testing information on the website. If you are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, do not come to campus. Report your symptoms to COVIDsafety@aacc.edu or use this link to submit a report.
COVID Testing Open Forums
If you have questions about the testing process, there will be two open forums next week for employees to learn more. Separate events will be scheduled for students.
Booster Shots Available for AACC Employees
Marylanders 18+ who are in “at risk” occupations, including education, are currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Annex A on the Arnold campus is one of the county’s vaccination clinic sites offering boosters. If you would like to receive your booster shot there, just make an appointment through the county Department of Health website. Select “school employee” as your occupation. Walk-ins are also accepted in Annex A. Don't forget your vaccination card!
If you have questions not addressed in the FAQs, feel free to email us. Thank you for your continued support and patience. And thank you to the many people who have been working hard behind the scenes to pull together vaccine and testing protocols for AACC community members as we continue to strive to make AACC a safe and healthy learning environment for all.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
COVID-19 Testing Update
Last week we announced the Board of Trustee’s approval of a vendor to deliver on-site testing for COVID-19. We anticipate screening testing to begin the week of November 1 and individual reporting of your test results is scheduled to begin Wednesday, November 10. Additional details, including specific times and locations of on-site testing, will be provided next week.
We do have some important COVID-19 reminders as well as college news:
COVID-19 Reporting
While we are doing everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our college community, some people may still get COVID. If that happens, quarantine/isolation is essential to controlling the spread of the virus. Here are other important steps to do immediately:
Testing and reporting the information
Important action steps
Thank you for following AACC protocols. For additional information, the CDC offers guidance on how to care for yourself or someone else with COVID along with additional information about isolating.
New Student Planning, Scheduling and Registration
We’re excited to share that AACC’s new Student Planning, Scheduling and Registration system makes choosing the right courses simpler and faster for our students! Now students can register, add, drop and withdraw more easily than ever from their phone or computer.
Registration for our Winter Term is well underway. This is not only a great opportunity to encourage students to continue progress toward their goals, it is an opportunity for them to test out the new registration process and features that will help them progress toward their goals. They can now plan out their course of study, see how the courses fit into a weekly schedule and register all in one place.
Please encourage your students to register for either 2nd eight-week classes, Winter Term and starting Nov. 10, spring classes at MyAACC or visit www.aacc.edu/register-now.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Students -
Thank you to everyone who has completed their vaccination certification. We appreciate you making this a priority and working to keep our college community healthy and safe.
For those students seeking accommodations, you may now submit your requests electronically:
Accommodations
Online forms are now available for students to request an accommodation from the college’s vaccine/testing protocol for medical/disability or religious reasons. They may be found in the same section as the Vaccination Certification under Accommodations.
The deadline to request an accommodation will be Nov. 1 for the fall term, although we will accept requests for medical/disability accommodations after that date if needed. Medical documentation signed by a health care provider will be required for medical/disability requests.
For those who are unable to or do not wish to complete the requests electronically, hard copies of the forms will be available in English and Spanish:
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 not be vaccinated or tested for 90 days from the date of infection. Unvaccinated employees and students who have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days may request an accommodation for disability/medical reasons. You must provide the date of the positive COVID-19 test and the date when the 90-day period will end. The college may grant the accommodation through the end of the 90-day period.
COVID-19 Testing
Last night the board of trustees approved a provider of COVID-19 testing to conduct weekly tests at the Arnold campus, AACC at Arundel Mills and the Glen Burnie Town Center. While this is a big step forward, there are still many details of the process that must be worked out. The requirement to provide COVID-19 testing results for those who do not provide proof of vaccination will not begin before Nov. 1.
Please remember that COVID testing will only be required for those who are not fully vaccinated and come to the Arnold campus, AACC at Arundel Mills or the Glen Burnie Town Center for in-person classes, services or work. We will provide updated effective dates and processes to the college community once we have those steps in place.
Finally, here is a reminder about additional vaccinations that was shared last week:
Boosters and third vaccinations
Boosters or third vaccinations are not required at this time. The college defines fully vaccinated as “at least two weeks after either a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine for COVID-19 that has been fully approved, or issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or by the government of a foreign country where the vaccine was administered.” The college is monitoring CDC and Anne Arundel County Health Department recommendations regarding boosters and may update this requirement as more information regarding boosters becomes available. For information about when or how to receive a booster or third dose, visit the county health department website.
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues -
I am pleased to report that 95% of faculty and staff have certified their vaccination status. For a college of our size, that is an incredible response. Thank you for making this a priority and working to keep our college community healthy and safe.
For those employees and students seeking accommodations, you may now submit your requests electronically:
Accommodations
Online forms are now available for employees and students to request an accommodation from the college’s vaccine/testing protocol for medical/disability or religious reasons. They may be found in the same section as the Vaccination Certification under Accommodations.
The deadline to request an accommodation will be Nov. 1 for the fall term, although we will accept requests for medical/disability accommodations after that date if needed. Medical documentation signed by a health care provider will be required for medical/disability requests.
For those who are unable to or do not wish to complete the requests electronically, hard copies of the forms will be available in English and Spanish:
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 not be vaccinated or tested for 90 days from the date of infection. Unvaccinated employees and students who have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days may request an accommodation for disability/medical reasons. You must provide the date of the positive COVID-19 test and the date when the 90-day period will end. The college may grant the accommodation through the end of the 90-day period.
COVID-19 Testing
Last night the board of trustees approved a provider of COVID-19 testing to conduct weekly tests at the Arnold campus, AACC at Arundel Mills and the Glen Burnie Town Center. While this is a big step forward, there are still many details of the process that must be worked out. The requirement to provide COVID-19 testing results for those who do not provide proof of vaccination will not begin before Nov. 1.
Please remember that COVID testing will only be required for those who are not fully vaccinated and come to the Arnold campus, AACC at Arundel Mills or the Glen Burnie Town Center for in-person classes, services or work. We will provide updated effective dates and processes to the college community once we have those steps in place.
Finally, here is a reminder about additional vaccinations that was shared last week:
Boosters and third vaccinations
Boosters or third vaccinations are not required at this time. The college defines fully vaccinated as “at least two weeks after either a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine for COVID-19 that has been fully approved, or issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or by the government of a foreign country where the vaccine was administered.” The college is monitoring CDC and Anne Arundel County Health Department recommendations regarding boosters and may update this requirement as more information regarding boosters becomes available. For information about when or how to receive a booster or third dose, visit the county health department website.
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Students -
Thanks to everyone who certified their vaccination status by Oct. 1. Your quick response helps us continue to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Going forward, here are some important things to know:
COVID-19 Testing
The college is in the process of finalizing when and how COVID-19 testing will be completed. The requirement to provide COVID-19 testing results for those who do not provide proof of vaccination will not begin before Nov. 1.
Please continue to be patient as we finalize the details. The implementation plan for COVID-19 testing is still in development. We will provide updated effective dates and processes to the college community as the information becomes available. COVID testing will only be required for those who come to the Arnold campus, Arundel Mills or Glen Burnie Town Center for in-person classes, services or work.
Accommodations
Beginning Oct. 11, online forms will be available for students to request an accommodation from the college’s vaccine/testing protocol for medical/disability or religious reasons. The deadline to request an accommodation will be Nov. 1 for the fall term, although we will accept requests for medical/disability accommodations after that date if needed. Medical documentation signed by a health care provider will be required for medical/disability requests.
For those who are unable to or do not wish to complete the requests electronically, hard copies of the forms will be available:
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals who test positive for COVID-19 not be vaccinated or tested for 90 days from the date of infection. Unvaccinated students who have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days may request an accommodation for disability/medical reasons. You must provide the date of the positive COVID-19 test and the date when the 90-day period will end. The college may grant the accommodation through the end of the 90-day period.
Boosters and third vaccinations
Boosters or third vaccinations are not required at this time. The college defines fully vaccinated as “at least two weeks after either a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine for COVID-19 that has been fully approved, or issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or by the government of a foreign country where the vaccine was administered.” The college is monitoring CDC and Anne Arundel County Health Department recommendations regarding boosters and may update this requirement as more information becomes available. For information about when or how to receive a booster or third dose, visit the county health department website.
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues -
Thanks to everyone who certified their vaccination status by Oct. 1. Your quick response helps us continue to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Going forward, here are some important things to know:
COVID-19 Testing
The college is in the process of finalizing when and how COVID-19 testing will be completed. The requirement to provide COVID-19 testing results for those who do not provide proof of vaccination will not begin before Nov. 1.
Please continue to be patient as we finalize the details. The implementation plan for COVID-19 testing is still in development. We will provide updated effective dates and processes to the college community as we have more information. COVID testing will only be required for those who come to the Arnold campus, Arundel Mills or Glen Burnie Town Center for in-person classes, services or work.
Accommodations
Beginning Oct. 11, online forms will be available for employees and students to request an accommodation from the college’s vaccine/testing protocol for medical/disability or religious reasons. The deadline to request an accommodation will be Nov. 1 for the fall term, although we will accept requests for medical/disability accommodations after that date if needed. Medical documentation signed by a health care provider will be required for medical/disability requests.
For those who are unable to or do not wish to complete the requests electronically, hard copies of the forms will be available:
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 not be vaccinated or tested for 90 days from the date of infection. Unvaccinated employees and students who have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days may request an accommodation for disability/medical reasons. You must provide the date of the positive COVID-19 test and the date when the 90-day period will end. The college may grant the accommodation through the end of the 90-day period.
Boosters and third vaccinations
Boosters or third vaccinations are not required at this time. The college defines fully vaccinated as “at least two weeks after either a single-dose vaccine or the second dose of a two-dose vaccine for COVID-19 that has been fully approved, or issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration or by the government of a foreign country where the vaccine was administered.” The college is monitoring CDC and Anne Arundel County Health Department recommendations regarding boosters and may update this requirement as more information regarding boosters becomes available. For information about when or how to receive a booster or third dose, visit the county health department website.
Thank you for your continued support and patience as we work to keep our college community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
To date, 74% of students have completed the Vaccination Certification Form certifying their vaccination status. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the form by this Friday, Oct. 1.
For those who elect to not show proof of being fully vaccinated, here is what you need to know:
We continue to update the AACC Vaccinations webpage with the information you need. Be sure to visit for the most up-to-date news.
If you need answers to questions that do not appear in the FAQs, feel free to email us.
Thank you for your continued help in keeping the AACC community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues -
To date, 1,100 faculty and staff have completed the Vaccination Certification Form certifying their vaccination status. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the form by this Friday, Oct. 1.
For those who elect to not show proof of being fully vaccinated, here is what you need to know:
We continue to update the AACC Vaccinations webpage with the information you need. Be sure to visit for the most up-to-date news.
If you need answers to questions that do not appear in the FAQs, feel free to email us.
Thank you for your continued help in keeping the AACC community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Thanks to the 644 faculty and staff who have already filled out the Vaccination Certification Form certifying their vaccination status. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the form by Oct. 1.
Here are a few reminders and updates:
As we receive questions, we update the AACC Vaccinations webpage with the information you need. Be sure to stop by for the most up-to-date news.
Do you need answers to questions that don’t appear in the FAQs? Feel free to email us.
Thank you for your continued help in keeping the AACC community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Students-
Thanks to all the students – 77% of you – who have already filled out the Vaccination Certification Form certifying their vaccination status. If you haven’t done so already, please complete the form by Oct. 1.
Here are a few reminders and updates:
As we receive questions, we update the AACC Vaccinations webpage with the information you need. Be sure to stop by for the most up-to-date news.
Do you need answers to questions that don’t appear in the FAQs? Feel free to email us.
Thank you for your continued help in keeping the AACC community healthy and safe.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Students-
Thank you for your patience as we work through the details of enabling all students and employees to either attest to their vaccine status or provide evidence of a negative COVID test prior to coming to AACC. The implementation teams have worked tirelessly to develop a process that will be easy to follow while continuing to ensure the health and safety of the college community. The processes are being thoroughly vetted for all formats, including cell phones, for ease of use.
We have adjusted the timeline slightly; here is the latest information on how the process will work:
Vaccine certification
As promised, on Monday, Sept. 20, AACC will begin the process of allowing students to submit proof of being fully vaccinated through a digital vaccine certification form. The form will walk you through a series of questions and the means to upload your vaccine card electronically. If you do not have a copy of your vaccine card and received your vaccine in Maryland, you may access a copy at MyIR. You may also contact your health care provider to obtain a copy of your vaccination record.
We ask that students and employees complete the certification process by Oct. 1. Details will be shared in the next few weeks regarding testing and accommodations and exemptions.
COVID testing
For those students who elect, for any reason, not to show proof of being fully vaccinated, the college will require proof of a negative COVID test prior to attending AACC for in-person classes, services or work. The details of how that information will be provided to AACC and a start date are still being developed. However, the college is actively working to provide the COVID testing at the Arnold campus. Please continue to be patient with us as we confirm those details, which will be communicated as soon as they become available.
I appreciate your continued patience as we complete the details of both the vaccine certification and COVID testing processes. I want to thank the implementation teams for doing such a thorough job on a tight timeline.
We continue to update the website, so be sure to visit Vaccination webpage for the latest information. We will update you further next week.
Free Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
As part of AACC’s involvement in the White House COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge, there will be a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the CALT lobby. No appointment is needed and vaccinations are open to all who qualify for Pfizer. Follow-up doses are to be scheduled when you have your first dose, and will be at the same time and place on Oct. 12.
Take care and be well,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Thank you for your patience as we work through the details of enabling all students and employees to either attest to their vaccine status or provide evidence of a negative COVID test prior to coming to AACC. The implementation teams have worked tirelessly to develop a process that will be easy to follow while continuing to ensure the health and safety of the college community. The processes are being thoroughly vetted for all formats, including cell phones, for ease of use.
We have adjusted the timeline slightly; here is the latest information on how the process will work:
Vaccine certification
As promised, on Monday, Sept. 20, AACC will begin the process of allowing students and employees to submit proof of being fully vaccinated through a digital vaccine certification form. The form will walk you through a series of questions and the means to upload your vaccine card electronically. If you do not have a copy of your vaccine card and received your vaccine in Maryland, you may access a copy at MyIR. You may also contact your health care provider to obtain a copy of your vaccination record. We ask that students and employees complete the certification process by Oct. 1. Details will be shared in the next few weeks regarding testing and accommodations and exemptions.
COVID testing
For those students or employees who elect, for any reason, not to show proof of being fully vaccinated, the college will require proof of a negative COVID test prior to attending AACC for in-person classes, services or work. The details of how that information will be provided to AACC and a start date are still being developed. However, the college is actively working to provide the COVID testing at the Arnold campus. Please continue to be patient with us as we confirm those details, which will be communicated as soon as they become available.
I appreciate your continued patience as we complete the details of both the vaccine certification and COVID testing processes. I want to thank the implementation teams for doing such a thorough job on a tight timeline.
We continue to update the website, so be sure to visit our Vaccination webpage for the latest information. We will update you further next week.
Free Pop-up COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic
As part of AACC’s involvement in the White House COVID-19 College Vaccine Challenge, there will be a pop-up COVID-19 vaccine event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the CALT lobby. No appointment is needed and vaccinations are open to all who qualify for Pfizer. Follow-up doses are to be scheduled when you have your first dose, and will be at the same time and place on Oct. 12.
We will keep you updated as plans unfold.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Congratulations on completing week one of the new fall term! I have enjoyed walking around campus this week talking with many of you. I also enjoyed talking with students who expressed their excitement about returning to face to face classes. It feels so good to be back on campus. I hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend as you prepared to welcome the fall 2021 semester.
This week we have a few updates and resources for you:
Vaccine protocols
Our implementation teams have been working diligently on an approach that will enable you to securely provide proof of your vaccination status. We will provide more information on vaccine and testing protocols next week.
COVID reporting
With the continued spread of the Delta variant, please remember to follow the college’s COVID reporting protocols. For those who report experiencing symptoms or testing positive, the college’s COVID safety staff will advise the appropriate supervisors, employees, faculty and staff on next steps. The COVID safety staff will manage each individual case from initial report to clearance to return to campus. COVID safety will officially notify any presumptive case when they are cleared to return to campus.
Please be aware that a college representative will contact any campus-related individuals that the employee or student has come into close contact with, stating that they must quarantine until further notice. To the extent possible, the college will not disclose personally identifiable information. Local health departments may also conduct contact tracing and advise employees and students of next steps regarding testing and quarantine requirements.
“COVID Information” online
Based on feedback from students, faculty and staff, we have updated a number of webpages. For information about COVID-related protocols, the new vaccination requirement and other important fall news, please go to our home page and look for the heading entitled “COVID Information.” Here you will find a dedicated vaccination page and related FAQs. We will continually update these pages as more details become available. Additionally, for information about in-person office hours versus remote services, there is an added link from the home page under “Student Services.”
Save the Date
On October 26 at 4 p.m. we will hold our official grand opening of the new Health and Life Sciences Building. Please save the date and plan to join us! In the meantime, be sure to visit our newest addition to the Arnold campus.
Thanks for your continued commitment to our college and our students.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues,
As you know, the college is moving forward with requiring all AACC employees and students to be fully vaccinated or get tested weekly before coming to campus. The implementation teams have started their work and are preparing detailed plans that will be shared in the upcoming weeks. Until then, I have an important update and a few reminders about our current expectations:
Faculty and Staff
Current Students
The combination of vaccines, testing and wearing masks is the best approach for us to continue to ensure the health and safety of our college community. I am confident that by working together we can move forward in a positive direction and enjoy a successful fall term.
Dawn
Dear Colleagues-
Though we are taking a break from weekly updates during the summer, I promised to alert you to any significant changes. As Gov. Hogan and County Executive Pittman have ended state of emergency orders, it is time to move from “Riverhawk Recovery” to “Riverhawks Reunite!”
With this shift, we are updating our website and social media that communicates how we are increasing our in-person presence safely. I encourage you to check this information regularly for updates. Also, I ask that you watch my recorded video message. In addition to these resources, here is a brief overview of what you can anticipate for the fall, and in some cases, as early as July 1, 2021:
Masks: No longer required indoors, effective July 1. The wearing of masks will remain optional and encouraged for those not fully vaccinated. Campus signage will be updated to reflect this change.
Social distancing: Recommended but not required, effective July 1. Flexibility, personal responsibility and respect should guide us. Campus signage will be updated to reflect this change.
Room capacity and class scheduling: For fall classes, instructional spaces are being reset to pre-COVID course capacity levels. Student demand will continue to drive the schedule for in-person classes and schedule management will continue at the dean level. Summer classes will continue as scheduled.
Plexiglass: Will be installed at all service counters for the foreseeable future.
Events: Events will be permitted indoors on campus with PVP approval.
Meetings: Remote meetings are encouraged and in-person meetings should allow for remote access for attendance by individuals who are working remotely.
Support offices: Offices that can continue to work remotely may do so at supervisors’ discretion. Consistent with class schedules and student services, on-site office hours for support offices may be determined college wide.
Travel: College travel will be permitted effective July 1 with supervisor approval.
Health attestation: No change. Current attestation requirements for both students and employees will continue. Faculty will continue to read attestation requirements in class.
COVID reporting: No change. Employees and students will continue to report symptoms, exposure and positive tests.
Cleaning and disinfection: No change to current cleaning protocols. Cleaning supplies in classrooms, labs, etc., and hand sanitizers around campus will continue.
I hope this overview and related resources begins to paint a picture for our preparations this summer, the launch of the fall term and beyond. Your hard work and commitment to health and safety have enabled us to get to this point, and relax many of the restrictions we have followed for more than a year.
As we move forward, please continue to be patient and kind with one another, especially those who choose to wear masks for whatever reason. I am excited to see you and our students in person as Riverhawks Reunite!
Have a wonderful summer,
Dawn
Dear Colleagues,
We have just a few reminders this week. Hopefully, too, you noted that we will close Friday, June 18, in honor of Juneteenth.
Updates on hiring process
You have likely seen a number of open forums introducing AACC to our candidates for provost/vice president of Learning and the chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. We are getting close to making decisions and hope to announce new hires by the end of June. Please take time to attend the remaining open forums or review the candidates’ presentations to the college community, and provide us your feedback. Our goal is to have these important positions filled in time to begin the fall term.
Weekly updates take a summer break
As we did last year, we will take a break from the weekly updates during the summer months. If there are any urgent matters, of course, we will update you as needed. Otherwise, look for the updates to resume as we get closer to the fall term.
Some of you are off for the summer, some will be taking much-needed vacation time, and others will be working hard during the summer terms. Many thanks to all of you for getting us through this academic year and preparing us for an exciting fall. I hope each of you finds some time to recharge and enjoy these warmer months.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for Carmencement and a special thanks to everyone who helped put on the celebration. There was a lot of planning and behind-the-scenes work that led to an even bigger and better event than last year. If you missed the excitement, check out some of the Carmencement photos!
Updates for fall anticipated
Hopefully you have had a chance to review our plans for the fall on the updated Riverhawk Recovery webpages. As we have found throughout this pandemic, we must be prepared for additional updates and changes. Clearly, more and more organizations and businesses are opening as the state and county have relaxed a number of previous restrictions. These adjustments will have an impact on the college’s plans for the fall.
Keep in mind that our goal as a college is not to return to exactly what was in place before COVID, but to learn and grow from the experience. Continually meeting the needs of all of our students requires that we strike the right balance of on-site and online learning and support services. The plans we have in place for the summer terms will remain while the fall plans will continue to be refined as state and county regulations are updated.
For fall, we are increasing our on-site presence and anticipate further growth. To recap, here are some of the current guidelines related to fall:
Throughout the pandemic health and safety have been, and will continue to be, our top priorities. We remain committed to excellence and innovation as we educate our community. To remain informed of our evolving plans as we work to transition from “recovery” to “return,” be sure to visit the website regularly. It will have the most up-to-date information.
Important strategic plan updates
As many of you know, the college has conducted an administrative services review, which included recommendations that Information Services (IS) and Instructional Technology (IT) be consolidated under a new division of Information Technology to be led by a new vice president. With the addition of Rick Kralevich, Ed.D. the Virtual Campus will join IS and IT under the guidance of our new vice president effective July 1.
With this move, the new IT division will help spearhead AACC’s strategic plan objective to be the premier online community college in Maryland. The new division will continue to promote student and faculty success, and deliver accessible solutions that promote equity, diversity and inclusion. It will likewise serve as a conduit between IT and Learning by partnering with the academic community to solve interesting challenges, redesign courses and incorporate innovative technologies.
In addition to this transition, the Sarbanes Center will join the Division of Learner Support Services under the dean of Student Success. This change will also be effective July 1. This move will combine career services functions under student success in Learner Support Services, thus allowing for a seamless student experience through a one-stop shop for career service, internships, service learning and advising.
We are confident that the realignment of these departments will help us meet the ongoing needs of our students and continue to provide the same high level of service and support to the entire college community.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues and Students,
Happy first week of the summer term! I hope to see many of you at tomorrow’s Carmencement as we celebrate our newest graduates beginning at 10 a.m. Here are a few reminders about summer and fall, including AACC’s mask policy.
To mask or not to mask?
Changes at the state and local levels have left some people confused about mask protocols. Here is a reminder of AACC’s current policy, which is in effect during tomorrow’s event:
As we noted in last week’s update, plans for the fall have been posted to the Riverhawk Recovery webpages. Be sure to watch for next week’s message for additional fall updates.
2021 AACC Commencement Ceremony
Finally, if you can join us for tomorrow’s “Carmencement”, it officially begins at 10 a.m. As we did last year, we are assigning campus parking lots to each academic school. Please arrive by 9:30 a.m. to set up in your lot. Staff may join those locations or other spots along the route. Each school will be marked with a flag:
To maintain traffic flow, students will arrive at the following times:
10 a.m. School of Liberal Arts
10:15 a.m. School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
10:30 a.m. School of Science, Technology and Education
10:45 a.m. School of Business and Law
11 a.m. School of Health Sciences
Students are receiving custom grad boxes in the mail, which include parade materials and gifts. There are also downloads available on riverhawksathome.com like cake toppers, T-shirt iron-ons, chalk stencils and e-cards. Students can view commencement addresses and post photos in our Graduating Student App. Easy-to-purchase yard signs are available at Riverhawks at Home. The day of, students will receive a diploma cover and a digital photo. Also, if you have a spouse or child graduating, you may wish to assist in the award of the degree or certificate. Contact Dean John Grabowski at jfgrabowski@aacc.edu with your request.
New this year will be a post-ceremony photo station in the CALT parking lot. For information on the parade route (including a map) and other details, visit the commencement webpage. If you or others you know are unable to attend but would like to watch live from home, see AACC's YouTube.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students,
I am excited to share additional information about our fall planning. Please remember we are making decisions based on information we attain from our County Health Officer. As the external world changes so will we.
Based on recent county and state announcements, it is very likely this plan will change and be updated in the coming weeks. Also, I hope you will join us for Carmencement, AACC’s celebration of our newest graduates, Thursday, May 27, at 10 a.m.
Plans for the fall
You can find information on the current plans for student services, teaching and learning, health and safety, and more, we have updated the Riverhawk Recovery webpages with this information. Our fall plans are based on county and state guidance as well as the success of our current protocols. AACC has consistently made safety a priority. We will make a decision on new COVID-19 policies by July 1. This could impact the summer and fall terms. Until then, we will continue with current safety measures including masking indoors, social distancing, COVID-19 reporting, etc.
Here is a quick snapshot as a reminder of what we are working toward:
Throughout the pandemic, health and safety have been and will continue to be top priorities. If circumstances change we will change with them, but we will not change our commitment to excellence and innovation in service to our community.
2021 AACC Commencement Ceremony
This year’s Carmencement officially begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 27. This year’s grand marshals, Professors Sandra King and David Tengwall, Ph.D., will lead the procession. Faculty and staff will participate to show support for and to celebrate our graduates with enthusiastic applause, cheering, posters and music along the parade route.
To maintain traffic flow, students will arrive at the following times:
If you are graduating, you should have received a custom grad box in the mail which includes parade materials. You also have the option to download on riverhawksathome.com cake toppers, T-shirt iron-ons, chalk stencils and e-cards. Easy-to-purchase yard signs are available at Riverhawks at Home. The day of, you will receive a diploma cover and a digital photo. If you are graduating and did not receive a grad box, email strategiccommunications@aacc.edu with the subject line “Grad Box.”
New this year will be a post-ceremony photo station in the CALT parking lot. You should have received a text message from Full Measure to RSVP and join our Graduation Experience App. If you did not, visit Full Measure. For information on the parade route (including a map) and other details, visit the commencement webpage. If you or others you know are unable to attend but would like to watch live from home, see AACC's YouTube.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues,
I am excited to share additional information about our fall planning. Please remember we are making decisions based on information we attain from our County Health Officer. As the external world changes so will we.
Based on recent county and state announcements, it is very likely this plan will change and be updated in the coming weeks. Also, I hope you will join us for Carmencement, AACC’s celebration of our newest graduates, Thursday, May 27, at 10 a.m.
Plans for the fall
You can find information on the current plans for student services, teaching and learning, health and safety, and more in two places. We have updated the Riverhawk Recovery webpages with this information. Also, we will provide a single document for employees on our intranet homepage, which will bear the current date. Since the information will likely change, we will update the website with the latest information over time.
Meanwhile, our fall plans are based on county and state guidance as well as the success of our current protocols. AACC has consistently made safety a priority. We will make a decision on new COVID-19 policies by July 1. This could impact the summer and fall terms. Until then, we will continue with current safety measures including masking indoors, social distancing, COVID-19 reporting, etc.
Here is a quick snapshot as a reminder of what we are working toward:
Throughout the pandemic, health and safety have been and will continue to be our top priorities. If circumstances change we will change with them, but we will not change our commitment to excellence and innovation in service to our community.
2021 AACC Commencement Ceremony
This year’s Carmencement officially begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 27. This year’s grand marshals, Professors Sandra King and David Tengwall, Ph.D., will lead the procession. Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate, showing support for and celebrating our graduates with enthusiastic applause, cheering, posters and/or music. Decorations are also welcome. Faculty may choose to wear regalia or spirit wear, including any medallion awards, as long as you are comfortable.
As we did last year, we are assigning campus parking lots to each academic school. Be sure to arrive by 9:30 a.m. to set up in your lot. Staff may join those locations or other spots along the route. Each school will be marked with a flag:
To maintain traffic flow, students will arrive at the following times:
10 a.m. School of Liberal Arts
10:15 a.m. School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
10:30 a.m. School of Science, Technology and Education
10:45 a.m. School of Business and Law
11 a.m. School of Health Sciences
Students are receiving custom grad boxes in the mail, which include parade materials and gifts. There are also downloads available on riverhawksathome.com like cake toppers, T-shirt iron-ons, chalk stencils and e-cards. Students can view commencement addresses and post photos in our Graduating Student App. Easy-to-purchase yard signs are available at Riverhawks at Home. The day of, students will receive a diploma cover and a digital photo. Also, if you have a spouse or child graduating, you may wish to assist in the award of the degree or certificate. Contact Dean John Grabowski at jfgrabowski@aacc.edu with your request.
New this year will be a post-ceremony photo station in the CALT parking lot. For information on the parade route (including a map) and other details, visit the commencement webpage. If you or others you know are unable to attend but would like to watch live from home, see AACC's YouTube.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
I want to thank everyone for continuing to follow health and safety guidelines as we work together to keep one another safe. We are in the process of updating some of AACC’s guidelines as well as planning for summer and fall, so please read on.
Changes to outdoor mask requirements
As a reminder, the college’s current policy regarding masks is that anyone inside a college building must wear an appropriate face mask, covering their mouth and nose. Masks are required outdoors when social distancing may not be possible.
To align further with new state and county guidelines, effective June 1:
a. at the Cade amphitheater, stadium or other live performance or ticketed events on campus
b. at outdoor college activities where social distancing is not possible*
*The college may impose mask requirements to ensure the safety of the college community.
For further reminders on appropriate face coverings, please check out our guidelines for acceptable face coverings.
Summer and fall plan - guidelines coming soon
As shared previously, we are in the process of developing guidelines for an increase in in-person classes and student support services for the fall semester. Some of these services will be implemented at the start of summer. Information will be updated as needed and can be found on the college’s website. Information will also be shared through other communications, such as this weekly update and departmental trainings.
Our intention is to be as comprehensive as possible. However, we must recognize that things change rapidly and so we must remain flexible. I want to thank all of the teams and individuals who have been working so hard to prepare us to balance our current online and remote work with more in-person learning and support for our students and community. Our goal is to get the information to you next week, so please stay tuned.
Thank you for all you do!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
Fall registration opens today!
This fall we will be offering more in-person classes along with the full range of online and hybrid options. We encourage you to sign up early to ensure you get the class formats you want and are prepared for the fall term. Also, summer classes begin later this month, so maintain your momentum through the summer terms as well.
Clarification about vaccines
In last week’s update, I stated that AACC does not intend to require vaccines as we have not done so in the past for other vaccinations. While it is true that AACC has not required vaccines for all college employees and students, the Health Sciences programs do have separate requirements. For example, the flu vaccine is required of Health Sciences students and employees. Also, for clinical sites and clinical rotations, we follow the guidelines of the partnering organizations. Here is the AACC Health Sciences language on the flu vaccine:
The School of Health Sciences’ Health Examination Requirements are aligned with our clinical site requirements. The clinical sites allow our students to fulfill their program-required clinical rotations pursuant to an affiliation agreement with the college. Therefore, the college and its students are required to abide by and follow the clinical site requirements. Most of our clinical sites require proof of the influenza vaccine and will not permit students on site without evidence of the vaccine. If you do not show proof of an annual influenza vaccine, you may not attend clinical and will therefore be at risk of not completing your program requirements.
Similarly, clinical sites may require the COVID vaccine, specific PPE or other standards set by that organization. I hope there wasn’t too much confusion and this clarifies the policy.
Have a great rest of the week.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Yesterday we presented our FY 2022 budget to the county council. Our presentation was very well received. Please look for a separate communication with more information about the budgeting process and next steps.
Clarification about vaccines
In last week’s update, I stated that AACC does not intend to require vaccines as we have not done so in the past for other vaccinations. While it is true that AACC has not required vaccines for all college employees and students, the Health Sciences programs do have separate requirements. For example, the flu vaccine is required of Health Sciences students and employees. Also, for clinical sites and clinical rotations, we follow the guidelines of the partnering organizations. Here is the AACC Health Sciences language on the flu vaccine:
The School of Health Sciences’ Health Examination Requirements are aligned with our clinical site requirements. The clinical sites allow our students to fulfill their program-required clinical rotations pursuant to an affiliation agreement with the college. Therefore, the college and its students are required to abide by and follow the clinical site requirements. Most of our clinical sites require proof of the influenza vaccine and will not permit students on site without evidence of the vaccine. If you do not show proof of an annual influenza vaccine, you may not attend clinical and will therefore be at risk of not completing your program requirements.
Similarly, clinical sites may require the COVID vaccine, specific PPE or other standards set by that organization. I hope there wasn’t too much confusion and this clarifies the policy.
Fall registration underway
Don’t forget to remind students they may now register for fall classes. For fall 2021 will be offering more in-person classes along with the full range of online and hybrid options. As I noted last week, students tend to register closer to the start of each term. However, we want them to sign up early to ensure they get the class formats they want and are prepared for the fall term. Also, summer classes begin later this month, so please encourage students to maintain their momentum through the summer terms as well.
Thank you for your work and commitment to our mission.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
We are entering the home stretch for the spring term. I know you are very busy as you complete this term and wish you continued success with your studies! Here are two brief updates:
More colleges require vaccines
Many of you may be aware that the University System of Maryland will require COVID-19 vaccines next fall. A number of other state universities and private, four-year colleges are doing the same, which may prompt questions about what to expect at AACC. Keep in mind that these colleges are residential institutions that already require other vaccines for attendance. As a community college without residence halls, AACC has never required vaccinations of any kind for students or employees. While subject to change, particularly if the county, state or federal government initiates any such requirement, AACC currently does not intend to require the COVID-19 vaccine.
We encourage both students and employees to get the vaccine both for your safety and the safety of others. Remember, too, that if you have not received the vaccine and would like one, the state and county have opened up more opportunities for anyone over the age of 16. Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccination website for information.
Fall registration opens May 5
Fall registration opens Wednesday, May 5. We will be offering more in-person classes and encourage you to sign up early to get the classes and class formats you want. Many students wait, and register closer to the start of the term. However this hurts your chances of getting the courses you want. The earlier you sign up, the more prepared you will be for the fall. Summer registration is also well underway; be sure to maintain your momentum through the summer terms as well. A steady pace will help you achieve your educational goals that much sooner!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
We are entering the home stretch for our spring term. I know you are very busy as you complete this term and prepare for the summer and fall.
Accreditation
This morning our Middle States liaison, Dr. Bonfiglio, provided an overview of the re-accreditation process to our Board of Trustees and our college community. Special thanks to Dr. Greg Schrader for his leadership as Chair of our accreditation self-study. Dr. Bonfiglio encouraged our workforce to get involved and participate in the study. Our site visit is scheduled for spring 2023.
Vice President of Information Technology
On May 3, 2021 our new Vice President Dr. Rick Kralevich will be joining our college. This is an inaugural position that will help provide further resources for our employees and students. Please join me in welcoming Rick to AACC.
Vaccines
Many of you may be aware that the University System of Maryland will require COVID-19 vaccines next fall. A number of other state universities and private, four-year colleges are doing the same, which may prompt questions about what to expect at AACC. Keep in mind that these colleges are residential institutions that already require other vaccines for attendance. As a community college without residence halls, AACC has never required vaccinations of any kind for students or employees. While subject to change, particularly if the county, state or federal government initiates any such requirement, AACC currently does not intend to require the COVID-19 vaccine.
We encourage both employees and students to get the vaccine both for your safety and the safety of others. Remember, if you have not received the vaccine and would like one, the county has continued to set aside a select number of vaccines for AACC employees and their families. Please look for emails from Arlene Crow as to when those vaccines are available.
Fall registration opens May 5
Please be sure to share with students that fall registration begins Wednesday, May 5. We will be offering more in-person classes and encourage students to sign up early so they get the classes and class formats they want. Based on past behavior, students typically register closer to the start of the term. However, the earlier they sign up, the more prepared they – and all of us – will be for the fall term. Also, summer registration is well underway, so don’t forget to encourage students to maintain their momentum through the summer terms as well.
Keep up the great work and thank you for all that you do!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Today is Administrative Professionals Day, so I want to send a thank you to all of AACC’s administrative professionals. We appreciate all that you do and hope you had a great day!
New vaccine appointments for AACC employees
Hopefully you saw the alert that vaccines for AACC employees are now available from the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. You should have received a detailed email on Monday from our emergency manager, Arlene Crow. The appointments are for next week and for first vaccines.
As a reminder, we will continue to provide an announcement and link for the designated vaccination clinics for the following week for all employees. All of these emails will be sent from Arlene Crow.
Professional development during COVID
At this time, AACC continues to support professional development through virtual trainings, webinars and conferences. While some organizations are planning for in-person conferences in the future, the college does not support travel or attendance at these events at this time. Of course, we will continue to provide more outstanding professional development opportunities from AACC’s Center for Faculty and Staff Development and encourage you to take advantage of the virtual offerings provided by other organizations as well.
That’s all for this week. Look for updates about the fall in the coming weeks.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
I hope you are having a wonderful week and continue to have an excellent spring term! This week’s update provides some information on the fall and COVID-19 vaccines.
More in-person courses and services for the fall
This fall we look forward to providing more in-person classes and services for you. While some students have thrived online, others look forward to being back in the classroom. As we move forward with our Riverhawk Recovery Plan, we will increase the number of in-person classes currently offered to complement the online and hybrid formats available.
Within the next few weeks, we will be posting to the AACC website the details of the fall plan, including health and hygiene protocols, cleaning of spaces, social distancing requirements, what to do when you are sick, what the college will do when someone tests positive and other health guidelines, along with more information about the types of services that will be offered in person and remotely. This information will give you a better picture of what to expect this fall and how AACC will continue to ensure the health and safety of the college community.
Remember, this remains a fluid situation and we must remain flexible. Our goal is to continue to meet the needs of all students in an equitable way through a variety of formats for both classes and services. Look for more detailed information soon as we continue to update you on our recovery progress.
Vaccine appointments continue
As shared previously, anyone 16 or older may now register for the vaccine. Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccination website for information. AACC employees continue to receive the vaccine, which will further ensure our goal to keep our students and community healthy.
COVID reporting – even when vaccinated
What happens if you come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 but you have been fully vaccinated? To be safe, we ask that you report the incident to our COVID Safety team, who will consult with the county health department to advise on any precautions you should take. The COVID-19 reporting button can be found on the Riverhawk Recovery pages of the website. Thank you in advance for remaining vigilant and helping us maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
I hope you are having a wonderful week. For today’s update, we have some great news about vaccines for AACC employees and other important information.
New vaccine appointments for AACC employees
The Anne Arundel County Department of Health plans to set aside 300 vaccine appointments weekly for AACC staff and faculty. The appointments will be spread over two clinics with 60 openings on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and 240 openings on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. The appointments are for first vaccines and are subject to change depending on vaccine shipments.
Here’s how this process will work:
We hope to provide opportunities for families of AACC employees in the future as well.
COVID reporting – even when vaccinated
What happens if you come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, and you have been fully vaccinated? To be safe, we ask that you report the incident to our COVID Safety team, which will consult with the county health department to advise on any precautions you should take. The COVID-19 reporting button can be found on the Riverhawk Recovery pages of the website. Thank you in advance for remaining vigilant and helping us maintain the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
Student planning available to credit students
This month, in preparation for the start of fall registration on May 4, a new online planning and registration tool will be available to all credit students. Student Planning, Scheduling and Registration is an online tool designed to help students understand course sequences, plan courses to create a graduation timeline, track progress toward graduation requirements and register for course sections. One year ago, in spring 2020, Student Planning was made available to new degree- and certificate-seeking students in all Fields of Interest. Last year, we prepared the tool for students not seeking a degree, making it available to all credit students to help them plan ahead and register for classes.
This tool supports the Engagement Matters goal to increase completion of all students and will eventually replace the existing online registration system slated to sunset in summer 2022. Be sure to share this information with students as this will be a powerful new resource for them. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact Erin Reeder in Enrollment Services.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
I hope everyone had a nice first week back from break and feels energized as we start the countdown for the second half of our spring semester..
“Carmencement"
Graduates will be able to take one last loop around Ring Road as we celebrate AACC’s graduates with “Carmencement” The parade is scheduled for Thursday, May 27. After the success of last year's event, all graduates from fall, winter and spring are invited to participate. The rain date is Thursday, June 3. Check for details and updates on our Commencement page.
Vaccines
The governor announced this week anyone 16 or older may now register for the vaccine! Visit the state’s COVID-19 vaccination website for information. Many AACC employees have already received the vaccine, which will further ensure our goal to keep our students and community healthy.
Student Study Spaces
Remember that you can register for a learning space at Arnold or AACC at Arundel Mills. Monitored computer labs are designed for registered students to participate in online and online sync classes, or to work independently on AACC coursework at no cost. Just register through MyAACC under the search code LSP. The registration process is rolling, so you may register at any time for the day and time that works best for you. Remember, space is limited and times can fill up. If you cannot attend your selected times, we ask that you withdraw to make room for other students. Be aware that to maintain the learning environment, group work is prohibited and students must arrive and depart within scheduled times. Headsets are required for online class participation; headsets with microphones are required for synchronous online class participation.
Summer Registration
Summer is a great time to advance your education goals. AACC offers courses that meet for two, four, six, eight, 10 or 12 weeks starting May 24, June 1, July 15 and July 7. See what’s available and register on AACC’s website.
Library Curbside Pickup
Truxal Library still provides curbside pickup. You can get your books and other materials, as well as borrowed tech gear, from the library by appointment. Tech gear can also be shipped to a home address. This guide explains how to request items from the library as well as the pickup process.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
I hope everyone came back from spring break energized and refreshed as we start the countdown for the second half of our spring semester. There is no doubt the pandemic has made the past 13 months difficult. However, because of our amazing workforce we have evidenced resiliency and are considering the lessons we learned as we shift to a new paradigm.
“Carmencement"
Graduates will be able to take one last loop around Ring Road as we celebrate AACC’s graduates with “Carmencement” The parade is scheduled for Thursday, May 27. After the success of last year's event, all graduates from fall, winter and spring are invited to participate. The rain date is Thursday, June 3. Check for details and updates on our Commencement page.
Convocation
Save the date, Thursday, Aug. 19, for our virtual fall convocation. All college employees are welcome and encouraged to attend this event as we discuss values, vision and direction. Stay tuned for more details.
Annual Leave
For anyone in a “use or lose” situation with annual leave – please remember to submit your vacation requests. It is important you use your earned vacation and take time for yourself and your family. Emails were sent from Human Resources to all eligible staff members and their supervisors detailing leave that must be used by June 30. Check your email for this information. If you missed the email, and suspect you may have leave that needs to be used, please reach out to your supervisor immediately.
Vaccines for Educators
Governor Hogan announced that as of yesterday, all Marylanders 16 and older can be vaccinated at any of the state’s mass vaccination sites. Meanwhile, all AACC employees are still eligible for vaccinations as part of Phase 1B of the county vaccination rollout. Regardless of residency, AACC employees may register through the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website or visit a mass vaccination site.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Happy spring! I hope everyone was able to take some time last week to relax and enjoy the break.
COVID leave extended:
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) officially expired on Dec. 31, 2020. This act provided employees with paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave for specific reasons related to COVID-19. Along with most of our fellow colleges in Maryland, AACC voluntarily continued this leave through March 31 for employees who were unable to work because they tested positive, had COVID-like symptoms or were required to quarantine due to COVID exposure.
New federal legislation was anticipated prior to today, but there has been no new legislation on the topic. However, the county recently announced that it would continue the benefit until 6/30. AACC has decided to also extend this benefit through the end of our fiscal year, June 30. The extended leave will continue to allow employees to use up to 80 hours of FFCRA leave to care for themselves without using earned sick leave for COVID-related symptoms, illness or quarantine due to COVID exposure. Please note that this leave cannot be used to receive the vaccine.
Enrollment:
Thank you for everything you do for our students and our community.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
It is almost spring break, so this will be brief. I want to thank the faculty and staff who will be working during the break to keep our college operating even though we are officially closed!
Spectators may Swoop back to AACC Athletics
AACC Athletics will welcome spectators to cheer on their teams in person on the Arnold campus beginning Saturday, March 20. AACC and NJCAA Region XX have modified their guidelines for spectators at AACC and Region XX athletic events. Spectators must follow these guidelines:
Spectators who do not follow these guidelines may be subject to removal from campus.
The decision remains with each Region XX school whether or not they will allow spectators. Therefore, before traveling to another school for a game, check their schedule to ensure spectators are permitted. Additionally, if a visiting team can only compete at sites without spectators, Anne Arundel Community College and Region XX may modify spectator guidelines for these competitions.
Second eight-week session begins March 29
Our second eight-week session begins March 29, the day we return from break. If you haven’t registered for classes, now is the time. This is a great way to pick up an extra class or two and keep up the momentum toward your goals. Remember too that while we’re on break next week, you can still register online through MyAACC.
I wish you an enjoyable and relaxing spring break!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
It is almost spring break, so this will be brief. I want to thank the faculty and staff who will be working during the break to keep our college operating even though we are officially closed!
Spectators may Swoop back to AACC Athletics
AACC Athletics will welcome spectators to cheer on their teams in person on the Arnold campus beginning Saturday, March 20. AACC and NJCAA Region XX have modified their guidelines for spectators at AACC and Region XX athletic events. Spectators must follow these guidelines:
Spectators who do not follow these guidelines may be subject to removal from campus.
The decision remains with each Region XX school whether or not they will allow spectators. Therefore, before traveling to another school for a game, check their schedule to ensure spectators are permitted. Additionally, if a visiting team can only compete at sites without spectators, Anne Arundel Community College and Region XX may modify spectator guidelines for these competitions.
Vaccines for educators
As mentioned previously, AACC employees are eligible for vaccinations as part of Phase 1B of the state vaccination rollout. If you have not registered, you may register through the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website. Once you register, eligibility is selected by the county at random and is not within the control of the college. When you have an appointment, you will need to show your college ID or you can ask for a letter from Human Resources at least 24 hours in advance through humanresources@aacc.edu. As a reminder, you do not have to live in Anne Arundel County to receive the vaccine by working for AACC. Many AACC employees have already received the vaccine, which will further ensure our goal to keep our students, faculty, staff and community healthy.
I wish you an enjoyable and relaxing spring break! Thank you for everything you do.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
This week feels like spring, so fingers crossed that it’s around the corner. With that good news, we received other exciting information this week!
AACC named No. 1 community college
In case you didn’t see it yesterday, Forbes magazine reported that AACC has been named the No. 1 community college in the country by Academic Influence, which previously has ranked a range of higher education institutions including liberal arts colleges, research universities and international institutions. This is the organization’s first-ever rankings of two-year colleges, and we topped the list. Congratulations to us!
Printing options for students
We recognized that some students may be in need of printing. Despite the majority of support services operating remotely, there are a number of options for you:
For other student support, visit the Student Services pages of the Riverhawk Recovery section of the AACC website.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
This week feels like spring, so fingers crossed that it’s around the corner. With that good news, we received other exciting information this week!
AACC named No. 1 community college
In case you didn’t see it yesterday, Forbes magazine reported that AACC has been named the No. 1 community college in the country by Academic Influence, which previously has ranked a range of higher education institutions including liberal arts colleges, research universities and international institutions. This is the organization’s first-ever rankings of two-year colleges, and we topped the list. Congratulations to us!
State travel restrictions lifted
Also yesterday, Governor Hogan lifted the Maryland state travel restrictions, which Anne Arundel County adopted as well. Out-of-state travel quarantine requirements are no longer in place effective as of Fri., March 12 at 5 p.m. This change replaces the previous requirements in place as of Dec. 17, 2020. This news comes just in time for Spring Break!
Printing options for students
As we continue to support our students, please keep in mind the printing challenges some of our students face. Here are a few suggestions:
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
Be sure to save the date for this year’s graduation celebration on Thursday, May 27. Last year’s socially distanced event was so successful that we will once again hold a “Car-mencement” at 10 a.m. that day. Look for more details soon.
Support services to align with courses
As I shared last week, we will increase our on-site presence with more face-to-face classes in the fall. Some people have asked how we will determine what services will be available for students. The goal is to align the support services with the types of courses being offered. For example, math classes will need math labs. The details of classes and corresponding support services are still being determined. We will continue to update you as we progress.
Student resources – learning spaces clarification
Access to the new learning spaces mentioned last week is now available through MyAACC. As a reminder, the new learning spaces are monitored computer labs designed for students to participate in online and online sync classes, or to work independently on AACC coursework at no cost. You need to register for either the Arnold campus or AACC at Arundel Mills under the search code LSP. The registration process is rolling, so you may register at any time for the day and time that works best for you. However, space is limited and times can fill up. If you cannot attend your selected times, we ask that you withdraw, as with a class, to make room for other students. Staff monitors will be in each of the learning spaces and Help Desk support will be available in the same buildings. For more information, visit the Riverhawk Recovery Student Services webpage and search for learning spaces.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
This week is Employee Appreciation Week, and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate all of you. Your hard work and resilience throughout this pandemic is nothing short of amazing. I want to thank Human Resources for helping us celebrate this week. With that in mind, I have a special announcement to make.
Extra day off – save the date
In appreciation of all that you do, we are providing you with an extra day off. We will be officially closed on Friday, May 28th so you can enjoy a long weekend.
Please save the date for this year’s graduation celebration. On Thursday, May 27 at 10 a.m. we will once again hold “Car-mencement”. Last year’s socially distanced event was so successful we decided to do it again. More details to come.
Fall planning
Support services to align with priority courses
As I shared last week, we will increase our on-site presence with more face-to-face classes in the fall. A number of you have asked how we will determine what services will be available for students. The goal is to align the support services with the types of courses being offered. For example, math classes will need math labs. Many of the courses noted as “priority courses” will be aligned with the related support services. The details of classes and corresponding support services are still being determined. We will continue to update you as we progress.
Guideline manual to come
To that end, we are in the process of developing a manual of guidelines for all faculty and staff for the fall. We hope this approach will supplement these weekly communications, department communications and the work of the Riverhawk Recovery Team by providing you with additional answers to your questions. Examples of topics that will be covered include health and hygiene protocols, cleaning of spaces, social distancing requirements, what to do when you are sick, what the college will do when someone tests positive and other health guidelines, along with more information about the types of services that will be offered in person and remote. The manual should be ready to share with the college community after spring break.
Employees returning to campus
As we anticipate more faculty and staff returning to classrooms, the expectation is that all employees will return to campus upon request by their supervisor. If an accommodation is needed, Human Resources has updated its intranet pages to include required employee forms. Three documents can be found on the HR intranet under Riverhawk Recovery Resources. One document must be completed by an appropriate medical professional and one by the employee. There are also instructions for the ADA process. All employees can now easily access what is needed to begin the first step of the accommodation process.
Student resources – learning spaces clarification
Access to the new learning spaces for students is now available through MyAACC. As a reminder, these learning spaces are monitored computer labs designed for students to participate in online and online sync classes, or to work independently on AACC coursework at no cost. Students will need to register for either the Arnold campus or AACC at Arundel Mills under the search code LSP. The registration process is rolling, so students may register at any time for the day and time that works best for them. However, space is limited and times can fill up. If students cannot attend their selected times, we ask that they withdraw, as with a class, to make room for other students. Staff monitors will be in each of the learning spaces and Help Desk support will be available in the same buildings as well. For information, visit the Riverhawk Recovery Student Services webpage and search for learning spaces.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
Last night, AACC’s board of trustees took the first step of the Fiscal Year 2022 budgeting process by approving a comprehensive budget for FY22. You will be pleased to hear that the board voted to not raise tuition and fees next year. The budget process has two more steps to complete before being finalized – support and approval from the county executive next month and then the County Council in June.
Important COVID reporting
As a reminder, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who has been exposed to someone with COVID or tested positive, must not come to campus. You must complete the COVID Safety form within 24 hours of:
A college representative will contact anyone you have come into close contact with. Local health departments will conduct contact tracing and advise employees and students of next steps regarding testing and quarantine requirements. Thank you for helping us keep our students, colleagues and community safe by following these steps.
New learning spaces available
Do you need a place to study or participate in AACC online classes? Starting March 1, new learning spaces will be available to students registered for spring credit courses. These spaces are monitored computer labs designed for students to participate in online and online sync classes, or to work independently on AACC coursework at no cost. Sessions are available at Arnold and AACC at Arundel Mills. Registration is required through MyAACC.
Be aware that to maintain the learning environment, group work is prohibited. Students must arrive and depart within scheduled times. Headsets are required for online class participation; headsets with microphones are required for synchronous online class participation. Students who are unable to provide the appropriate headset may check one out for the term from the Truxal Library. Also, the library has a limited number of loaner devices (e.g., laptops, WiFi hotspots, headsets and webcams) available for direct shipment to students. Email your requests to Circdesk@aacc.edu.
AACC Athletics to return
AACC Athletics is gearing up for the spring season! Competition begins in early March for baseball, softball and men’s lacrosse. Men’s and women’s soccer begin competition in early April. The NJCAA canceled the women’s lacrosse season due to lack of participating teams.
Competition will be limited primarily to Region XX opponents. All schedules are live on the AACC Athletics website and subject to change.
Per NJCAA Region XX guidelines, no spectators will be allowed at any events. However, we plan to livestream and provide live statistics for most, if not all, home games. Links to live video and live statistics will be posted on the AACC Athletics website and shared via social media. Once games start, weekly updates on Instagram stories will resume for upcoming events at the college.
Any students interested in participating in one of our teams can fill out a prospective player form. Just visit the AACC Athletics website and choose Recruit Me. Students must be full time (12 credits) and meet eligibility criteria to participate.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
Two important communications – the first of our budget updates and a video on fall planning – went out yesterday. Today I want to share some information we are providing to students this week as well as remind you about COVID reporting.
Important COVID reporting
As a reminder, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who has been exposed to someone with COVID or tested positive, must not come to campus. You must complete the COVID Safety form within 24 hours of:
A college representative will contact anyone you have come into close contact with. Local health departments will conduct contact tracing and advise employees and students of next steps regarding testing and quarantine requirements. Thank you for helping us keep our students, colleagues and community safe by following these steps.
Student updates
New learning spaces available
Starting March 1, new learning spaces will be available for students registered for spring credit courses. These are monitored computer labs designed for students to participate in online and online sync classes, or to work independently on AACC coursework, at no cost. Sessions are available at Arnold and at AACC at Arundel Mills. Registration is required through MyAACC. If you know of students who need of such a space, be sure to encourage them to sign up.
AACC Athletics to return
We’re excited to see the return of AACC Athletics for the spring season! Competition begins in early March for baseball, softball and men’s lacrosse. Men’s and women’s soccer begin competition in early April. The NJCAA canceled the women’s lacrosse season due to lack of participating teams
Competition will be limited primarily to Region XX opponents. All schedules are live on the AACC Athletics website and subject to change.
Per NJCAA Region XX guidelines, no spectators will be allowed at any events. However, we plan to livestream and provide live statistics for most, if not all, home games. Links to live video and live statistics will be posted on the AACC Athletics website and shared via social media. Once games start, weekly updates on Instagram stories will resume for upcoming events at the college.
If you know of students interested in participating, please encourage them to fill out a prospective player form! Just visit the AACC Athletics website and choose Recruit Me. Students must be full time (12 credits) and meet eligibility criteria to participate.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
We have made a few adjustments to the summer and fall terms and want to make sure you are aware of the timing so you can plan ahead.
Summer and fall registration
Summer registration will open March 10 and the summer term will begin May 24. Pending board approval next week, including summer terms 2 and 3, there will be a variety of options for students this summer! This year we’re including six-, eight-, 10- and 12-week sessions. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the summer calendar so you can find the timing that works best for your schedule.
To help you plan your fall term, fall registration will open on May 4 this year. We will keep you posted on our plans for the fall, including class formats and student services, as we move forward.
Counseling available
For those of you who don’t know, AACC offers free, personal counseling to students. We know this can be a difficult time and are here to support you. To make appointments for confidential, remote sessions, email counseling@aacc.edu or call 410-777-7111. You may want to listen to today’s episode (Puzzle Pieces) of AACC’s podcast Redefine U to learn more. AACC Coordinator for Personal and Career Counseling Diane Hallila speaks about the benefits of seeking support, stress management and embracing life’s challenges.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
I know many of you are eager to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and some of the information in the news about the timing of rollout may be confusing. To help, here is what we have learned from the county:
Vaccine update
As mentioned last week, AACC employees are eligible for vaccinations as part of Phase 1B of the state vaccination rollout. If you have not registered, you may register through the Anne Arundel County Department of Health website. Once you register, eligibility is selected by the county at random and is not within the control of the college. When you have an appointment, you will need to show your college ID or you can ask for a letter from Human Resources at least 24 hours in advance through humanresources@aacc.edu. As a reminder, you do not have to live in Anne Arundel County to receive the vaccine by working for AACC. Also, in case of inclement weather, the Department of Health will determine if the clinics will remain open separate from college delays and closures.
Summer and fall registration
We want to make sure you and your students are aware of the timing for summer and fall registration. Summer registration will open March 10 and the summer term will begin May 24. Pending board approval for FY22, which includes summer terms 2 and 3, there will be a variety of options for students this summer, including six-, eight-, 10- and 12-week sessions. Please encourage students to familiarize themselves with the summer calendar. Also, fall registration will open on May 4 this year, which students may also want to know in advance.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
With the start of the spring term, our college is also in the midst of planning for fall. We thought you might want to know sooner than later where we are headed. With that in mind, here is a brief update on our planning.
Planning to increase student presence for the fall
As you have likely seen and read, in-person services are increasing in the county, state and around the country. More schools and colleges are planning for increasing in-person attendance starting as early as this spring. Conferences and other travel are being scheduled for in-person events. Most importantly, COVID cases are declining and vaccine distribution is spreading across the county.
While this continues to be a fluid situation – and we must remain flexible as a result – we anticipate an increased need for on-site classes and services by the fall. We know some students have thrived online, while others have struggled. To provide greater equity, we plan to increase the number of in-person classes to complement the online and hybrid formats. To accommodate a greater student presence on-site, we are beginning a process to increase the number of faculty and staff on-site to be ready for opening day of the fall term as well.
Our goal is to continue to meet the needs of all students in an equitable way following a timetable that supports an increased presence of students by the beginning of next fall. Though we are at the early planning stages, we wanted you to be aware of what is happening behind the scenes. I will continue to update you as we progress.
Long-term Planning for the New Paradigm
At the same time, we are looking beyond the fall to envision AACC of the future. We would like to hear from you about what is working for you with online learning and student services, what are some of the challenges, and what are some of the opportunities as we move forward.
You can participate virtually in three ways:
We look forward to hearing from you!
Student clubs and activities
In this time of virtual learning, you may be wondering if you can still participate in college clubs and organizations. Many of our student clubs and organizations are still active remotely and are a great way for you to get involved, gain leadership skills and make new friends. This month we have several Black History Month events hosted by AACC and other members of our community. You can find details about clubs and other upcoming virtual events at The Nest. In addition, the Office of Student Engagement is a good contact: studentengagement@aacc.edu or Facebook or Instagram. Remember, too, that our college community can stay connected digitally through Riverhawks at Home or on social media using #riverhawksathome.
I wish you continued success this spring semester!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
With the start of the spring term, we are in the midst of planning for fall. It is challenging to envision anything six months in the future, including the warmer weather. From a planning perspective, though, that time is right around the corner. With that in mind, I want to provide you with important updates on our planning.
Planning to increase student presence for the fall
As you have likely seen and read, in-person services are increasing in the county, state and around the country. More schools and colleges are planning for increasing in-person attendance starting as early as this spring. Conferences and other travel are being scheduled for in-person events. Most importantly, COVID cases are declining and vaccine distribution is spreading across the county.
While this continues to be a fluid situation – and we must remain flexible as a result – we anticipate an increased need for on-site classes and services by the fall. We know some students have thrived online, while others have struggled. To provide greater equity, we plan to increase the number of in-person classes to complement the online and hybrid formats.
To accommodate a greater student presence on-site, we are beginning a process to increase the number of faculty and staff on-site to be ready for opening day of the fall term in August. We are relying on the teams in place through the Riverhawk Recovery Team to start. These teams will continue to develop a framework to guide the gradual return to in-person activities. Human Resources will be setting up appointments with supervisors to work with individual departments to help evaluate workforce capacity to provide a balance of in-person and online services.
I want to emphasize that we are in the beginning stages of this analysis. All employees will have plenty of time to prepare and make adjustments for the fall. We want to address not only staffing needs, but facilities, technology, and health and safety concerns. Our goal is that everyone is ready to meet the needs of all students in an equitable way following a timetable that supports an increased presence of students by the beginning of next fall. I will continue to update you as we progress.
Vaccine update
No doubt many of you will feel more comfortable and confident with our fall planning knowing that the demand for vaccines is being met. We have learned that AACC employees qualify for vaccinations under the “education” section of Phase 1B of the state vaccination rollout. However, the county controls the timing of when different segments of the education sector will be vaccinated. Supply still remains low, but you can sign up now to receive the vaccine when more supplies become available. Because you work at the college, you do not have to live in Anne Arundel County to receive the vaccine through the Anne Arundel County Department of Health. To sign up, visit their website. We will continue to provide you with updates about the eligibility of the college community as it becomes available from the county.
Long-term Planning for the New Paradigm
Lastly, I want to thank those of you who have already filled out surveys, posted on Padlet or attended this morning’s open forum as we look beyond the fall and envision the AACC of the future. Your input is greatly appreciated. Remember that you can participate through:
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
I hope everyone weathered the snow and ice OK! This week’s update includes a number of important reminders, including our updated inclement weather policy.
Inclement weather reminder
This week we have seen our first significant winter weather and with it, the rollout of our new inclement weather policy. As a reminder, the college will continue with virtual instruction and staff will work remotely during times of inclement weather. If conditions or another emergency warrants, classes that are scheduled for in-person instruction may be canceled. In this case, instructors will communicate to students how instructional time will be made up or how established course learning outcomes will be achieved. Additionally, in the event of widespread power or internet failures, the college may cancel all instruction. Visit Campus Alerts for a full description of the policy.
Student attestation forms
Another important reminder is that all students must complete an attestation form starting with the spring term, even if all of your classes are online. Student attestations should have been included as part of the registration, and you are not required to complete an additional form. We continue to receive some paper versions, but that isn’t necessary. For clarification, visit the Health and Safety pages of the Riverhawk Recovery section of the website.
Bookstore delivery for 13-week classes
Our 13-week classes begin Monday, Feb. 8. Free shipping is available from the AACC Bookstore on all orders, so make sure you order now to receive your materials on time. Curbside pickup from AACC Bookstore will not be available next week.
CALT building used for police training
For those who come to campus, please be aware that on Friday, Feb. 12, from 7-11 a.m. the CALT Building will be used by the county police for a training session. Lot G (CALT) and entrances to the building will be restricted during the training and signage will note “Police Training in Progress.” Members of AACC’s Department of Public Safety and Police will be on-site during this time as well.
Vaccine clinic change of location
Also, the Anne Arundel County Health Department vaccine clinic being held at AACC is moving from CADE to the SUN Hawk’s Nest. As previously shared, remember that the distribution is run by the Health Department, not AACC. If you receive questions about the clinic at AACC, you can advise people to contact the Health Department at 410-222-3663 or through its website.
Spring video message
If you missed my spring video message, I want to share it with you here. Also, as I have mentioned before, there will be opportunities to participate in our planning for a new paradigm for the college. Be sure to look for a separate communication tomorrow with details of how you can get involved.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
I hope everyone weathered the snow and ice OK! This week’s message includes a reminder of our updated inclement weather policy as well as new information, starting with an exciting opportunity with Achieving the Dream.
AACC is one of 10 colleges chosen for Racial Equity Leadership Academy
I’m proud to announce AACC’s participation in the Racial Equity Leadership Academy by Achieving the Dream and the University of Southern California Race and Equity Center. AACC is one of only 10 colleges nationwide selected to participate in the yearlong program that will begin this summer. In higher education we have seen COVID-19 further exacerbate inequities and disproportionately impact students of color. This is a welcomed time to receive a boost in our work to address equity gaps and other inequities through high-quality educational practices.
The intensive program will support a team from the college as they develop a strategic racial equity plan with actionable solutions. By the end of the process, our team will have identified a racial equity change effort, participated in coaching engagements, developed a new vision for our college’s racial equity work and launched the rollout of the racial equity change effort with a comprehensive, prioritized plan. The long-term outcome is to increase student persistence and completion through an intentional design that eliminates structural barriers to equity. This effort will no doubt further the work we have already begun, and I am excited for our participation.
CALT building used for police training
Be aware that on Friday, Feb. 12, from 7-11 a.m. the CALT Building will be used by the county police for a training session. Lot G (CALT) and entrances to the building will be restricted during the training and signage will note “Police Training in Progress.” Members of AACC’s Department of Public Safety and Police will be on-site during this time as well.
Vaccine clinic change of location
Also, the Anne Arundel County Health Department vaccine clinic being held at AACC is moving from the Cade building to the Sun Dining Hall. As previously shared, please remember that the distribution is run by the Health Department, not AACC. If you receive questions about the clinic at AACC, you can advise people to contact the Health Department at 410-222-3663 or through its website.
Inclement weather reminder
This week we have seen our first significant winter weather and with it, the rollout of our new inclement weather policy. As a reminder, the college will continue with virtual instruction and staff will work remotely during times of inclement weather. If conditions or another emergency warrants, classes that are scheduled for in-person instruction may be canceled. In this case, instructors should communicate to their students how instructional time will be made up or how established course learning outcomes will be achieved. Additionally, in the event of widespread power or internet failures, the college may cancel all instruction. Visit Campus Alerts for a full description of the policy.
Student attestation forms
Another important reminder is that all students must complete an attestation form starting with the spring term, even if all of their classes are online. Student attestations should have been included as part of their registration, and they are not required to complete an additional form. However, we continue to receive some paper versions so if there is confusion, be sure to clarify the policy for students. You can also direct them to the Health and Safety pages of the Riverhawk Recovery section of the website.
Bookstore delivery for 13-week classes
Our 13-week classes begin Monday, Feb. 8. Free shipping is available from the AACC Bookstore on all orders, so encourage students to order now to receive their materials on time. Curbside pickup from the Bookstore will not be available next week.
Spring video message
If you missed my spring video message, I want to share it with you here. Also, as I have mentioned before, there will be opportunities to participate in our planning for a new paradigm for the college. Please look for a separate communication tomorrow with details of how you can get involved.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students-
Happy New Year and welcome to the spring 2021! We’re so glad you’re here and wish you a great start to the new term.
Regular updates
As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will provide consistent updates to keep you informed about important information related to our operations and recovery. At the start of the term, we will provide weekly updates each Wednesday and will likely move to every other week as the term progresses. Be sure to watch for these Wednesday updates in your MyAACC email.
Riverhawk Recovery webpages
This spring we want to make sure you have the most accurate information in a consistent and timely way. With that in mind, we have created a dedicated section of the AACC website that provides details of where we are today and where we are headed in the future. This section includes links to Student Services, Health and Safety and more, and provides FAQs, attestation forms and contact information for various departments and resources for you throughout the term at Riverhawk Recovery.
Resources available
Please remember that we have many resources for you, despite the majority of faculty and staff working remotely. For information about accessing books from the library or the AACC Bookstore, check out Student Services, where you can get information on curbside pickup. You may be interested in receiving advising, tutoring, counseling and other services, which are noted in that same section. Our student clubs remain active and the Student Ambassadors are available to answer questions as well.
Lastly, I want to remind you of another website designed to support you: Riverhawks at Home. This site is home to AACC’s “digital community” and includes contributions from students, faculty and staff. Look here for fun stories, tips and engaging social media posts.
I want to thank you for your confidence in AACC and continuing your education with us. We are here to support your educational journey and want you to achieve your goals! Look for regular communications each week and check the dedicated webpages for periodic updates.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Happy spring and best wishes for a great start to the new term!
Middle States review
I want to thank Dr. Greg Schrader, chair of the Middle States Steering Committee, and the members of that committee, as well as the many volunteers involved in the process. This is a huge undertaking and a critical step toward AACC’s reaccreditation. To give you an update on the process and how all of us can help, watch this brief video message from Schrader.
Student update
Today we resume our weekly updates to students. I will be sharing with them links to Riverhawk Recovery webpages and Riverhawks at Home as resources for them. Be sure to remind students that AACC’s many resources, clubs and other support are still available to them, despite the majority of us working remotely. Information and links to department emails or phone numbers are provided in the webpages as well as FAQs that students may find helpful.
Statewide vaccinations
I’m sure many of you are eager to learn when we will have the opportunity to receive vaccines for COVID-19. There are three factors affecting timing:
Please bear with us as we seek greater clarity from the state and county. We will share with you additional details as we learn more.
Thank you for everything you do for our students, colleagues and our community.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
As you know, spring classes begin next week. Thanks to everyone for all of your hard work to prepare for the return of our students.
Spring Forecast recording
I hope you were able to join us for last week’s Spring Forecast. If you were unable to attend, the recording is available on YouTube. (Note: The opening audio, following the student videos, was lost for roughly 30 seconds, and then resumes.)
Curbside textbook delivery
Also, thank you to everyone who has volunteered for the AACC Bookstore, which has resumed its spring curbside pickup program as of yesterday. The program will continue through Monday, Feb. 1.
Volunteers are still needed so if your schedule permits, please consider helping our students by signing up for a shift. The college’s strict social distancing and safety protocols will be upheld. Just sign up to volunteer!
Vaccines on campus
As shared in previous updates, AACC is a county site for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The distribution is run by the Anne Arundel County Health Department, not AACC. If you receive questions about the clinic at AACC, you can advise people to contact the Health Department.
The county has moved from Phase 1A, which included health care providers and first responders, to Phase 1B for residents age 75 and older. These residents can preregister online or by phone on weekdays at 410-222-3663. Appointments will be at county vaccination clinics including AACC, Glen Burnie and other sites around the county.
There has been some confusion around the category of “education” for receiving vaccinations. As of now, our understanding is that this eligibility refers to K-12, but we have asked for confirmation from the health department, which we have not yet received. We will update you as soon as we know and can advise with confidence on the timing and process for faculty and staff.
Planning for the future
As I mentioned in last week's Spring Forecast, it's time for us to start planning for the future and post-pandemic recovery. To help us do that, we want to hear from you.
During February, we will launch a process similar to the Innovation Spaces we conducted last year for strategic planning with questions designed for feedback/comments through:
The Strategic Planning Committee will begin work in late February to coalesce the responses and develop plans to communicate the results back to the campus community in March. We will also follow a similar process of outreach to students as well.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
I look forward to tomorrow’s Spring Forecast as we prepare to kick off the start of the spring term and plan for the future. As a reminder, we will begin at 3:30 p.m., and you can access by YouTube or Zoom. Yesterday’s email from the presidentsline@aacc.edu has the details.
COVID leave extended
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expired on Dec. 31, 2020. This act provided employees with paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave for specific reasons related to COVID-19.
The college will voluntarily continue this leave for employees who are unable to work because they have tested positive, have COVID-like symptoms or who are quarantining due to COVID exposure through March 31, 2021. This allows employees to use up to 80 hours of FFCRA leave to care for themselves without using earned sick leave. We will not be continuing the benefit for the care of family members with symptoms or a diagnosis. This leave will also not provide a benefit for employees who have to care for children who are unable to attend school or daycare due to COVID shutdowns.
If you have any questions, contact Human Resources at humanresources@aacc.edu.
Curbside textbook delivery returns
As you may have seen in a separate email, the AACC Bookstore needs volunteers for its spring curbside pickup program from Tuesday, Jan. 19, through Monday, Feb. 1.
Volunteers are needed to fill several openings each day, with most shifts running 2½ hours. This is a great opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy a change of scenery while helping our students achieve their academic goals.
The college’s strict social distancing and safety protocols will be upheld. Just sign up to volunteer!
New health reporting form
The COVID safety team has developed a secure new form for COVID reporting. This form replaces the previous method of emailing reports to COVID safety and simplifies the process by clarifying the specifics of what to report and how. It is available in one click from the Riverhawk Recovery webpages.
Concerns about violence
Many of you may have heard about possible protests at state capitals around the country and possible attacks during or around the time of the presidential inauguration. We have no indication that AACC could be a target of violence in the next week. However, Public Safety and Police plan to step up their presence in buildings where students and employees are present.
Clearly the New Year has not begun as we had wanted or hoped. We continue to see increases in COVID cases and the threat of more conflict is unnerving. I want to remind you of the resources available to employees:
Thank you for all that you are doing to prepare our students for a brighter future and for the support you are showing for one another.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Welcome back! I hope each of you had an opportunity to enjoy some time off during our winter break. With the spring term right around the corner, we will resume our weekly updates.
County Health Department at AACC
Beginning Monday, Jan. 11, the Anne Arundel County Health Department will begin holding COVID-19 vaccination clinics on the Arnold campus. These clinics will be for specific priority groups (i.e., law enforcement, health care workers not affiliated with a hospital, etc.) and are by appointment only. The clinics will initially be held in the CADE Building for a few weeks and then moved to the SUN Hawk’s Nest for an extended period of time. We wanted everyone to be aware of what will be taking place in case you are on or near campus and notice increased vehicular traffic in those areas while the clinics are operating. Eventually, we expect the clinics to be open to the public according to the state rollout plan. We will notify everyone immediately when that transition takes place.
Direct Deposit Reminder
As you may have heard, the USPS is struggling with the volume of mail as a result of the holiday season and the impact of COVID-19 on its workforce. As a result, there have been increased incidents of lost or delayed mail being reported. If you haven't already done so, you can ensure timely receipt of your paycheck by signing up for direct deposit. Also, be sure to reach out to temporary employees and adjuncts within your departments and ensure they also take advantage of direct deposit.
Spring Broadcast Jan. 14
To kick off the spring term and provide you with important updates, we will hold a “spring broadcast” on Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m. We will follow a format much like our fall convocation with a Zoom link and broadcast on YouTube. Look for a link to the broadcast next week and plan to join the vice presidents and me so we can begin the new year together.
On that note, I want to wish all of you a very happy New Year!
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues and Students,
This message supersedes the travel information in my email dated 12/16/20.
Governor Hogan announced last night a new emergency travel order that requires Maryland residents to limit travel to essential purposes only. Marylanders who travel out of state must obtain a negative COVID-19 test or self-quarantine for 10 days.
Until this new travel order is rescinded by the Governor, AACC employees and students who travel out of the state will not be permitted on campus until they meet the state’s requirements (negative COVID-19 test or self-quarantine for 10 days). Travel to the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the States of Delaware and West Virginia by Marylanders is exempt from this requirement.
If you choose to travel restricted 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.
During the winter break, please contact COVIDsafety@aacc.edu if you have any questions. Beginning Jan. 4, 2021 you may also email Suzanne Boyer, executive director of human resources with any questions (slboyer1@aacc.edu).
Things could change again so we ask that you check your email before returning to campus on Jan. 4th to make sure there have not been any further changes and so you have the most up-to-date information.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
Happy Holidays! By now, I hope you have had a chance to see this year’s holiday message. If not, be sure to watch for a little “joy” from Swoop and your colleagues. I know all of us are looking forward to the winter break, and we will be communicating to supervisors to work with their teams to ensure a true break as much as possible. Before it begins, I want to share two brief updates.
Staying Safe for Winter Break and New Year
As you spend time with family and friends, and some may plan to travel, please exercise caution and use your best judgment to stay healthy and safe. Governor Hogan has asked that we continue to practice social distancing and avoid traveling to states with a positivity rate of more than 10% or seven-day case rate of 20 cases per 100,000 people. If you do travel to these locations, we request that you self-quarantine for 14 days upon your return and refrain from coming to campus during that time.
Inclement Weather
As you may have anticipated, the college plans to have virtual instruction, and staff will work remotely on days with inclement weather. For any classes that are scheduled for in-person instruction, the instructor should communicate to their students how instructional time will be made up or how established course learning outcomes will be achieved. However, in the event of widespread power or internet failures, the college will cancel instruction. For details on how we will approach decision-making and communications related to inclement weather, visit our inclement weather webpage.
Enjoy the winter break! I have never looked forward to a New Year more than this one. I am hopeful that we come out of this pandemic soon. You have my commitment that we will continue to work together to make the college even stronger in 2021.
I wish each of you a very happy and healthy New Year!
Take care and stay well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues-
For this week’s update to faculty and staff, I want to share a short video message.
In addition, I have been asked by the constituency groups to provide details about what impact the rising number of COVID cases is having on AACC. Because we have taken a conservative approach focused on health and safety, I am happy to report that our numbers have been quite low relative to the number of students and employees at the college.
The total number of positive COVID student cases since March 14 totals 28, and the number of positive employee cases in the same timeframe totals 22. Additionally, the number of people we track as being “at risk” is 214 students and 54 employees. Some “at risk” individuals may have had symptoms but did not test positive or have had a positive contact and must quarantine. Many of the positive student and employee cases have not been on campus.
I want to thank our COVID-19 Safety Team of Suzanne Boyer and Beth Mays, with much support from Donna Carpenter and Anne Bashore, for the time-intensive work required to monitor and track cases day and night. Emails are answered during on- and off-business hours. Not only do they handle case management, from talking to the individual, getting background information and periodically checking in with those individuals, they communicate with the county Department of Health about every case.
Please know that if a potential or positive case is on campus, the facilities affected by that case gets thoroughly sanitized according to CDC guidelines. In addition, if you have been potentially exposed, you will be contacted immediately.
Take care and stay well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students-
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed a bit of a break!
As you know, the county and state continue to see a significant number of COVID cases and anticipate increases in illnesses throughout the winter. AACC intentionally has taken a conservative approach to our decisions and actions, which has resulted in a low number of COVID cases within the college community. I want to stress the need for us to continue this approach and to remain vigilant. I appreciate your support as we move into the colder months so that we may continue to reduce the risks to our students, faculty and staff.
Fall Final Exams
Final exams for the fall are required and must be given according to the published schedule from Dec. 14 to Dec. 19. Exams for Online and Online Sync classes must be completed no later than Dec. 19. The scheduled time for a synchronous exam is available on the website. Also, if Honorlock is being used, a Google Chrome extension is required. The extension, support and additional information can be found online. Final grades will be submitted by your instructor 48 hours after the exam is given. The college will process term grade reports and transcripts immediately after the exam period ends so you may receive your grades prior to the end of the year.
Winter and Spring Terms
Registration is well underway for winter and spring terms. In addition to online classes, we have scheduled a number of hybrid offerings. We intentionally capped the in-person portions of hybrid classes at 10 students in anticipation of possible state or county restrictions on meetings. To help you review the different formats and determine the best fit for you, visit “Ways to Take a Course” on our website.
You’re in the home stretch for the fall term – be sure finish strong so you are ready for the winter and spring terms!
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear colleagues-
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed a bit of a break!
As you know, the county and state continue to see a significant number of COVID cases and anticipate increases in illnesses throughout the winter. AACC has intentionally taken a conservative approach to our decisions and actions, which has resulted in a low number of COVID cases within the college community. I want to stress the need for us to continue this approach and to remain vigilant. I appreciate your support as we move into the colder months so that we may continue to reduce the risks to our students, faculty and staff.
Update on Chief Diversity Officer and VP of Technology searches
After receiving your input, followed by a thorough committee review and much discussion, I have decided not to hire our next Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer from our initial pool of candidates. With the full support of the hiring committee, we will extend the search in an effort to widen the pool of applicants to find the best person for our college. I am pleased to share that the members of the committee have agreed to stay on and provide continuity in the search process. I want to thank them for their dedication and service.
At the same time, we continue to move forward in our search for a Vice President of Information Technology. We will continue to keep you informed of both searches as we progress.
Fall Final Exams
Just a reminder, final exams for the fall are required and must be given according to the published schedule from Dec. 14 to Dec. 19. Exams for Online and Online Sync classes must be completed no later than Dec. 19. The scheduled time for a synchronous exam is available on the website. Also, if Honorlock is being used, a Google Chrome extension is required. The extension, support and additional information can be found online. Final grades must be submitted 48 hours after the exam is given. The college will process term grade reports and transcripts immediately after the exam period ends so students can receive their grades prior to the end of the year.
Winter and Spring Terms
Registration is well underway for the winter and spring terms. In addition to online classes, we have scheduled a number of hybrid offerings. We intentionally capped the in-person portions of hybrid classes at 10 students in anticipation of possible state or county restrictions on meetings. To help students understand the different formats available, you can reference “Ways to Take a Course” on our website.
Thank you for helping our students end strong this fall and prepare for winter and spring terms.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues,
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I would like to share some of the many things I am grateful for as this week's update. I hope all of you have a restful, happy and safe holiday!
Take care and stay well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
Yesterday Gov. Hogan provided a health advisory for Maryland, including guidance to residents regarding out-of-state travel. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is one of the most heavily traveled holidays, and many of you may be wondering how best to handle the upcoming breaks, including winter break. County Executive Steuart Pittman will hold a news conference tomorrow morning, which could provide additional direction from the county. The state advisory is not mandatory for residents or college employees, but if you have any questions about how it may impact you, contact humanresources@aacc.edu.
We encourage you to review the full advisory provided by the state.
Spotlight on Military Service
In observance of Veterans Day today, AACC honors its service members and thanks them for their and their family’s sacrifices. You can watch my message on YouTube as well as a video message from Samson Reis, AACC chapter president of the Student Veterans of America. There are a number of other ways you can mark the day as well.
In case you haven’t contributed yet and would like to acknowledge someone in particular or share a heartwarming message of thanks to veterans in our community, visit the Veterans Appreciation Month Board where you can post by clicking the + icon on the board. While we are unable to meet on campus, we will share these messages with the same level of reverence and gratitude to veterans in the AACC community.
Also, if you are serving or have served in the military, we would like to recognize you! If you would like to be featured in the “Spotlight on Military Service” profile series, fill out and submit this online form. We’ll feature students, faculty and staff throughout the month on AACC social media accounts as one more way of recognizing those members of the AACC community in the armed forces.
Finally, if you visit Riverhawks at Home you’ll find additional activities, including coloring pages, discounts and a link to Andrew G. Truxal Library’s virtual exhibit. The Veterans Appreciation Month webpage also lists upcoming events, virtual activities and special initiatives for our veterans and military-connected community.
Attestation Forms Due Friday, Nov. 13
As I mentioned last week, all current employees are required to complete a health attestation form. Thank you to everyone who has completed a form already. Please complete by this Friday, Nov. 13, even if you completed an attestation form previously. With the help of the Information Services team, the attestation is set up as a Microsoft Form. You no longer need to email a PDF to the COVID safety email box. You may access the form from the link above or from the Riverhawk Recovery Health and Safety page. Log in as you normally would on the college’s sign-in page, read each statement and, if appropriate, click on the “Agree” box, sign and complete the form. The information will be stored securely, and you will receive an email confirmation with a copy of the attestation for your records. This should be completed no later than this Friday, Nov. 13.
If you have any questions, contact Suzanne Boyer, executive director of Human Resources, at slboyer1@aacc.edu. A Spanish version of the form is forthcoming.
Spring Registration Underway
As you know, spring registration kicked off yesterday! We’re building on the online options available in the fall by adding a number of hybrid classes. To help students understand the different course modalities, be sure to familiarize yourself with the online and hybrid formats on the Ways to Take a Course page on our website. A tutorial is also being provided in the registration section of MyAACC as well as in Canvas.
Students may also attend Virtual Early Registration Drop-in Advising from noon to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow to connect with an advisor who can help them sign up for classes.
Take care and stay well,
Dawn
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
Registration for the spring term begins Monday, Nov. 10, and winter registration is well underway. There are two important changes for these upcoming terms. First, we’re not be printing and mailing a credit class schedule, so be sure to visit either the main website, aacc.edu, or use MyAACC to locate the classes you wish to take. Second, in addition to the online options available in the fall, this spring we will increase the number of hybrid classes, which combine online with in-person classes. Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the different formats to find the courses that are right for you.
Veterans Day Recognition
AACC will honor our servicemen and servicewomen in observation of Veterans Day on Wed., Nov. 11, by featuring messages of appreciation from administrators, faculty, staff and student leaders. Unlike in years past, we will share these messages in a virtual format on AACC’s social media accounts. While these messages will not be presented “live,” they are still shared with the same level of reverence and gratitude to veterans in the AACC community. In addition, the library's Veterans Day exhibit will also be virtual this year.
We are honored to have many service members and veterans in the AACC community. If you are currently serving or have served in the military, we would like to recognize you! If you would like to be featured in the “Spotlight on Military Service” profile series, fill out and submit this online form. We will feature students, faculty and staff throughout the month on AACC social media accounts as one more way of recognizing those members of the AACC community in the Armed Forces.
Getting more involved – the Bunker Network
If you would like to be more involved in supporting military and veteran students, I encourage you to participate in the Military/Veteran Resource Center’s Bunker Network, a growing community of faculty and staff members who have a particular interest in understanding and supporting the needs of the military learner. For information about the Bunker Network, contact the Military/Veteran Resource Center at veterans@aacc.edu.
To learn more about the variety of virtual activities and special initiatives happening Nov. 1-30, visit our Veterans Appreciation Month webpage. For information about AACC’s services for military, veterans and dependents, visit the Military/Veterans Resource Center page, email veterans@aacc.edu or call 410-777-4838.
AACC Athletics Returns
I am happy to share that sports are coming back to AACC this spring! In preparation, athletes will begin practices and conditioning outdoors for all sports. If you are interested in participating in a sport, fill out the AACC athletics interest form. Go Riverhawks!
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
There are a number of important updates to share with you this week.
Attestation forms – now required of all current employees
As a follow up to my Oct. 21 message, we now require all current employees to complete a health attestation form. Previously, the form was only required for employees coming to campus. Please complete the form even if you completed one previously. We are making this change to streamline and shore up the tracking process. With the help of the Information Services team, the attestation is set up as a Microsoft Form. You may access the form from the link above or from the Riverhawk Recovery Health and Safety page. Log in as you normally would on the college’s sign-in page, read each statement and, if appropriate, click on the “Agree” box, sign and complete the form. The information will be stored securely and you no longer need to email a PDF to the COVID safety email box. You will receive an email confirmation with a copy of the attestation for your records. This should be completed no later than Nov. 13. If you have any questions, contact Suzanne Boyer, executive director of Human Resources at slboyer1@aacc.edu. A Spanish version of the form is forthcoming.
Chief equity, diversity and inclusion officer search
If you were unable to “meet the candidates” yesterday or Monday, don’t forget you can review the recorded presentations of our three candidates for the chief equity, diversity and inclusion officer position. We welcome your feedback, so please complete the anonymous surveys for each of the candidates. Thank you again to Nicole Williams, Ph.D., (chair) and Vickie Mazotas for co-facilitating the presentations, and thank you to the other committee members for recommending such strong candidates.
Veterans Day activities
Continuing with our long-held special tradition, AACC will honor our servicemen and servicewomen in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Unlike years past, we will feature messages of appreciation from administrators, faculty, staff and student leaders on a digital board linked to Riverhawks at Home. If you would like to acknowledge someone in particular or share a heartwarming message of thanks to veterans in our community, visit the Veterans Appreciation Month Board where you can post by clicking the + icon on the board. While we are unable to meet on campus, we will share these messages with the same level of reverence and gratitude to veterans in the AACC community.
Spotlight on Military Service
We are honored to have many service members and veterans in the AACC community. If you are currently serving or have served in the military, we would like to recognize you! If you would like to be featured in the “Spotlight on Military Service” profile series, fill out and submit this online form. We will feature students, faculty and staff throughout the month on AACC social media accounts as one more way of recognizing those members of the AACC community in the Armed Forces.
Getting more involved – the Bunker Network
If you would like to be more involved in supporting military and veteran students, I encourage you to participate in the Military/Veteran Resource Center’s Bunker Network, a growing community of faculty and staff members who have a particular interest in understanding and supporting the needs of the military learner. For information about the Bunker Network, contact the Military/Veteran Resource Center at veterans@aacc.edu.
To learn more about the variety of virtual activities and special initiatives happening Nov. 1-30, visit our Veterans Appreciation Month webpage. For information about AACC’s services for military, veterans and dependents, visit the Military and Veterans Resource Center page, email veterans@aacc.edu or call 410-777-4838.
As always, thank you for helping us honor our veterans and servicemen and servicewomen.
No 2020 Turkey Trot
Unfortunately, we have canceled the AACC Turkey Trot this year. We are looking to have another event in the spring, if possible, so that we can come together as a community either in person or virtually. Thank you for your support of the event in the past, and we look forward to having another Turkey Trot next year.
Spring Registration
As you know, registration for the spring term begins Monday, Nov. 10, and winter registration is well underway. In addition to the online options available in the fall, this spring we will increase the number of hybrid classes. We are developing a number of communications to help students understand the different course modalities. Please familiarize yourself with the different formats so you are able to help students find the courses that are right for them. One starting point is the Ways to Take a Course page on our website. More resources for you to review and share will be coming soon.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
As noted last week, we will continue our weekly faculty and staff updates with the goal of keeping you informed of important progress in our Riverhawk Recovery plan. Students will receive updates every other week. The next student communication will go out Nov. 4.
Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer Search
Thanks to the hard work of the search committee, next week, we will hold open forums with the candidates for our next Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer. A special thanks to the committee chair Dr. Nicole Williams for her leadership. A separate email has been sent with login instructions to attend Monday, Nov. 2, and Tuesday, Nov. 3. The forums will be recorded and saved on our intranet for those who are unable to attend.
Athletics
Sports are returning to AACC this spring! In preparation, athletes will begin outdoor practices and conditioning on campus. Thanks to everyone working behind the scenes to prepare and keep our athletes, coaches and staff healthy and safe.
Buildings Update
Since most of us are not on campus regularly, I want to alert you to the continued progress of our newest buildings. The Health and Life Sciences building remains on schedule to open and ready for classes in time for next fall, 2021. In addition, the private fundraising for the Clauson Center for Skilled Trades and Innovation has been overwhelmingly positive. That building is expected to be substantially complete in October 2021, and later that month or early November we will dedicate the building. We anticipate classes starting in January 2022.
Spring Term
Thanks to everyone preparing for spring registration which begins Nov. 10. We continue to plan for Stage 3 for the spring term, which includes an increase in hybrid classes. For details, visit the AACC recovery webpages.
Vote 2020
Finally, I received a letter from the governor’s office asking that we encourage our students and workforce to “make a plan to vote.” In response, we will share that information with students and would appreciate your efforts to reinforce that message. Remember, early voting is underway through Nov. 2, and Election Day is Nov. 3. To help all of us make a plan to vote, we can visit the State Board of Elections website.
Have a great rest of the week!
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
Happy Wednesday! There is no news to report this week. With that in mind, we will shift to a message every other week, rather than weekly. Please remember the following:
Again, we will not send an update next week, but will resume Nov. 4. In the meantime, I wish you continued success with your studies!
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
Happy Wednesday! Thank you for your positive comments about the weekly update. We are pleased you are finding it informative. The primary goal is to keep everyone informed while making sure the content is relevant. Below you will find a few of the resources we reminded students of today:
Attestation forms – to be required of all employees
To ensure the continued health and safety of our college community, next week we will require that all current employees complete a health attestation form. Previously the form was only required for employees coming to campus. We are making this change to streamline and shore up the tracking process. Details of this new process are being ironed out at this time, and an update will be provided in the coming weeks. Until then, make sure you complete an attestation form if you are coming to campus. Send it to COVIDsafety@aacc.edu.
Winter schedule
As I noted in last week’s update, the last day of the fall term will be Dec. 19 to allow for a full two-week winter break for most employees. To clarify further, there are some personnel who will continue to work during the break, as always. Also, some winter classes begin Dec. 21. As a result there will be some faculty and staff required to support our students at that time. Be sure to work out the details with your supervisors to ensure adequate coverage to respond to student needs.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
This week marks the midway point of the fall term and serves as a good reminder to pace ourselves and continue to care for yourself and others. With that in mind, I want to remind you that there are many resources available that can support you throughout the school year. Please take advantage of helpful resources to support your financial, physical, mental and academic health.
Academic Health
We want you to finish the term strong. Reach out to your instructors and ask for help if you need it. Tutoring and the Writing Center are available to help you get through your classes. You can also chat with a librarian about questions related to research, online resources and loaner equipment, such as laptops and hotspot devices.
Contact: truxal@aacc.libanswers.com
Financial Health
If you or your family are struggling with finances, be sure to contact AACC’s financial aid office to find out if you are eligible for additional financial aid or scholarships.
Contact: finaid@aacc.edu
You may also apply for a HelpLink grant to help with food costs, living expenses, medical care or course materials. HelpLink awards will be distributed by direct shipment.
Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
Mental and Physical Health
Taking care of your physical and mental well-being at this time is critical to maintaining resiliency. Short-term counseling is available at no cost to students through HIPPA-compliant video conferencing platforms.
Students, faculty and staff may receive one-time or weekly deliveries of food from AACC’s food pantry via direct shipment. Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
The Health & Wellness Center is continuing to offer free services including substance abuse and recovery support, nicotine cessation services (nicotine patches, gum and lozenges), safer sex condom kits, and pregnancy test kits.
Contact: bamays@aacc.edu
Emergency/Crisis: Due to remote access and counselors fluctuating availability, if there is a concern of safety to self or others, call 911 or the Anne Arundel County Warmline at 410-768-5522 immediately.
Contact: counseling@aacc.edu
State and County Resources
Lastly, if you’re willing and able, you can help others by donating to HelpLink, visiting Maryland Unites or volunteering in the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps. Thank you for working together to stay safe and healthy.
Have a good rest of the term!
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
This week marks the midway point of the fall term and serves as a good reminder to pace ourselves and continue to care for ourselves and one another. With that in mind, I want to share that the college has added two days to our winter break. The college will close Dec. 19 rather than Dec. 23. I hope these additional days will allow you to take meaningful time to rest and recharge over the holidays.
Until then, I want to remind you that there are many resources available to students, faculty and staff that can support you throughout the school year. Please share appropriately with students and take advantage of helpful resources to support your financial, physical and mental health.
Academic Health
We want students to finish the term strong, so we are reminding them to reach out to their instructors and ask for help if needed. You can also suggest the Tutoring and the Writing Center to help them with class assignments. Additionally, they can chat with a librarian about questions related to research, online resources and loaner equipment, such as laptops and hotspot devices.
Contact: truxal@aacc.libanswers.com
Financial Health
Students and their families may be struggling with finances for a variety of reasons at this time. Students should contact AACC’s financial aid office to find out if they're eligible for additional financial aid or scholarships.
Contact: finaid@aacc.edu
Students may also apply for a HelpLink grant to help with food costs, living expenses, medical care or course materials. HelpLink awards will be distributed by direct shipment.
Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
Students, faculty and staff may receive one-time or weekly deliveries of food from AACC’s food pantry via direct shipment.
Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
Mental and Physical Health
We know it is common to feel extra stress or anxiety at this time. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being is critical to maintaining resiliency. Employees have access to counseling through the Employee Assistance Program. Short-term counseling is available at no cost to students through HIPPA-compliant video conferencing platforms.
The Health & Wellness Center is continuing to offer free services including substance abuse and recovery support, nicotine cessation services (nicotine patches, gum and lozenges), safer sex condom kits, and pregnancy test kits.
Contact: bamays@aacc.edu
Emergency/Crisis: Due to remote access and counselors fluctuating availability, if there is a concern of safety to self or others, call 911 or the Anne Arundel County Warmline at 410-768-5522 immediately.
Contact: counseling@aacc.edu
State and County Resources
Help Others
If you’re willing and able, you can help others by donating to HelpLink, visiting Maryland Unites or volunteering in the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps. Thank you for working together to stay safe and healthy.
Thank you for everything you are doing to help our students and each other.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
Last week Gov. Hogan and state Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon, Ph.D., held a news conference to address public schools gradually returning to in-person classes. This week, the Board of Education for Anne Arundel County met to address the issue at the county level, including athletics. Since you may be seeing these discussions in the news, I thought it was a good opportunity to remind everyone that AACC remains on its own timetable.
AACC is currently at Stage 2 with learning mostly online, Student Services operating remotely and the majority of faculty and staff working remotely as well. We noted last week that the library has begun providing Sidewalk Pickup of books at select times from Monday through Thursday.
Winter Term
For the winter term, we will continue forward in Stage 2. The term will run from Dec. 21 through Jan. 22 with two-week classes running primarily Jan. 4-17. Registration opens next week Oct. 13. This term provides an opportunity for you to continue your studies and maintain momentum toward your goal in an accelerated format.
Spring Term
For the spring term, we are planning to move into Stage 3. We're building on Stage 2 classes in two ways: First, we are scheduling a significant number of hybrid classes, which blend face-to-face meetings with online learning. Second, potentially half of our composition, reading, math and other select courses are being scheduled to meet face-to-face. Student Services will continue remotely. Registration for the spring term begins Nov. 10, and classes begin Jan. 23.
As we continue to schedule classes for spring and get closer to the registration date, we will share more information about the different class formats that will be available. I want to thank the faculty and staff who have been working so hard to prepare us for Stage 3. For further clarification of the stages and AACC’s Riverhawk Recovery Plan, please continue to visit our Riverhawk Recovery pages.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
Happy October (almost)! This week I want to share a few reminders to help you with your studies now and potentially help with funding your education going forward.
Financial Aid
If you are seeking financial aid for next year or currently have financial aid and need to renew, the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens tomorrow, Oct. 1. Filling out the FAFSA is a critical first step in applying for financial aid for college. Schools use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid, including grants and scholarships. There is no downside in completing the FAFSA early but waiting could result in lost opportunities for aid. If you are seeking aid for this academic year, the AACC scholarship application is still open for 2020-2021.
You may also wish to know that the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Workforce Development Scholarships are available for AACC noncredit students. This scholarship will fund up to $2,000 for tuition and fees for awarded students in approved noncredit programs. For a list of approved programs, visit our website or contact the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development for details.
Library Sidewalk Pickup
Beginning this week Truxal Library will begin Sidewalk Pickup of books. You may request library books by placing holds on them in the library catalog. Library staff will notify you when the books are ready and will provide instructions for scheduling a pickup appointment. Thirty-minute windows to pick up your library materials will be offered:
The pickup location is the first floor entrance to the library, across the sidewalk from the Pascal Center for Performing Arts.
A library card or AACC ID card is required to place holds in the catalog. If you need to apply for a library card or register your college ID number with the library, use their form. Email Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu if you have questions.
Library Periodicals
In addition the library will provide print or digital copies of articles in periodicals that are not available through library databases. Use the form typically reserved for borrowing materials from other libraries, and indicate your preference for a print or digital format. Digital files will be emailed to your AACC email address. Print versions can be retrieved through the library's Sidewalk Pickup service. Chapters or articles in reference books can be requested using the same form. Copyright law and fair use guidelines apply to this service.
Technology Equipment for Students
Truxal Library continues to lend technology equipment, including laptops, hotspots and webcams. For these services, contact Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu, using your MyAACC email address, to request devices. All items will be shipped via UPS to your home, with a prepaid address label for returning devices to the college.
Please be sure to take advantage of these important resources. For additional information on student support services, visit our recovery webpages.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
Happy October (almost)! The primary news for faculty and staff this week is that tomorrow I will provide a live update on AACC’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. You should have received an invitation through Outlook for 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. This will be a brief overview of the plan and an update on initiatives already underway. We have selected this time with the hope that most faculty and staff will be able to join us. The presentation will be recorded as well, and both the live event and recording – including closed captioning – will be available through YouTube.
In addition, we’re sharing reminders to students on accessing library services, which are available to employees as well, and alerting them to the FAFSA opening up tomorrow. So you receive the same news, here is what is going to students:
Financial Aid
If students are seeking financial aid for next year or currently have financial aid and need to renew it for the future, the 2021-2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens tomorrow, Oct. 1. Filling out the FAFSA is a critical first step in applying for financial aid for college. Schools use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid, including grants and scholarships. There is no downside in completing the FAFSA early but waiting could result in lost opportunities for aid. If students are seeking aid for this academic year, the AACC scholarship application is still open for 2020-2021.
Students may wish to know also that the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) Workforce Development Scholarships are available for AACC noncredit students. This scholarship will fund up to $2,000 for tuition and fees for awarded students in approved noncredit programs. For a list of approved programs, visit our website or contact the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development for details.
Library Sidewalk Pick-up
Beginning this week, Truxal Library will begin Sidewalk Pickup of books. Students and employees may request library books by placing holds on them in the library catalog. Library staff will notify you when the books are ready and will provide instructions for scheduling a pickup appointment. Thirty-minute windows to pick up your library materials will be offered:
The pickup location is the first floor entrance to the library, across the sidewalk from the Pascal Center for Performing Arts.
A library card or AACC ID card is required to place holds in the catalog. If you need to apply for a library card or register your college ID number with the library, use their form. Email Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu if you have questions.
Library Periodicals
The library will also provide print or digital copies of articles in periodicals that are not available through library databases. Use the form typically reserved for borrowing materials from other libraries, and indicate your preference for a print or digital format. Digital files will be emailed to the patron's college email address. Print versions can be retrieved through the library's Sidewalk Pickup service. Chapters or articles in reference books can also be requested using the same form. Copyright law and fair use guidelines apply to this service.
Technology Equipment for Students
Truxal Library continues to lend technology equipment, including laptops, hotspots and webcams. Contact Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu, using your MyAACC email address, to request devices. All items will be shipped via UPS to your home, with a prepaid address label for returning devices to the college.
Please encourage students to take advantage of these important resources and remind them additional information on student support services is available at our recovery webpages.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
It is hard to believe that October is upon us. We continue to make great progress on our recovery plans and have made additional adjustments on much-needed services that I want to share with you.
Library Sidewalk Pickup
Truxal Library will begin "Sidewalk Pickup" of books starting Monday, Sept. 28. You may request library books by placing "holds" on them in the library catalog. Library staff will notify you when the books are ready and will provide instructions for scheduling a pickup appointment. Thirty-minute windows to pick up your library materials will be offered:
The pickup location is the first floor entrance to the library, across the sidewalk from the Pascal Center for Performing Arts.
A library card or AACC ID card is required to place holds in the catalog. If you need to apply for a library card or register your college ID number with the library, use their form. Email Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu if you have questions.
Library Periodicals
The library will also provide print or digital copies of articles in periodicals that are not available through library databases. Use the form typically reserved for borrowing materials from other libraries, and indicate your preference for a print or digital format. Digital files will be emailed to your AACC email address. Print versions can be retrieved through the library's Sidewalk Pickup service. Chapters or articles in reference books can be requested using the same form. Copyright law and fair use guidelines apply to this service.
Technology Equipment for Students
Truxal Library continues to lend technology equipment to students. Laptops, hotspots and webcams are available. For these services, contact Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu, using your MyAACC email address, to request devices. All items will be shipped via UPS to your home, with a prepaid address label for returning devices to the college.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
It is hard to believe that October is upon us. We continue to make great progress on our recovery plans and have made additional adjustments on much-needed services that I want to share with you.
Library Sidewalk Pick-up
Truxal Library will begin "Sidewalk Pickup" of books starting Monday, Sept. 28. Students and college employees may request library books by placing "holds" on them in the library catalog. Library staff will notify the borrower when the books are ready and will provide instructions for scheduling a pickup appointment. Thirty-minute windows to pick up your library materials will be offered:
The pickup location is the first floor entrance to the library, across the sidewalk from the Pascal Center for Performing Arts.
A library card or AACC ID card is required to place holds in the catalog. If you need to apply for a library card or register your college ID number with the library, use their form. Email Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu if you have questions.
Library Periodicals
The library will also provide print or digital copies of articles in periodicals that are not available through library databases. Use the form typically reserved for borrowing materials from other libraries, and indicate your preference for a print or digital format. Digital files will be emailed to the patron's college email address. Print versions can be retrieved through the library's Sidewalk Pickup service. Chapters or articles in reference books can also be requested using the same form. Copyright law and fair use guidelines apply to this service.
Technology Equipment for Students
Truxal Library continues to lend technology equipment to students. Laptops, hotspots and webcams are available. Students should contact Truxal's circulation desk at circdesk@aacc.edu, using their MyAACC email address, to request devices. All items are shipped via UPS to the student's home, with a prepaid address label for returning devices to the college.
The college has some technology equipment available to faculty and staff. Contact the Technical Call Center at helpdesk@aacc.edu for more details about what is available and how to make a request.
Save the date
Fall convocation kicked off the term and allowed us to come together as a college community early in the academic year. While we touched on the new strategic plan at that time, I would like to hold a similar kickoff of the 2020-2024 strategic plan next Thurs., Oct. 1 at 3:45 p.m. This will be a brief but live overview of the plan and an update on initiatives already underway. We have selected this time in hopes that most faculty and staff will be able to join us. The presentation will be recorded as well, and both the live event and recording will be available through YouTube. More details on access to the event will be sent next week.
As always, thank you for all that you do for our students and our college community.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
This week kicks off our 13-week classes! Welcome to new students beginning this term and thanks to all of the returning students for continuing your journey will us. As you know, we will have one more opportunity for you to register for fall classes – our second eight-week session – beginning next month. As we progress forward with this term, I thought you might want to know about other resources and activities available to you.
Student Clubs and Activities
In this time of virtual learning, you may be wondering if you can still participate in college clubs and organizations. Many of our student clubs and organizations are still active remotely and are a great way for you to get involved, gain leadership skills and make new friends. This week the Student Government Association has been hosting a Virtual Club Fair to help you find a club that you might like to join. The fair will continue to highlight student organizations, including the E-Club, Campus Activities Board, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and others, for the remainder of the week.
You can find details about this event and other upcoming virtual events at The Nest. In addition, the Office of Student Engagement is a good contact: studentengagement@aacc.edu or Facebook or Instagram. Remember, too, that our college community can stay connected digitally through the Riverhawks at Home community at www.riverhawksathome.com or on social media using #riverhawksathome.
Stages of Recovery
The county held a town hall yesterday to field questions and clarify plans for further reopening and recovery. I want to remind you that AACC has developed a phased-in approach to recovery.
We are currently at Stage 2 of our recovery program and working toward Stage 3 for spring 2021. That means in addition to the face-to-faces classes running in stages 1 and 2, we will schedule up to a maximum of 50% face-to-face classes for composition, reading, math and other select courses. Our longer-term goal is to move to Stage 4 by the second eight-week session in the spring.
I recognize that because the situation is fluid, the details of the stages can be confusing. Again, state and county decisions help inform the action steps that AACC takes, but our recovery plan will continue to place the safety of our students and workforce first. The important thing to remember is that we will launch or retract these stages based on the health and safety of the college community. For the latest information, visit our recovery webpages.
Teach-in
Lastly I want to share that last week’s “teach-in” on equity and inclusion drew nearly 200 registrants in 20 presentations, including some sessions offered at multiple times and on multiple days. Of the participants, 40% were staff, 27% full-time faculty, 10% adjunct faculty and 22% students. The program was filled with helpful information, thoughtful reflection and meaningful insights. Look for more such opportunities in the future.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. Thank you for continuing your educational journey with AACC. Despite these challenging times, we are here to help you succeed and achieve your educational goals.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Colleagues:
This week kicks off our 13-week classes, so thank you to everyone for making this happen! As you know, we will have one more opportunity for students to register – our second eight-week session, which begins next month. As we move forward with the term, I thought you might want an update on our enrollment.
Enrollment Update
Year to date, we continue to hold steady at around 1% below where we were at this time last year. As I have mentioned before, this is due to an outstanding summer that saw a significant increase in enrollment. With the start of the 13-week session, our fall enrollment has remained at minus 6% compared to last fall. So the increase in summer enrollment has helped to minimize the fall decrease for a year-to-date overall decline of around 1%.
According to reports as of the first day of fall classes, the state average for community colleges is minus 9%. Unfortunately, a number of colleges are experiencing double-digit declines both in the state and nationwide. While we are pleased with our overall enrollment for the year, we must continue to work hard to encourage our students to stay on track for the balance of the year.
Stages of Recovery
The county held a town hall yesterday to field questions and clarify plans for further reopening and recovery. I want to remind you that AACC has developed a phased-in approach to recovery.
We are currently at Stage 2 of our recovery program and are working toward Stage 3 for spring 2021. That means in addition to the face-to-faces classes running in stages 1 and 2, we will schedule up to a maximum of 50% face-to-face classes for composition, reading, math and other select courses. Our longer-term goal is to move to Stage 4 by the second eight-week session in the spring.
Because the situation is fluid, the details of the stages can be confusing. Again, state and county decisions help inform the action steps that AACC takes, but our recovery plan will continue to place the safety of our students and workforce first. The important thing to remember is that we will launch or retract these stages based on the health and safety of the college community. There will be future discussion of the stages at constituency meetings and potentially division meetings (such as the Division of Learning check-ins) to field questions and further clarify for faculty and staff. For the latest information, visit our recovery webpages.
Student Clubs and Activities
In this time of virtual learning, you may be wondering if students can still participate in college clubs and organizations. Many of our student clubs and organizations are still active remotely and are a great way for students to get involved, gain leadership skills and make new friends. This week the Student Government Association has been hosting a Virtual Club Fair to help students find a club they might like to join. The fair will continue to highlight student organizations for the remainder of the week. Students can find details about this event and other upcoming virtual events at The Nest. In addition, the Office of Student Engagement is good contact for interested students: studentengagement@aacc.edu or Facebook or Instagram. Thanks to all of the club advisors for helping students stay connected this year. Remember, too, that our college community can stay connected digitally through the Riverhawks at Home community at www.riverhawksathome.com or on social media using #riverhawksathome.
Teach-in
Lastly, I want to share that last week’s “teach-in” on equity and inclusion drew nearly 200 registrants in 20 presentations, including some sessions offered at multiple times and on multiple days. Of the participants, 40% were staff, 27% full-time faculty, 10% adjunct faculty and 22% students. Thank you to all of the facilitators for providing outstanding professional development filled with helpful information, thoughtful reflection and meaningful insights. Look for more professional development opportunities related to our strategic plan and initiatives in the future.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. Thank you for everything you are doing to help our students achieve their educational goals.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear Students:
I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day weekend and had a great start to the fall term. Last night we resumed our regular monthly meetings of the board of trustees. The board of trustees provides policy and oversight to the college, and AACC is one of the few community colleges that selects a voting student member each year. I want to share a little about your new student trustee and the other new members.
Board of Trustees
New Trustees
Each year I am pleased to welcome a new student trustee to the board of trustees. Briana Barone brings a lot of energy and curiosity to the position. She is an aspiring teacher who is also earning additional credentials in marketing. She is excited to be the voice of our students this year and will be a great addition to the board. We have already filmed a welcome video together, kicking off our fall term.
We also welcomed our newest board member, Kathleen Johnson. Ms. Johnson provides a strong community perspective as a long-time business owner and community activist. Those experiences and outlook will no doubt serve the board and AACC well in our work with the business community, county chambers of commerce, and community agencies.
Lastly, we are joined by Brig. Gen. Irene Zoppi Rodriguez, Ph.D., U.S. Army Reserves. Gen. Rodriguez can help us from both an academic and a leadership perspective. As a career military officer, she brings a wealth of knowledge about an audience we serve well – active military, veterans and their families. Her perspective and insight will be invaluable.
Retiring Trustee
Last night we said goodbye to long-time trustee Walter Hall who served the college for 36 years. He was appointed to the board of trustees under AACC President Tom Florestano. Some of what you recognize as integral to AACC were encouraged or influenced by Mr. Hall such as the nursing program, paramedics and police program and the Florestano Building. Mr. Hall was also instrumental in many other areas, from securing funding for AACC’s athletic fields to establishing a presence for AACC at Arundel Mills. Much of Mr. Hall’s time with AACC reflects the success of the college, and we will miss the expertise and unwavering support he provided throughout his tenure.
New Faculty
In addition to welcoming new trustees, we also introduced and received approval for three new professors, all of whom were adjunct professors with AACC. Christopher Harmon is a new assistant professor, Medical Lab technician. Mr. Harmon holds a master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Tanisha Meade is a new assistant professor of nursing. Ms. Meade holds a master’s degree in nursing from Towson University. Jaime Van Allen is also a new assistant professor of nursing. Ms. Van Allen holds a master’s degree in Leadership/Education from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing. Welcome to our newest professors!
Library Pickup
The college is working on a plan for pickup of library materials. While a number of resources can be accessed online, stay tuned for details on curbside pickup, similar to the recent textbook pickup from the AACC Bookstore.
As you know, our 13-week classes begin next week. If you need to adjust your class schedule, or if you didn’t find all the courses you were looking for, be sure to review the 13-week and upcoming second eight-week options for additional classes you might like to take. The fall term is truly underway!
Take care and be well.
Dear Colleagues:
I hope everyone enjoyed the Labor Day weekend and had a great start to the fall term. Last night we resumed our regular monthly board of trustees meetings with a new chair. We welcomed new board members and said goodbye to outgoing board members as well. As our trustees provide policy and oversight to the college, I want to share a little about them.
Board of Trustees
Retiring Trustee
Last night we said goodbye to long-time trustee Walter Hall. A number of you have met or worked with Mr. Hall over the years as he served the college for 36 years. He was appointed to the board of trustees under AACC President Tom Florestano. Mr. Hall encouraged Dr. Florestano to expand the nursing program, paramedics and police program to meet growing demand, and worked closely with Del. Robert Neall to obtain funding for what would become the Florestano Building. Mr. Hall chaired the search committee to find the new president, Dr. Martha Smith, when Dr. Florestano retired. Mr. Hall was instrumental in many areas, from working with Sen. Jack Cade to develop the Cade funding formula for community colleges, to securing funding for AACC’s athletic fields, to establishing a presence for AACC at Arundel Mills. Much of Mr. Hall’s time with AACC reflects the success of the college, and we will miss the expertise and unwavering support he provided throughout his tenure
New Trustees
Each year I am pleased to welcome a new student trustee to the board of trustees. Briana Barone brings a lot of energy and curiosity to the position. She is an aspiring teacher who is also earning additional credentials in marketing. She is excited to be the voice of our students this year and will be a great addition. We have already filmed a welcome video together, kicking off our fall term.
We also welcomed our newest board member, Kathleen Johnson. Ms. Johnson provides a strong community perspective as a long-time business owner and community activist. Those experiences and outlook will no doubt serve the board and AACC well in our work with the business community, county chambers of commerce, and community agencies.
Lastly, we are joined by Brig. Gen. Irene Zoppi Rodriguez, Ph.D., U.S. Army Reserves. Gen. Rodriguez can help us from both an academic and a leadership perspective. As a career military officer, she brings a wealth of knowledge about an audience we serve well – active military, veterans and their families. Her perspective and insight will be invaluable.
New Faculty
In addition to welcoming new trustees, we also introduced and received approval for three new professors, all of whom were adjunct professors with AACC. Christopher Harmon is a new assistant professor, Medical Lab technician. Mr. Harmon holds a master’s degree in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. Tanisha Meade is a new assistant professor of nursing. Ms. Meade holds a master’s degree in nursing from Towson University. Jaime Van Allen is also a new assistant professor of nursing. Ms. Van Allen holds a master’s degree in Leadership/Education from the University of Maryland, School of Nursing. Welcome to our newest professors!
Library Pickup
Thank you to the team working on a plan for pickup of library materials. In addition to providing access to a number of resources online, the library will provide curbside pickup, similar to the recent textbook pickup from the AACC Bookstore. Stay tuned for details soon.
Convocation
Of course, this year’s fall convocation was a little different. Prior to convocation, we asked for your input on the topics of most interest to you. Now we would like your input on how we did. Please take a moment to help us assess how we approach convocation in the future by filling out this survey.
As you know, our 13-week classes begin next week. The term is truly underway. Thank you for everything you are doing for our students and community.
Take care and be well.
Dear students:
Happy first week of the fall term! Thanks to all of our faculty and staff who have worked hard to get us underway, we are excited to make this an amazing semester for you!
As a reminder, although our fall term officially began this week, additional 13-week classes will be available starting Sept. 14, and an eight-week session begins Oct. 26. If you need to adjust your class schedule or did not find all the courses you were looking for, be sure to review the 13-week and second eight-week options for additional classes you might like to take this fall.
New Health forms
Another reminder I want to share is for anyone coming to campus. Once a term, students taking an in-person class will be required to submit a health pledge. Before arriving on campus or any AACC satellite location, download, print and sign the Student Attestation form, then provide it to your instructor.
Stages of Recovery
We are moving to Stage 3 of our recovery program for spring 2021! We have scheduled a maximum of 50% face-to-face classes for composition, reading, math and other select courses. Gov. Hogan’s announcement yesterday that the state will be moving to its own Stage 3 is encouraging and will help inform our decisions for AACC’s continued recovery. We are making plans for Stage 4 in the hope that it can commence for our second eight-week spring session. As we work to meet your educational needs, please know the safety of our students and workforce remains our first consideration. For information, visit our recovery webpages.
Teach-In for Equity
As we begin our fall 2020 term after a summer characterized by national unrest associated with racial upheaval and health concerns, we want to provide everyone with the resources to engage each other, our students, our faculty and staff, and the community at large. AACC will host a number of virtual programs to include lectures, presentations, readings, panel discussions and structured dialogues on the topics of race. These are meant to provide students, faculty and staff tools to address the concerns that are on our students’ and employees’ minds, while also advancing our institutional work toward greater equity. Our strategic plan promises to “eradicate systemic inequalities through high-quality educational practices.” Look for information soon about a special program for Sept. 8-9.
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear colleagues:
Happy first week of the fall term. I want to thank all of our faculty and staff for working so hard to get us underway and make this an amazing term for our students!
As a reminder, although our fall term officially has begun, additional 13-week classes will be available starting Sept. 14, and an eight-week session of classes begins Oct. 26. Please encourage your students to review the additional course offerings and determine if there may be additional classes they would like to take for fall.
New Health Forms
A reminder for anyone coming to campus. If you are teaching a class or are on-site this fall, you need to complete a new Employee Attestation form even if you filled out a form in summer. Completed forms should be sent to COVIDSafety@aacc.edu prior to returning to campus.
Stages of Recovery
We are moving to Stage 3 of our recovery program for spring 2021. We have scheduled a maximum of 50% face-to-face classes for composition, reading, math and other select courses. Gov. Hogan’s announcement yesterday that the state will be moving to its own Stage 3 is encouraging, and will help inform our decisions for AACC’s continued recovery. We are planning for Stage 4 to commence for our second eight-week spring session. As we work to meet the educational needs of our students, please know the safety of our workforce and our students remains our first consideration. For information visit our recovery webpages.
Teach-In for Equity
As we begin our fall 2020 term after a summer characterized by national unrest associated with racial upheaval and health concerns, we want to provide everyone with resources to engage each other and our students. AACC will be hosting a number of virtual programs to include lectures, presentations, readings, panel discussions and structured dialogues on the topics of race. These are meant to allow faculty, instructional staff, staff and supervisors with tools to address the concerns that are on our students’ and employees’ minds while also advancing our institutional work toward equity. Our strategic plan promises to "eradicate systemic inequalities through high-quality educational practices." Look for more information soon about a special program for Sept. 8 and 9.
Social Security Tax
You may have heard in the news about a new presidential executive order that allows some employees to defer Social Security taxes beginning Sept. 1. The federal government just issued guidance a few days ago and we are reviewing these guidelines to determine if and how best to implement. We will keep you apprised as we learn more about this.
Thanks for all you are doing to educate our students.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students:
The fall term is upon us with some classes beginning this Saturday and most classes starting next week. In preparation, here are a few important updates:
Stages of Recovery
I want to remind you that AACC has developed a phased-in approach to recovery. Over the summer, we were in Stage 1, which meant that most of our classes were online. A few classes (in Health Sciences and our Police Academy) were on campus, and all support services were provided by email or phone. Campus buildings remained closed, except the Florestano and CALT buildings, where a few classes were being offered.
We are now entering Stage 2, which builds upon Stage 1 by offering a few more courses on campus, primarily in visual and performing arts. Most classes and all student services remain online, with the exception of the pick-up option at AACC Bookstore.
We are working hard on strategies that will allow us to move into Stage 3. This stage will bring a maximum of 50% of composition and reading, math, and other select courses classes in person or in a hybrid format that blends face-to-face with online. Ideally, we will achieve this stage by the spring.
The important thing to remember is that we will launch or retract these stages based on the health and safety of the college community. State and county decisions will impact our actions. Most importantly, the stages are not tied to each term. While we are in Stage 2 now, we will continue to evaluate the situation and take steps that are in the best interests of all students, faculty and staff.
Be sure to look for regular updates and visit our recovery webpages for the latest information.
New Campus Processes
On the recovery webpage, you will find the most recent information and forms required if you visit or have classes on campus. Once a term, students taking an in-person class will be required to submit a health pledge. Before arriving on campus, download, print and sign the Student Attestation form, then provide it to your instructor.
Also, anyone within a college building must wear an appropriate face mask, covering their mouth and nose. Masks are also required outdoors when social distancing may not be possible. Some classes may require students to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Not all masks provide appropriate protection. Visit Guidelines for Acceptable Face Coverings for details.
Bookstore Reminder
Lastly, we want to make sure you are fully prepared for your first day of class. Be sure to log in to Canvas three days prior to the start of class. The AACC Bookstore is offering free shipping on all orders at this time. If you prefer to pick up your web order in person rather than have it mailed free of charge to your home, you may select that option at checkout through Sept. 4. For details, visit the Student Services section of the AACC recovery pages.
I know this is a challenging time, and I want to thank you for your confidence in AACC. We are excited to begin the fall term and look forward to helping you achieve your educational goals!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear colleagues:
The fall term is upon us with some classes beginning this Saturday and most classes starting next week. In preparation, here are a few important updates:
Stages of Recovery
I want to remind you that AACC has developed a phased-in approach to recovery. Over the summer, we were in Stage 1, which meant that most of our classes were online. A few classes (in Health Sciences and our Police Academy) were on campus, and all support services were provided by email or phone. Campus buildings remained closed, except Florestano and CALT, where a few classes were offered.
We are now entering Stage 2, which builds upon Stage 1 by offering a few more courses on campus, primarily in visual and performing arts. Most classes and all student services remain online, with the exception of the pick-up option at AACC Bookstore.
We are working hard on strategies that will allow us to move into Stage 3. This stage will bring a maximum of 50% of composition and reading, math, and other select courses classes in person or in the hybrid format. Ideally, we will achieve this stage by the spring.
The important thing to remember is that we will launch or retract these stages based on the health and safety of the college community. State and county decisions will impact our actions. Most importantly, the stages are not tied to each term. While we are in Stage 2 now, we will continue to evaluate the situation and take steps that are in the best interests of all students, faculty and staff.
Be sure to look for regular updates and visit our recovery webpages for the latest information.
New Campus Processes
On the recovery webpage, you will find the most recent information and forms required if you visit or have classes on campus. Once a term, we are requiring students taking an in-person class to submit a health pledge. Before arriving on campus, they must download, print and sign the Student Attestation form. They should provide the signed forms to their instructors.
If you need to come to campus to maintain critical operations, don’t forget to advise your supervisor as to the date, time and building to which you require access. They will obtain the necessary approvals. You must complete the required Employee Attestation form and send it to COVIDSafety@aacc.edu prior to returning to campus.
Also, anyone inside a college building must wear an appropriate face mask, covering their mouth and nose. Masks are required outdoors when social distancing may not be possible. Some classes may require students to wear additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
I want to point out that not all masks provide appropriate protection. Please visit Guidelines for Acceptable Face Coverings for more information.
Enrollment Update
During convocation I shared that we saw an increase in attendance this summer. Since then, our office of Planning, Research and Institutional Assessment has reviewed the data further and found that our summer attendance was the highest we have seen in the last five years. This holds true for both new and returning students – encouraging information!
We continue to make progress with fall enrollment. As of Monday, we were down 9% compared to last year and 2% off our target numbers. We hope to close the gap further by next week. Remember, too, that students still will be able to register for 13-week classes and the second eight-week class session after next week.
As I mentioned during convocation, please continue to take care of yourselves and one another. I know this is a challenging time, and I want to thank you for everything you are doing to help our students achieve their educational goals. I am excited to begin the fall term!
Stay safe and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students:
We are less than two weeks away from the start of fall classes and want to make sure you have the resources you need to be successful. Despite the pandemic, a full complement of support services are available to you. So whether you are new to AACC this year or are returning, you will want to start this term off right by being fully prepared.
Bookstore
As I mentioned in last week’s update, you have the choice of receiving your books by free delivery (UPS Ground) or curbside pickup at our campus in Arnold. These options are provided at the completion of the book order process. The option to select “Curbside Pickup” will be available starting today, Aug. 19, with pickup available Aug. 24 through Sept. 4. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For details on how to select your preferred option, visit our Student Services page.
Student Services
The Student Services section of the recovery web page is a good ongoing resource for you. There you will find FAQs and contact information for Enrollment Services, Academic and Instructional Support and other supports, such as Counseling, Disability Support Services, Health and Wellness, Technical Call Center and much more. Again, visit our Student Services page.
Though the majority of classes are online and our services remain at a distance, we are here to help you at every step in your educational journey. Let’s work together to make sure are ready for class and you have a great fall term!
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students:
As promised, here is your weekly update with news and information to help you prepare for the upcoming fall term. We’ll send an email every Wednesday with updates, so be on the lookout. At the same time, we will be updating the dedicated webpage, aacc.edu/riverhawk-recovery, so be sure to check that frequently for changes to the FAQs and other important information.
Books and supplies
To ensure you get the books you need for class, the AACC Bookstore is offering two options. The first is free shipping on every order. The second is curbside pickup, which will be available Aug. 24 through Sept. 4. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Curbside pickup will be conducted in Lot A. We ask that you bring your student ID or driver’s license, a copy of your web order and course schedule. And don’t forget to wear your mask, which is required for pickup!
Fall convocation
Lastly, we want you to be aware that the college will hold a virtual convocation to kick off the fall term on Tuesday, Aug. 18, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Student services may be limited or delayed during that time to allow staff and faculty to participate in this important event.
Learn more about remote student services.
We look forward to helping you succeed this fall term. Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear colleagues:
we have returned to our weekly Wednesday update with news and information to help you prepare for the upcoming fall term. We will also continue updating our dedicated webpage, aacc.edu/riverhawk-recovery. Please check this site for updates to the FAQs and other important information.
Student news
To ensure that students get the books they need for class, the AACC Bookstore is offering two options, which may be helpful for you to know and possibly share. The first is free shipping on every order. The second is curbside pickup, which will be available Aug. 24 through Sept. 4. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Curbside Pickup will be conducted in Lot A. Students must wear masks, bring their student ID or driver’s license, a copy of their web order and course schedule.
Federal compliance
Last week I shared we would be initiating the search for our new chief diversity officer. Please know, we have launched the search. I look forward to naming our CDO in fall. Special thanks to our constituent group leaders who assisted in the recruitment of our hiring committee.
I am pleased to announce Tiffany Boykin, Ph.D., Esq., has been named our new chief compliance and fair practices officer. She will assume this role August 16th. In this role she will be responsible for federal compliance, Title IX and other duties. Dr. Boykin will report directly to me.
I will explain the restructuring and delineation of responsibilities in more detail during our virtual fall 2020 convocation. However, since Dr. Boykin assumes her new role this week, I wanted to make you aware of her transition. Please join me in congratulating Tiffany, who has been in an interim position of FCO for the past several months.
Fall convocation
Next week’s virtual convocation, will be conducted on Zoom and YouTube.
[Login information was provided in the email, but is redacted here for security reasons.]
We will also send a follow up email with just the login information.
For participants in the Monday evening presentation by Robin DiAngelo, Ph.D., the Zoom link will be sent Monday morning. Participants in the breakout sessions that follow will receive a different login that will be sent Monday morning as well.
I look forward to “seeing” you next week.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students:
The start of the fall term is right around the corner, and we are excited to begin a new year with you. Beginning today, we will send weekly updates each Wednesday to keep you informed of the latest news and available resources from the college. Because of changes at the state or county due to COVID-19, we want to make sure you have the most accurate information in a consistent and timely way.
With that in mind, we have created a dedicated webpage related to AACC’s plans for recovery so please take a look. This page is organized into sections, such as “Health and Safety” and “Teaching and Learning,” and includes information about the college’s proposed stages for recovery. There are also FAQs, attestation forms and contact information for various Student Services.
Fall Term
As you know, most courses for the fall term are being delivered online. There are a limited number of classes, primarily in Health Sciences, that will meet face to face or in a hybrid format. Because we offer two types of online experiences, Online and Online Sync, we want to make sure you understand fully the difference and benefits of the two formats. Both options are explained in a fun video that can be found on the Recovery webpage and in more detail on the Ways to Take a Course page.
Student Services will continue to be provided remotely. The AACC Bookstore is offering free shipping on all orders at this time. AACC will not have sports this fall; however, we are working on live streaming games for when competition resumes and exploring e-sports as well.
I want to thank you for your confidence in AACC and continuing your education with us. We know this is a difficult time, and we are here to support your educational journey. Please look for regular communications each week and check the dedicated webpage for periodic updates.
Stay safe and be well.
Dear colleagues:
The start of the fall term is right around the corner, and I am excited to begin a new year with you. I want to let you know that starting today I will resume weekly Wednesday updates to keep you informed of the latest news and resources from the college. Because of changes at the state and county levels due to COVID-19, we want to make sure you have the most accurate information in a consistent and timely way.
With that in mind, we have updated the dedicated webpage related to AACC’s plans for recovery, so please take a look. This page is organized into sections, such as “Health and Safety” and “Teaching and Learning,” and includes information about the college’s proposed stages for recovery. There are also FAQs, attestation forms and contact information for various Student Services that may be helpful to you and our students.
Fall Term
As you know, most courses for the fall term are being delivered online. There are a limited number of classes, primarily in Health Sciences, that will meet face to face or in a hybrid format. Because we want students to understand the two types of online experiences, Online and Online Sync, we have created a fun video that can be found on the Recovery webpage and on the Ways to Take a Course page.
Student Services will continue to be provided remotely. The AACC Bookstore is offering free shipping on all orders at this time. AACC will not have sports this fall; however, we are working on live streaming games for when competition resumes and exploring e-sports as well.
Enrollment update
As I have done previously, I want to give you an update on our fall enrollment. Registrations continue to improve as we are now down 13% overall compared to this time last year. New student registrations are down more than returning students, but we continue to aggressively recruit before classes begin at the end of month. Please keep in mind that the college opened registration much later than previous years and has been catching up at a steady pace. We adjusted our weekly targets and are only 3% off this week’s goal. If we continue at our current pace, we should meet our enrollment numbers.
While we remain positive about enrollment, we are hopeful that the state does not cut funding further. It is important to note that we have built several financial scenarios for FY 2021 that rely on curbing expenditures so we have funds available in the event of further reductions and/or enrollment declines.
Chief Diversity Officer
I want you to be aware that soon we will be posting the chief diversity officer position for a nationwide search. As equity is a key component of the strategic plan, it is important that we conduct a thorough review to find the ideal candidate to help us continue our progress. We are also committed to finding the right person for the Federal Compliance Officer position. We are reviewing that role and its responsibilities, and will update you on progress in the near future.
Fall Convocation
I look forward to “seeing” all of you at our virtual convocation on August 18, 2020. Thanks to those of you who submitted questions or topics you would like addressed by the vice presidents and me. Thanks, too, to everyone who signed up for the virtual presentation by Robin DiAngelo, Ph.D., on Aug. 17. As this event is sponsored jointly with Anne Arundel County Public Schools, we are nearing 3,000 registrants, but there are still spots available for AACC faculty and staff. If you have not signed up yet, we have extended the registration through the end of this week.
Thank you for everything you do for our students and to support one another.
Stay safe and be well.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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
Congratulations on completing your first full week of AACC being 100% online. This has been a challenging time, but we have risen to the challenge as a community and will continue to move forward together.
As you continue to make this adjustment and progress toward your goals, I want to remind you that there are many resources available to students, faculty and staff that can support you further. Here are a few of the top sources of support to help you take care of your financial, physical, mental and academic health.
Academic Health
We want you to finish the term strong. Reach out to your instructors to ask for help if you need it. Tutoring and the writing center are also still available to help you get through your classes. Additionally, you can chat with a librarian about questions related to research, online resources and loaner equipment, such as laptops and hotspot devices.
Contact: truxal@aacc.libanswers.com
Financial Health
Students and their families may be struggling with finances right now due to layoffs or other unforeseen circumstances.
Students should be sure to contact AACC’s Financial Aid office to find out if they're eligible for additional financial aid.
Contact: finaid@aacc.edu
Students may also apply for a Helplink grant for help paying for food, living expenses, medical care or course materials. Helplink awards will be distributed by direct shipment.
Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
Mental and Physical Health
While it’s natural to feel a little extra stress or anxiety during this time, taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing is critical to maintaining resiliency.
Short-term counseling is available at no-cost to students through HIPPA-compliant video conferencing platforms. Employees have access to counseling through the Employee Assistance Program.
Emergency/Crisis: Due to remote access and counselors fluctuating availability, if there is a concern of safety to self or others, call 911 or the Anne Arundel County Warmline at 410-768-5522 immediately.
Contact: counseling@aacc.edu
Students, faculty and staff may receive one-time or weekly deliveries of food from AACC’s food pantry via direct shipment.
Contact: studenthelplink@aacc.edu
The Health and Wellness Center is continuing to offer free services including substance abuse and recovery support, nicotine cessation services (nicotine patches, gum and lozenges), safer sex condom kits and pregnancy test kits.
Contact: bamays@aacc.edu
State and County Resources
Help Others
If you’re willing and able, you can help others by donating to HelpLink, visiting Maryland Unites or volunteering in the Maryland Medical Reserve Corps.
I am so proud of how our college community has come together despite the distance between us. Let’s continue to work together and support one another!
Thank you for everything you are doing to help our students and each other.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
To the college community:
Once again I want to welcome students back as we resume classes and services entirely online. You are the reason we are here, and we will continue to support you on your educational journey. This is a brief update to give you some information that many of you have requested – our plans for the summer.
All summer credit and noncredit classes that begin prior to July 7 will be delivered fully online and through distance learning. There will be a few exceptions, mainly in Health Sciences, as students would not be able to complete these courses otherwise. Faculty and staff will communicate these exceptions directly to students in these programs. These exceptions are subject to change.
We anticipate that the majority of summer courses that begin on or after July 7 will be delivered online. However, the college will make a determination on May 1 about summer face-to-face courses which start on or after July 7. A determination regarding any July start exceptions will be made at that time as well. Support services will continue to be delivered online throughout the time that AACC classes remain online.
We are also introducing a few new five-week courses beginning April 20. We found that some students were interested in picking up additional classes but needed a little more time to begin. Please take a look at these new offerings to see how they might help you continue to progress toward your goals.
Along with five-week credit classes, the School of Continuing Education and Workforce Development has a number of new online classes available, from culinary to health to productivity. We hope these programs are helpful to you, your family and friends at this time, including new online courses for seniors. Use the search feature for continuing education classes starting April 20.
This week has been both exciting and challenging as we adjust to our new online delivery for the entire college. Thank you again for your patience and your commitment. I wish you much success on your studies. We will get through this together.
Dr. Dawn Lindsay
President
Anne Arundel Community College
Dear students, faculty and staff:
I am excited to welcome back our students on Monday, April 6 as we resume all classes online. Tomorrow we will begin to offer student support services also entirely online and with the use of other technology. I can’t express enough how proud I am of the collective effort to deliver the highest quality classes and services we can at this difficult time. In keeping with the Governor’s executive orders to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, all AACC buildings will remain closed.
Please know that we are doing everything in our power to help you and the college move forward through an unprecedented situation. Faculty and staff from across the entire college have been working behind the scenes to ensure a successful transition to learning and working remotely. Our aim is to help all of our students complete this term successfully and achieve the educational, professional and personal goals they set out to accomplish when they came to AACC.
On that note, a motion has been made to the Academic Forum to allow for a Pass/Fail option for students. A formal vote will be taken in the coming days that will determine if individual students will be able, at the end of the semester, to elect for a P/F rather than a letter grade in each class they take. Please be on the lookout for an update on that decision soon.
Also, we announced earlier and so I want to remind you that we have postponed this year’s commencement until further notice. Students meeting the requirements to graduate this spring will still be able to earn their degrees and certificates.
We have continued to update the FAQs to answer your most pressing questions, and we continue to update other web pages with the latest information on how we are tackling this challenge. Please continue to bear with us. We are moving with great speed to meet your needs and the needs of our broader community. I encourage you to visit this dedicated web page and FAQs often for the latest information from the college.
These past few weeks have been extremely disruptive to all our lives, and the uncertainty of how long it will last has contributed to a number of tough decisions and a multitude of emotions. I am heartened and grateful for the progress we have made so far. Despite the separation, our spirit of community is strong, and our commitment to one another is sound. As I said in my previous message, the means and timing of what we offer will differ, but the quality of the education will remain rigorous and our commitment to success unwavering.
Please continue to take care of yourself and support one another. We will get through this together.
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:
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
Student Communications
A related communication will go to students today as well. That communication will include:
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:
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:
Monitor yourself for fever, cough, shortness of breath or any other respiratory symptoms for the next 14 days.
Isolate yourself from others for the next 14 days. Contact your primary care provider if you develop symptoms.
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.
If you call 911, also tell the 911 operator you have symptoms of COVID-19 and were exposed.
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
REMOTE/ONLINE LEARNING AND USING CANVAS
ACADEMIC SUPPORT & STUDENT SERVICES
PAYING FOR EDUCATION IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19
COMMENCEMENT
STUDENT SUCCESS BEYOND SPRING
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:
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
COLLEGE EVENTS
TRAVEL
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:
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:
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:
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
