Stay Informed! Stay Healthy! Information on the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV)

June 17, 2020

President’s Message – Fall 2020 Semester

To the College Community:

While we are all eager to return to campus, a measured and gradual approach must be taken to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff.  Given the continued complexities of COVID-19, the College will offer most fall 2020 semester for-credit and noncredit courses online or remotely.

There is a possibility that State regulations will permit on-campus instruction in the fall; if so, we are prepared to offer some face-to-face classes in areas such as Nursing and Health Sciences.  In addition, we may consider offering other courses that require hands-on labs, including Criminal Justice and the Arts.

With a limited number of classes on campus, additional space will be available for students and faculty to maintain social distancing recommendations.  We will fully adhere to all health and safety protocols as recommended by the State and the CDC, including enhanced cleaning and monitoring the wearing of personal protective equipment.  Should some limited in-person instruction be resumed in the fall, alternatives will be offered to students who prefer to learn remotely for the semester.  Technology-enhanced courses in Science will also be developed that provide an immersive experience by streaming live experiments.

 The College’s plans will be informed by two guiding principles:  1) ensuring the health and safety of all students, faculty, and staff; and 2) maintaining an unyielding commitment to students’ success both inside and outside of the classroom.  First and foremost, decisions will be made based on what is most likely to keep our students, faculty, and staff as safe as possible while delivering the highest quality instruction possible.

With the assistance of our well-prepared faculty, staff, and administrators, an even more comprehensive virtual education experience will be offered for students in fall 2020, including robust academic and student support.  The College will provide computers to students who need them, as well as a host of remote student services, including tutoring, counseling, online student club activities, career services, and advising.

The College has continued to serve the needs of its students in various ways since the end of the spring semester.  Most notably, “crisis boxes” are and will continue to be distributed by the OCC Foundation and Fulfill to students and their families who are experiencing food insecurity.  These boxes of food will feed a family of four for four days.

I want to once again express my deep appreciation, as well as that of the members of the Board of Trustees, for your outstanding efforts as we met the challenges of the past three months and for your continued dedication to serving our students.

Jon H. Larson, Ph.D.
President

Federal Emergency Grants for Students

Updated: June 15, 2020

Attention: Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos

Ocean County College has entered into an agreement with the Department of Education to receive funding from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Act (HEERF). A total of $4,265,169 has been allocated to OCC, of which no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004 (a)(1) of the CARES Act will be used to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students.

As of June 15, 2020, $662,592 has been awarded to 702 of the 4,246 estimated eligible students. For additional information or, to apply for an Emergency Financial Aid grant, please visit www.ocean.edu/federal-emergency-grants-for-students.  Once an application is received, eligibility and approval will be determined by Ocean County College’s CARES Act committee.

May 7, 2020

Ocean County College President’s Message on Plans for Instruction During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Ocean County College is providing high quality, affordable, remote instruction in all classes during the mandated campus closure and will continue for as long as necessary.  All classes will be delivered remotely through August 31, 2020.  Thereafter, OCC is prepared to offer in the fall semester both remote instruction and limited, select courses on campus that require laboratory experiences, including Nursing and STEM disciplines, with the approval of New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.

Under the guidance of epidemiological scientists and the terms of all State and Federal executive orders, College officials are currently developing a plan to partially open the campus for in-person instruction.  The reopening plan will include specific, strictly-enforced requirements for social distancing, wearing personal protective equipment, and other reasonable measures to protect our students, faculty, staff, and their families from COVID-19 infection.

We anticipate that many students, and their parents as well, will not wish to risk exposure by close contact in traditional classroom and dormitory settings and will opt for the world-class instruction for which Ocean County College has been ranked nationally as a top-ten leader.  We recommend that students and families consider either the option of limited on-campus instruction in some disciplines or, the safest option, remote instruction from OCC.

As you make enrollment decisions, we urge you to consider the cost, convenience, and quality advantages of enrolling at OCC, where annual tuition, including most fees and all books, will average $5,250.  Compare that to Rutgers University, where the 2020 annual tuition is estimated at $15,407, excluding books and living expenses.  We ask, “Why pay more for remote instruction?”  Why not enroll at the most well prepared, highest quality remote instruction college in New Jersey, Ocean County College.

All of OCC’s credits transfer to all in-state universities and most out-of-state universities.  After completing an Associate Degree, students are guaranteed by State law to be admitted to any public New Jersey university as a junior.  Graduates also have the option of remaining on the OCC campus to complete a Bachelor’s Degree at Kean University or transferring to one of our many partner universities, some of which allow students to complete three years at OCC and one year online.  All of these options are surprisingly affordable and can make a debt-free Bachelor’s Degree a reality for OCC graduates.

Visit our website at www.ocean.edu.  You will be happy you did!

Jon H. Larson, Ph.D.
President

April 30, 2020

Federal Emergency Grants for Students.  Ocean County College has received authorization and funding through the CARES Act to disburse federal emergency grants to students.  The link below will take you to an application form that is designed to help us understand your circumstances and needs. The federal government has clarified that funds are intended for the “exclusive purpose of providing emergency financial aid grants to students for their expenses related to the disruption of campus operations: food, housing, course materials/technology, healthcare, and childcare.”

April 10, 2020

OCC’s face-to-face classes for the Summer 1^st 5-week session and the Summer 10-week session will be offered remotely due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The classes will not meet on campus as scheduled, but instead will be offered through Canvas, our Online Learning Management System.

These courses will be pre-developed master online courses, or remote instruction designed by our course professors.  Courses may be scheduled to meet online at specific times, or classwork may be assigned to be completed on your own time.  E-Books, or rental textbooks, or purchased textbooks, will be required.

Dr. Jerry Racioppi
Vice President of Student Affairs

March 21, 2020

Summary of Executive Orders No. 107 and No. 108

March 20, 2020

Ocean County College To Remain Remote Through Spring Semester; College Is Cancelling Commencement Ceremony Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic

Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Ocean County College has made the decision to continue online-only instruction and remote business practices through the Spring 2020 semester.  During this period, student services will be available on-line and by phone, including the ability to register for future semesters.

The College further regrets to announce that 2020 Commencement ceremonies will be cancelled. This was a difficult decision but one OCC believes is necessary to keep students, families, faculty, and staff safe. OCC is working on some alternate ways to celebrate the accomplishments of graduates including a video overview of the past year on campus.  Additional information will be available on the OCC website.

Sara Winchester
Executive Vice President of Finance & Administration

March 18, 2020

To Members of the Campus Community:

I am writing to inform you that the College has been assessing the global, national, and local factors relating to the rapidly shifting situation of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). Although there are few confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ocean County, making the risk of community transmission of the virus low, it is continuing to spread in various parts of the country and the state. As a result, a number of changes are being implemented at the College in response to the virus.

Beginning Monday, March 16, and until further notice, the College will move to virtual instruction and primarily remote business practices. OCC, like many other institutions following the guidance of public health officials, is adopting a practice of social distancing in an effort to safeguard its students and employees while still fulfilling its mission of academic excellence.

The College will continue to provide services via email and phone during regular business hours. Contact information for each department is available in our faculty and staff directory.  Students are on Spring Break from Monday, March 16, through Sunday, March 22. All face-to-face classes are cancelled, from Monday, March 23, and until further notice, and will instead move to online instruction. Faculty members and lecturers will work with their deans to determine how best to continue class instruction.

Academic Operations

• In-person classes are cancelled from March 23 until further notice, and instead will be conducted remotely. Students will be contacted and provided instructions by their professors. Professors should contact their deans regarding continuity of instruction.
  • Connectivity Options and Information for Students
• Some face-to-face classes cannot easily be moved to an online format. Alternate arrangements will be provided by instructors for those classes.
• All online classes will continue as usual following Spring Break.
• The OCC Library will be closed but remote access continues to be available.
• Continuing education classes are postponed or may continue by way of distance learning. All continuing education students should contact their instructor for specific details regarding CPE meeting times.

Athletics and Student Life

• Ocean County College recognizes the health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Given the constantly evolving landscape of closures and cancellations due to the COVID-19, the leadership of our institution has made the challenging decision to cancel all outdoor spring sports seasons, effective immediately. Our Executive Director of Athletics will work within the guidelines of NJCAA, to have all student-athletes regain their year of eligibility back for the 2020 spring season.

Student Services

• The HUB is available via phone and email during regular business hours to help you with financial aid, registration, academic advising appointments and much more! Visit go.ocean.edu/hub for online services or email hub@ocean.edu or call 732-255-0482.

College Events

• All events scheduled to take place from March 14 through March 29, 2020, will be cancelled or rescheduled, including theatre productions, planetarium shows, outside rentals, employee meetings, student events, and trustee meetings.

Administrative Operations

• The campus is closed, however, personnel who are considered to be essential to College operations will continue to report to work on campus. Essential personnel will receive instructions from their supervisors.
• Employees who have the ability to work remotely will continue their responsibilities from home and will receive instructions from their supervisors.
• Supervisors may assign project work to employees during this period.
• Supervisors may request employees to return to work if there is a reason to do so.
• Work-related meetings should be conducted remotely.
• Canteen Food Service will be closed.
• Security will continue to provide 24 hour service on campus.
• A deep cleaning will be undertaken by custodial personnel throughout the campus.
• Campus construction will continue.

At this time, it is anticipated that all on-campus operations will resume on Monday, March 30, 2020, including face-to-face classroom instruction; however, another assessment will be made before then to ensure it is safe for students and employees to return. We will continue to keep abreast of local, state, and federal guidelines and will communicate with you through email and the OCC website. If any student or employee tests positive for COVID-19 during this time, please report it via healthreporting@ocean.edu or 732-255-0379.

I want to express my appreciation to College members who have been monitoring the status of COVID-19 and its effects on OCC and Ocean County. I also appreciate your continued cooperation as we work together to maintain the health and well-being of our campus community.

Sincerely,

Jon H. Larson, Ph.D.
President

March 9, 2020

Coronavirus Update

The health and safety of our students and employees is paramount. Out of an abundance of caution, if you or someone close to you is not feeling well or experiencing any type of cold or flu symptoms, please stay home. Students should work individually with their instructors to make up coursework; the instructors will accommodate such requests. Students who plan to travel during spring break should consider their options carefully, take precautions as recommended by the CDC, and self-quarantine if necessary. Any student or employee who has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should stay home and contact the College at healthreporting@ocean.edu and/or 732-255-0379.

The CDC has issued new fact sheets on COVID-19 and how best to prevent exposure:

• What You Need to Know About Coronavirus
• What to Do If You Are Sick

We will continue to update you on any news regarding COVID-19 as it becomes available.

IMPORTANT PREVENTION METHODS (CDC RECOMMENDATIONS)

In light of this matter and the ongoing cold and flu season, we continue to encourage students, faculty, and staff to take some basic precautionary measures.

To minimize the effects and spread of the COVID-19, flu and seasonal flu, please remember to:

• Wash your hands frequently for at least 30 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and nose. Immediately dispose of the tissue.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• Maintain social distancing of 6 feet.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• And perhaps most importantly, if you are feeling ill – particularly with a respiratory ailment – see a health care professional immediately.

Additional Considerations:

• If you are a resident in a community where person-to-person spread of COVID-19 has been detected and you develop COVID-19 symptoms, call your healthcare provider and tell them about your symptoms.
• For people who are ill with COVID-19 but are not sick enough to be hospitalized, please follow CDC guidance on how to reduce the risk of spreading your illness to others.
• If you have been in a country with a CDC Level 3 Warning or have been exposed to someone sick with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, you will face some limitations on your movement and activity for up to 14 days. Please follow instructions during this time. Your cooperation is integral to the ongoing public health response to try to slow the spread of this virus. Employees who believe it is necessary to self-quarantine, should contact Human Resources.

Sara Winchester
Executive Vice President of Finance & Administration

March 3, 2020

To the College Community:

Dr. Larson requested that the following information be shared college-wide:

Update – Information on the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV)

In response to the concerns regarding the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV), the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are regularly updating their websites with current information. The best way to stay abreast of developments on the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) is to visit these websites, or make use of hotlines put in place to answer questions. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are our highest priority and we will continue to follow the guidance provided by public health authorities as it becomes available.

The websites are as follows:

New Jersey Department of Health: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml

Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

Here is some general information that remains in place:

What are the common symptoms of 2019-nCoV?
Information to date suggests this virus is causing symptoms consistent with a respiratory illness, such as cough, fever, and shortness of breath.

How is 2019-nCoV spread?
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

What measures should you take to prevent 2019-nCoV?
There is currently no vaccine available to prevent 2019-nCoV infection. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to this virus. However, as a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with tissues or your sleeve, not your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Wash your hands often for at least twenty seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Stay home from class and work if you are sick.
• Avoid people who are sick.
• Get a flu shot – it is not too late to be protected from the flu.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and objects.

World Health Organization Video About the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV)