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

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)