March 13, 2020

COVID-19 Task Force Update

As outlined in yesterday’s update, classes at El Camino College are cancelled March 13-17 to provide faculty with time to move their lecture courses online next week. With that in mind, here are some important updates for the campus community.

Available Campus Services

During the March 13-17 class cancellation, the following key campus services will remain open with normal business hours:

• Admissions & Records
• Bookstore
• Campus Police
• Cashier’s Office
• Computer Labs
• Counseling
• Financial Aid
• Library
• Scholarship Office
• Student Health Services
• Tutoring

Food service will also be available:

Cafe Camino
Mon - Thurs 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Fri 7:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

LA Mobil Food Truck
Wed - Thurs 1 - 7 p.m. 

Coastal Coffee Truck
Wed - Thurs 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Plans for March 18 & 19

• For classes on March 18 and 19, instructors will provide their students with direction for accessing course material. Students can also contact their instructors for guidance as needed.

• Beginning March 20, all lecture classes will be delivered online and students should avoid coming to campus if possible.

• Online course delivery will continue until April 20. During the period of March 20-April 20, local conditions will be monitored and plans will be assessed to determine next steps.

Lab & Other Hands-On Courses

• Some courses cannot be offered in an online format. Examples include hands-on labs, career education programs, performance classes, adult education classes, and PE/kinesiology courses.

• Exceptions and other modifications are being considered now. Some possible creative solutions include moving elements of a lab experience online (video demonstrations of techniques, online simulations, analysis of data, pre- or post-lab work, etc.), while physical practice components are postponed until in-person instruction resumes.

• While it’s not clear yet exactly how these issues will be resolved, students can rest assured that we are urging faculty to be flexible and accommodating.

• College leadership and faculty are working together to find the best solution as quickly as possible.

Computer & Internet Access

During the period that lecture courses are delivered online, students who have their own computers and internet access should use them. Students who do not have personal access to a computer or the internet have several options.

LRC – Library Building, 2nd Floor, West Wing
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Math Study Center – MBA 119
Laptops available for checkout, but must be used in the building only
Mon - Thurs 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Fri 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sat 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

CIS Labs – MBA 115
Mon - Thurs 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Student Services Building Labs – 100, 101, 200, 225, 229
Mon - Thurs 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Fri 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Proper social distancing and hygiene practices will be in effect at campus computer labs, including leaving an open seat between each user and regularly disinfecting of all surfaces.

Campus Events & Performances

In accordance with direction from the California Department of Public Health and Governor Newsom, all campus events and performances with anticipated attendance of 250 people or more have been cancelled or postponed.

•  All Center for the Arts events have been cancelled through the end of April.

• The California Community College Athletic Association has postponed indefinitely, practices outside of regularly scheduled classes, and competitions for all sprint sports and those sports in their nontraditional seasons.

 
Basic Guidance for Faculty and Staff Member Sick Leave/Return:

• Stay home when you are sick. Stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

• Do not request a healthcare provider’s note when sick with acute respiratory illness to return to work. Healthcare provider offices and medical facilities are extremely busy and may not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.

• Do not come to work and self-isolate at home if you have had close contact (less than 6 feet away and/or 10 minutes of conversation) with a known (tested positive) infected individual – you will need to self-quarantine for 14 days and seek medical treatment (please call the medical facility first) if symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath develop.
• Do not come to work and self-isolate at home if you have traveled to mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy in the past 14 days – you will need to self-quarantine for 14 days and seek medical treatment (please call the medical facility first) if symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath develop.