Coronavirus – COVID-19

Covid-19 Updates from 2020

Find current Covid-19 information and updates here.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state is urging testing for COVID-19 especially for those who traveled over the Thanksgiving holiday or gathered with those living outside their households.  Individuals are encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 at one of the state sponsored locations, limit gatherings with those outside of their home, avoid travel, and postpone indoor and outdoor activities if masks and social distancing cannot be maintained. Nearly all towns and cities in the state are now in red alert status.
  • The CDC has provided guidance on options for quarantine when the recommended period is not possible. The CT Department of Public Health is reviewing that guidance but in the interim continuing to advise the 14-day quarantine period for those exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • The CT Department of Public Health reminded health care facilities that students are allowed to earn clinical hours during the pandemic. The memo has been shared with all CSCU institutions.
  • In Conversations on Healthcare, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome Dr. Michael Osterholm, newly appointed member of President-elect Biden’s COVID-19 Task Force, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota to discuss vaccines. Listen to interview.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state universities had a significant number of positive residential and off campus cases reported for last week. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 3.7% for tests of 1220 residential students (45 positive).  The universities also tested 182 off campus students, 30 of whom were positive for COVID 19 (positivity rate 16%).  To date, the universities have conducted 12,721 tests of residential students with 134 positive tests since the end of August (positivity rate of 1%).
  • The university dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • Though the colleges thankfully have not been the site of community spread, nonetheless the staff and students are experiencing positive cases of COVID.   Since the start of the fall semester, 120 students in on-ground courses have been diagnosed with COVID 19.  Forty students in remote or online courses have reported positive tests as well. In addition, 11 faculty and 21 staff members working on campus have tested positive over the course of the semester.  The colleges have worked with local public health to support contact tracing for these cases.
  • The state’s community alert system identifies towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. The majority of towns and cities in the state are in the red and orange categories in this week’s alert system.
  • Individuals living in red and orange alert towns (greater than 5 cases per 100,000 residents) are encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 at one of the state sponsored locations, limit gatherings with those outside of their home and postpone indoor and outdoor activities if masks and social distancing cannot be maintained.

Connecticut also issued guidance specific to residential universities and colleges and Acting Department of Public Health Commissioner Gifford shared a letter with college and university students with holiday guidance.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The new community alert system identifies towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. The majority of towns and cities in the state are in the red and orange categories in this week’s alert system.
  • Individuals living in red and orange alert towns (greater than 5 cases per 100,000 residents) are encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 at one of the state sponsored locations, limit gatherings with those outside of their home and postpone indoor and outdoor activities if masks and social distancing cannot be maintained.
  • Holiday guidance is now available. The CDC provides Thanksgiving advice, while Connecticut offers both general holiday guidance and guidance specific to residential universities and colleges.
  • The state universities continue to have a few positive residential though showing an increase from previous weeks. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 1.5% for tests of 1174 residential students (18 positive).  The universities also tested 224 off campus students, 4 of whom were positive for COVID 19 (positivity rate 1.8%).  To date, the universities have conducted 11,501 tests of residential students with 89 positive tests since the end of August (positivity rate of .8%).
  • The university dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus students tested by the campus, self-reporting of positive cases from other off campus students, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing increasing number of positive cases among their student and employee populations.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to get guidance on responding to cases, promote community-based testing, and support contact tracing.  Thank you to Quinebaug, Norwalk and Tunxis Community Colleges for serving as sites for state-sponsored community testing.
  • The colleges and universities have shared information with faculty, staff and students about COVID Alert CT which is another tool in the state’s plan to monitor and address the spread of the virus.  Learn more about the app.
  •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The new community alert system identifies towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. This week’s alert system includes 130 red and orange towns.
  • Individuals living in red and orange alert towns are encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 at one of the state sponsored locations, limit gatherings with those outside of their home and postpone indoor and outdoor activities if masks and social distancing cannot be maintained. View a complete list of testing sites
  • The Governor has rolled the state back to reopening phase 2.1 in response to the increased cases of COVID 19 in the state. Read more about the guidelines.
  • The Governor has provided holiday guidance and updated his travel advisory to include all but 6 states in the country.
  • The state universities continue to have a few positive residential. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 0.5% for tests of 1155 residential students (6 positive).  The universities also tested 296 off campus students, none of whom were positive for COVID 19.  To date, the universities have conducted 10,327 tests of residential students with 71 positive tests since the end of August (positivity rate of .6%).
  • The university dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus students tested by the campus, self-reporting of positive cases from other off campus students, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing increasing number of positive cases among their student and employee populations.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to get guidance on responding to cases, promote community-based testing, and support contact tracing.  Thank you to Quinebaug and Tunxis who have joined Norwalk Community Colleges in serving as sites for state-sponsored community testing.
  •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The new community alert system identifies towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. This week’s red alert with 30 towns includes Danbury, Norwalk, Waterbury, Hartford, New Britain and towns in New London and Windham counties.    CSCU institutions will monitor these alerts, stay in touch with local and state public health departments, and inform their students and employees of any developments that impact the campuses and local communities.
  • Individuals living in red and orange alert towns are encouraged to get tested for COVID 19 at one of the state sponsored locations, limit gatherings with those outside of their home and postpone indoor and outdoor activities if masks and social distancing cannot be maintained. View a complete list of testing sites
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory issuing a new Executive Order exempting New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island from the affected states listing.  You can also find an updated Frequently Asked Questions document on the site.  For those commuting to Connecticut from Massachusetts for school or work, the self-quarantine requirement does not apply, so long as their stay is less than 24 hours. Anyone who stays in Connecticut more than 24 hours must complete the CT travel health form.
  • The state universities continue to have a few positive residential. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 0.1% for tests of 1190 residential students (2 positive).  The universities also tested 214 off campus students, two of whom were positive (.9% positivity rate) for COVID 19.
  • The university dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus students tested by the campus, self-reporting of positive cases from other off campus students, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to promote community-based testing and support contact tracing.  Thank you to Quinebaug and Tunxis who have joined Three Rivers and Norwalk Community Colleges in serving as sites for state-sponsored community testing.
  •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state universities continue to have a few positive residential. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 0.37% for tests of 1088 residential students.  The universities also tested 219 off campus students all of whom were negative for COVID 19.
  • The university dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus students tested by the campus, self-reporting of positive cases from other off campus students, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to promote community-based testing and support contact tracing.  Thank you to Three Rivers and Norwalk Community Colleges for serving as sites for state-sponsored community testing.
  • The CDC updated guidance on close contacts.  On the weekly call with CSCU COVID Coordinators representatives from Department of Public Health encouraged schools to keep up their vigilance on mitigation strategies of social distance, mask wearing and good hygiene.
  • The new community alert system identifies towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. This week’s red alert includes Danbury, Norwalk, Waterbury, Hartford and towns in New London and Windham counties.    CSCU institutions will monitor these alerts, stay in touch with local and state public health departments, and inform their students and employees of any developments that impact the campuses and local communities.

The Governor updated his travel advisory which includes 40 states and discouraged out of state travel wherever possible.

 

    •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state universities continue to have a few positive residential cases but are tracking these cases as well as off campus students to monitor the spread of the virus in the community. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 0.3% for tests of 1152 residential and 217 off campus students.
  • The university dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus students tested by the campus, self-reporting of positive cases from other off campus students, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees and following all protocols to mitigate and address campus risk.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to promote community-based testing and support contact tracing.
  • This week the state started a new community alert system to identify towns with a color coded system monitoring the number of positive cases per 100,000 residents. Municipalities will work with the state as their towns reach higher levels of positive cases to increase mitigation efforts. CSCU institutions will monitor these alerts, stay in touch with local and state public health departments, and inform their students and employees of any developments that impact the campuses and local communities.
  • Weekly office hours with DPH and the COVID Coordinators are helping to address questions as they arise.  Institutions of higher education were encouraged to stay flexible in terms of events on campus that might need to be scaled back if there is an increase in positive cases in the surrounding communities. Though schools have not been significant sources of transmission, community activities and events have been and therefore may need to be scaled back as conditions change.  DPH encouraged vigilance in following mitigation strategies particularly mask wearing, social distancing, limiting close contact to others, and avoiding travel out of state.
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory which includes 38 states including Rhode Island.

 

    •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

From President Jukoski, October 13, 2020

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

 As you know, the College follows CDC and the CT Department of Public Health guidelines to mitigate the risk of exposure to COVID-19. After consultation with the local health department, we have determined it is safe to continue our courses and services at this time even while we inform you that individuals at the College have tested positive for the virus. We cannot share names of individuals due to privacy requirements, but the cases will be handled by the local health department who will lead the contact tracing.

 If the local department of public health determines you personally have had an exposure risk, they will contact you directly in the coming week. Local public health officials will contact you only if you may have been exposed directly to the positive case.

 Exposure is defined by the CDC and CT Department of Public Health as being within six feet of a COVID positive person for more than 15 minutes. If you vigilantly wear your mask and keep a social distance of six feet, whether inside buildings or outdoors, in accordance with the CDC and CT Public Health guidelines, you will have greatly mitigated exposure to COVID.

We will continue to work diligently to safeguard the campus. If you experience COVID-related symptoms, stay home and seek medical attention.

All questions should be directed to the Dean of Administrative Services, Steve Goetchius, who is the college’s COVID Coordinator at sgoetchius@trcc.commnet.edu.

For additional COVID-19 information and resources, please visit our website at https://threeriverscollegefoundation.org/student-life/campus-safety/coronavirus/.

 

Mary Ellen Jukoski

President

Steve Goetchius

Dean of Administrative Services and TRCC COVID Coordinator

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state universities continue to have few positive residential cases but are tracking these cases as well as self-reports from off campus students to monitor the spread of the virus in the community. The most recent positivity rate across the 4 universities was 0.55%.
  • Weekly dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus self-reporting of positive cases, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees and following all protocols to mitigate and address campus risk.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to promote community-based testing and support contact tracing.
  • Connecticut’s COVID-19 Data Tracker is updated regularly to share information on the rate of positive cases by town.
  • Weekly office hours with DPH and the COVID Coordinators are helping to address questions as they arise.  For instance, DPH reiterated their guidance on cleaning which is contained in Update #5 to the Reopening Plan and encouraged everyone to remain vigilant in wearing their masks and maintaining social distance to mitigate the spread of the virus.
  • The Governor announced that Phase 3 started on October 8th.  This changes rules for inside dining as well as event sizes. CSCU institutions will maintain the phase 2 restrictions on indoor occupancy and outside event sizes to continue our mitigation of the virus.
  • DPH shared guidance related to the assessment of cardiac issues for student athletes who test positive for COVID
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory and now allows for a testing rather than quarantine option for travelers to Connecticut.
    •  

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

      • The state universities continue to have few positive residential cases but are tracking these cases as well as self-reports from off campus students to monitor the spread of the virus in the community.  The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees and following all protocols to mitigate and address campus risk.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to support contact tracing.
      • Weekly dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus self-reporting of positive cases, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
      • The state’s COVID-19 Data Tracker is updated regularly to share information on the rate of positive cases by town https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker. This information is useful to our colleges and universities monitoring cases in their local communities. For instance, from September 13–26, there were more than 100 new COVID-19 cases in six towns: Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, New Britain, Norwich, and Waterbury–all communities with CSCU institutions.
      • The Governor updated his travel advisory and once again included Rhode Island on the list and now allows for a testing rather than quarantine option for travelers to Connecticut.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The state universities continue to have few positive residential cases but are tracking these cases as well as self-reports from off campus students to monitor the spread of the virus in the community.  The community colleges are seeing positive cases as well among their student population and employees and following all protocols to mitigate and address campus risk.   All of the schools are working closely with state and local public health departments to support contact tracing.
  • Weekly dashboards provide information on random weekly testing results for residential students, off campus self-reporting of positive cases, and utilization of quarantine and isolation rooms.  These dashboards, which are updated weekly, are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • The Governor announced that Phase 3 will start on October 8th.  This changes rules for inside dining as well as event sizes.  https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2020/09-2020/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Connecticut-Moves-Toward-Phase-3-Reopening-on-October-8
  • The 4 universities announced this week they will start the semester one week later and not have a spring break.   The Spring semester will begin January 26 and end on May 31, 2021, the same day as the current calendar. There will be no schedule changes for the community colleges or Charter Oak State College.
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory and once again included Rhode Island on the list and now allows for a testing rather than quarantine option for travelers to Connecticut.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College joined the rest of the CSCU colleges and universities in welcoming students to residence halls and on-campus classes and student services.
  • Weekly testing results are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • At the Board of Regents meeting on September 17, the team from Central CT State University provided an overview of their COVID plans related to reporting.  View the presentation
  • Two useful resources can be found on the state website.  The state’s COVID-19 Data Tracker is updated regularly to share information on the rate of positive cases by town https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Data-Tracker and https://data.ct.gov/stories/s/COVID-19-data/wa3g-tfvc/ provides COVID-19 Data Resources. This information is useful to our colleges and universities tracking cases in their local communities.
  • The state of Connecticut has a new site with community resources which provides useful information on testing and contact tracing resources. https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/CommunityResources

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College had experienced a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  Now they have been cleared to open next week for on ground classes and occupying of the residence halls.
  • The testing of residential students is underway at Central, Eastern, and Southern CT State Universities.  The state is experiencing excess capacity in their testing operations and has granted CSCU an increase in testing from the planned 5-10% of university residential students to 25% of residential students on a weekly basis.  Our testing partner, Griffin Health, is ramping up to provide the additional testing. We will test additional groups as recommended by the state if the virus spikes in particular communities.
  • Weekly testing results are available on each university website and at the links below.
  • Governor Lamont issued an Executive Order on September 4th providing additional flexibility to nurse aid training programs.  This EO provides much needed flexibility to our community college programs and students in pursuing these job opportunities. https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/20200904-DPH-order-regarding-nurse-aid-training-and-employment.pdf 
  • The universities have teams of contact tracers who are working closely with their local departments of public health to monitor conditions on and off campus.  In addition, the CT Department of Public Health now holds weekly office hours with the contact tracing leads from each university to answer questions and make adjustments to current practices.
  • Weekly office hours with DPH and the COVID Coordinators are helping to address questions as they arise.  For instance, DPH has now indicated that offices on college and university campuses can open at full capacity but should follow mitigation guidelines and consider cohorts working together so that not all would be exposed should a positive case occur.  Additionally, DPH has clarified that the current guidance for indoor gatherings is capped at 25%.  For academic purposes only, that cap can be exceeded as long as 6 feet of social distance is maintained.  This will allow campuses to hold classes in their largest theater or lecture hall spaces at greater capacity while maintaining safety.
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The twelve community colleges and three of the four universities had a good start to the semester. Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College had a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  However, students started all of their classes online and hope to be on the campuses in the near future.
  • The testing of residential students has begun at Central, Eastern, and Southern CT State Universities.  The state is experiencing excess capacity in their testing operations and has granted CSCU an increase in testing from the planned 5-10% of university residential students to 25% of residential students on a weekly basis.  Our testing partner, Griffin Health, is ramping up to provide the additional testing beginning next week.
  • Weekly testing results will be available on each university website.  All universities will report information on the number of weekly tests performed on each campus, the number of positive cases and the positivity rate as well as cumulative results as we progress through the semester.  They will also share information on the number of residential students in quarantine and isolation due to exposure to the virus. Next week’s COVID update will include links to the university dashboards as they are developed.
  • The universities have teams of contact tracers who have completed a Johns Hopkins online 6-hour training as well as two training sessions with the Department of Public Health.  Campuses are managing residential students in quarantine and isolation as needed and working closely with their local departments of public health on contact tracing.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The twelve community colleges and three of the four universities had a good start to the semester. Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College had a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  However, students started all of their classes online and hope to be on the campuses in the near future.
  • The testing of residential students has begun at Central, Eastern, and Southern CT State Universities.  The state is experiencing excess capacity in their testing operations and has granted CSCU an increase in testing from the planned 5-10% of university residential students to 25% of residential students on a weekly basis.  Our testing partner, Griffin Health, is ramping up to provide the additional testing beginning next week.
  • Weekly testing results will be available on each university website.  All universities will report information on the number of weekly tests performed on each campus, the number of positive cases and the positivity rate as well as cumulative results as we progress through the semester.  They will also share information on the number of residential students in quarantine and isolation due to exposure to the virus. Next week’s COVID update will include links to the university dashboards as they are developed.
  • The universities have teams of contact tracers who have completed a Johns Hopkins online 6-hour training as well as two training sessions with the Department of Public Health.  Campuses are managing residential students in quarantine and isolation as needed and working closely with their local departments of public health on contact tracing.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The twelve community colleges and three of the four universities had a good start to the semester. Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College had a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  However, students started all of their classes online and hope to be on the campuses in the near future.
  • The testing of residential students has begun at Central, Eastern, and Southern CT State Universities.  The state is experiencing excess capacity in their testing operations and has granted CSCU an increase in testing from the planned 5-10% of university residential students to 25% of residential students on a weekly basis.  Our testing partner, Griffin Health, is ramping up to provide the additional testing beginning next week.
  • Weekly testing results will be available on each university website.  All universities will report information on the number of weekly tests performed on each campus, the number of positive cases and the positivity rate as well as cumulative results as we progress through the semester.  They will also share information on the number of residential students in quarantine and isolation due to exposure to the virus. Next week’s COVID update will include links to the university dashboards as they are developed.
  • The universities have teams of contact tracers who have completed a Johns Hopkins online 6-hour training as well as two training sessions with the Department of Public Health.  Campuses are managing residential students in quarantine and isolation as needed and working closely with their local departments of public health on contact tracing.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The twelve community colleges and three of the four universities had a good start to the semester. Western CT State University and the Danbury Campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College had a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  However, students started all of their classes online and hope to be on the campuses in the near future.
  • The testing of residential students has begun at Central, Eastern, and Southern CT State Universities.  The state is experiencing excess capacity in their testing operations and has granted CSCU an increase in testing from the planned 5-10% of university residential students to 25% of residential students on a weekly basis.  Our testing partner, Griffin Health, is ramping up to provide the additional testing beginning next week.
  • Weekly testing results will be available on each university website.  All universities will report information on the number of weekly tests performed on each campus, the number of positive cases and the positivity rate as well as cumulative results as we progress through the semester.  They will also share information on the number of residential students in quarantine and isolation due to exposure to the virus. Next week’s COVID update will include links to the university dashboards as they are developed.
  • The universities have teams of contact tracers who have completed a Johns Hopkins online 6-hour training as well as two training sessions with the Department of Public Health.  Campuses are managing residential students in quarantine and isolation as needed and working closely with their local departments of public health on contact tracing.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The twelve community colleges and three of the four universities welcomed students back to campus as well as starting remote and online classes this week. Western CT State University had a pause in their physical reopening due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Danbury.  However, WCSU students started all of their classes online and hope to be on campus in the near future.
  • Seven community colleges finalized their reopening plans for their childcare centers and look forward to welcoming children back on campus this fall.
  • The COVID Coordinators from each CSCU institution and System office met with the Department of Public Health and their colleagues from UCONN and the private colleges to identify best practices, ask questions and address concerns, and support one another in the reopening of the college and university campuses.
  • The testing of residential students began this week at Central and start next week at Eastern, Southern and Western CT State Universities.  Weekly testing results will be available on each university website and the CSCU website starting September 4th.  The weekly report will provide information on the number of tests performed on each university campus, the number of positive cases and the positivity rate.
  • The Governor updated his travel advisory.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

Dear College Employees,

We are approaching the first days of class and the return of students to our campuses.  As you know, each of us will play a key role in keeping the campus environment safe.

As a reminder, CSCU policy is that all individuals on campus must wear a mask for face covering.  That policy has been reinforced by a recent executive order from the Governor.  The only times masks should be removed is when individuals are outside and at least six feet from other individuals, or when individuals are in an isolated office with good air exchange. Those unable to wear a mask for medical reasons should speak with the HR staff before coming to campus.

In addition, employees should monitor their own health daily for the following CDC-defined symptoms:

  1. Fever
  2. Chills
  3. Repeated shaking with chills
  4. Muscle pain
  5. Headache
  6. Sore throat
  7. New loss of taste or smell

Employees MAY NOT come to work if they are experiencing these symptoms.  All employees should contact the COVID Coordinator immediately to report their conditions and seek medical attention.   Employees must also follow their campus policy and practice for reporting their absence from work if they are scheduled to work on campus.

Additionally, employees should be aware of others they are in contact with and their health.  The CDC defines exposure as someone who has been within 6 feet of an infected person for greater than 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or 2 days prior to testing for asymptomatic individuals).  Anyone who has been officially notified of exposure by a local department of public health or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive MAY NOT come to work and should notify the COVID Coordinator immediately.  Employees must also follow their campus policy and practice for reporting their absence from work if they are scheduled to work on campus. Employees should contact their medical professional and self-quarantine for 14 days from the last exposure to the infected individual.

Those who intentionally report to work with symptoms or who have been in contact with those who have tested positive will be subject to discipline.

Working together we can have a safer fall semester.  Your support is both expected and appreciated.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • The colleges and universities continued to prepare for the start of classes including final pushes for fall enrollment, changes to their physical plants to promote social distancing, updates to technology, and purchasing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • The Governor removed Rhode Island from the states included in his travel advisory but added others. See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel
  • Seven community colleges are making plans to reopen their childcare centers this fall with the support of the Office of Early Childhood.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

Dear Colleagues,

I want to welcome you all back to Three Rivers later this month for the start of the 2020-2021 Academic Year.  We continue to live and work in these uncertain times of the coronavirus pandemic having hope that we will be back together again soon. Until that time, I would like to provide you with an update on TRCC’s plans to reopen our campus.

We have been approved to open TRCC on a limited basis throughout the summer and into the fall. Our plans are designed to comply with State of Connecticut requirements, and include many of the recommendations found in the TRCC Summer Planning report which was submitted to the System Office at the end of June.

Everything is subject to change depending on public health conditions and directives from state and federal agencies. At this time, all employees and students must observe current health and safety protocols. All faculty, staff, students and vendors have been informed (through email, social media, website, new building signage) that face masks are required in all campus buildings and at outside locations where social distancing is not feasible. Bandanas, scarves, or stretched shirts are not considered safe alternatives. Masks must cover the nose and mouth and have tension that reasonably seals both the top and bottom of the mask (See attached CSCU COVID-19 Mask & Social Distancing Guidelines).  To support this requirement, TRCC has procured personal protective equipment (PPE) to support the mask safety protocol during the fall semester. Beginning on August 24 upon entering the TRCC building at the main entrance, for the FA2020 semester, all students, faculty, and staff will be given 5 face masks, and are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the cleanliness of their issued reusable masks.  Of course, faculty, staff, and students are welcome to purchase and use their own face masks provided all are CDC compliant. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

In the event that any faculty, staff, student or vendor forgets to bring in or for any reason cannot bring in a mask or if they have a face mask malfunction while on campus, we have procured a supply (to be maintained and distributed at our security desk) of masks that will be given to anyone who needs one.

Everyone is required to wear a facemask and observe social distancing guidelines while on campus. Face masks with exhale vents are not acceptable.

All faculty need to be ready to teach using a variety of learning modalities for the fall semester. Courses have been identified in the catalog and on the website with a specific icon to inform students of the modality that the course will be taught, e.g., TRAD, HYBRID, ONLINE, LRON, or OLCR www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/instructional-methods.

Until March, we were an on-ground college with online options for students. This fall, we will instead pivot to an online college with on-ground options for students. The Fall 2020 class schedule was updated to employ a wider variety of instructional modalities to reduce the total number of students on campus. New options include synchronous online courses (LRON) and more hybrid sections to place fewer students on campus at any given time. These changes were recommended and supported by the faculty, under the leadership of Deans Robert Farinelli and Kem Barfield and the Academic & Student Affairs team.

I want to highlight a major change for all of us.  As you may know, the college will not be open to the general public and we will continue to restrict all arrivals and departures through the one main entrance by the Security Office. All faculty, staff, students and vendors must enter and exit the building at the Main Entrance, near the Security Office. Beginning on Monday, August 24, ID badges will be required for anyone entering and exiting the building; new ID scanning equipment will be located there. If you do not have a badge, please plan accordingly to come in to obtain one. Beginning on Mon., Aug. 17th – No appointment is necessary. Days/hours for badge processing for faculty and staff are Mon-Wed, 8:30-12:00 and 1:00-4:00 in conference room C243 only.  Anyone without a badge, including vendors will be required to obtain a temporary badge for the day from the Security Office before you will be allowed to enter the building. 

Additionally, I will share highlights from the TRCC Phase 3 reopen plans at our next virtual All-College meeting on Tuesday, August 25th from 10:00-12:00 p.m. and again at 6:00-8:00 p.m. We hope you can join us. Zoom details will be sent to employees early next week. In the meantime, if you have specific Phase 3 questions before the meeting, please email Judy Hardy at jhardy@trcc.commnet.edu before 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 21st so that we can develop a list of questions to respond to during the all-college meetings.

This fall, we anticipate that employees will continue to have work schedules that combine on-campus and telework. Since the building will also be open on Fridays beginning with the fall semester for classes, supervisors will need to develop a schedule for office staff to rotate working on-ground on Fridays while meeting the contractual workweek for all employees. Campus occupancy levels will be less than half of what they were “pre-COVID-19.” On-campus offices will be staffed daily but again, with reduced staff on any given day.  We will continue to have reduced in-person office and service hours across the campus. College meetings, events, and gatherings will continue to be conducted online using approved applications.

Please refer to the TRCC website for information about hours of operation for TRCC services and other important information at www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/reopening.

We do, however, want to make you aware of the following:

  • Fall 2020 Building Hours: M-Th: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00-6:00 p.m. Subject to change as needed.
  • The TRCC Food Servery will remain closed for the fall semester.
  • Vending Machines will be available in both the cafeteria and in the Cyber Café
  • Water fountains throughout the building are being converted to water stations for no-touch bottle filling
  • Copy Center Operations are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with one staff member working per day.  To comply with social distancing guidelines, new procedures limit the number of people in this area at any one time.  Please call x59029 or email your requests to copycenter@trcc.commnet.edu.
  • Purchasing – Supplies – Mail Room: No in-person walk-ins. Please call ahead or email Amy Main at x59267 or amain@trcc.commnet.edu. Please watch for a new electronic request system to order supplies.
  • Use of “touch” Equipment on Campus: Printers, vending machines, ATM, microwaves, refrigerators, etc. – Personal accountability is required for self-cleaning before use and after use with disinfectant supplies located at these areas.
  • Restrooms are all open. Personal care disinfectant supplies will be available in all restrooms; personal accountability is expected. For added safety, Facilities has established a frequent cleaning/disinfecting schedule at all restrooms and throughout the building.
  • Library Services: The first floor of the LIBRARY will be available by appointment only. Please see a complete list of all library services at the following link. https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/learning-resources/library/.
  • IT Services – Services by appointment only. Please call ahead at x59049 or submit a helpdesk ticket to tr-servicedesk@trcc.commnet.edu.  Additional information can be found at the following links: https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/it/ or at CSCU Support Center
  • Manufacturing Apprenticeship Center (MAC) – We will continue to offer workforce classes at the MAC at Grasso Technical Highschool in Groton
  • Bookstore Services: Appointments are not required. The Bookstore’s regular hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Wednesdays from 9 am to 5:30 pm, and Fridays at 9 am to 1 pm (hours may change when classes are not in session). For additional information, please call 860-887-6842 or email: 0807mgr@fheg.follett.com or www.trccshop.com
  • Student Services – Please call ahead or see a listing of hours of operations for services at https://threeriverscollegefoundation.org/admissions/important-dates-contactsd-2 or at https://threeriverscollegefoundation.org/student-life/campus-safety/coronavirus/reopening/.
  • Tutoring and Writing Center (TASC): Please see day/hours of operation at TASC web page.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, August 25th at our All-College meeting at 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m.

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Jukoski, President

Kem Barfield, Interim Dean of Academic and Student Affairs

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Our universities finalized and shared their Phase 3 plans for fall reopening.
  • Plans for the reopening of community colleges and Charter Oak State College will be finalized and shared next week.
  • The Governor issued an updated list of 36 locations included in his travel advisory directing 14-day self-quarantine for anyone traveling into Connecticut.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel
  • On Monday July 27, President Ojakian, members of the CSCU executive staff, Dr. Joe Bertolino, President of Southern CT State University and Dr. Duncan Harris, CEO of Capital Community College participated in an Appropriations Committee informational hearing on the fiscal impact of COVID-19 on the CT State Colleges and Universities.  The hearing is available for viewing online.
  • On Wednesday July 29, the Board of Regents held a special meeting and heard a presentation from President Ojakian and CSCU executive staff on reopening plans.  Watch the presentation.
  • BOR ex officio member, Dr. Deidre Gifford, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Public Health participated in the meeting and provided additional information on the state’s testing guidance and answered Board member questions on number of public health matters.  Watch that segment of the meeting.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Our colleges and universities are finalizing their Phase 3 plans for fall reopening.
  • The Governor issued an updated list of 31 states included in his travel advisory directing 14-day self-quarantine for anyone traveling into Connecticut.  See more information at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/Travel
  • On Monday July 27 from 1-4pm, President Ojakian, members of the CSCU executive staff, Dr. Joe Bertolino, President of Southern CT State University and Dr. Duncan Harris, CEO of Capital Community College will participate in an Appropriations Committee informational hearing on the fiscal impact of COVID-19 on the CT State Colleges and Universities.  The hearing is available on CT-N.com

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Our colleges and universities continued their campus-based planning for fall reopening.
  • University and colleges finalized plans for the reopening of their administrative and student services offices in July and shared with their campuses.
  • As state lead, I am working with the Departments of Public Health and Administrative Services to understand how the Governor’s travel advisory impacts out of state students returning to the universities. I will issue updated testing guidance next week to incorporate changes associated with this new information. Read the CT Covid-19 travel advisory
  • As the state lead on higher education reopening, I issued Update #7 to the state’s higher education report answering questions on opening of residential halls, cleaning of residential suites, and the operations of food services on campuses.
  • CSCU System Office shared guidance with the colleges and universities on opening of childcare centers on campus. 
    View childcare resources here.
  • On July 14 at 12pm, there will be a legislative hearing on reopening plans that includes CSCU, University of Connecticut and the CT Conference of Independent Colleges.  For more information, view the agenda (pdf) on how to join the Zoom meeting.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Our colleges and universities continued their campus-based planning for fall reopening. University and college leadership are finalizing their decisions for academic schedules/modalities and communicating those to faculty, staff and students.
  • As the state lead on higher education reopening, I issued interim guidance in coordination with the state Department of Public Health on testing for residential students and residence hall directors (pdf).  Note: the CSCU will require residence hall directors and any student residential staff to follow the same protocol as residential students. Further guidance related to athletes and personnel will be forthcoming.
  • In addition, that guidance allows residence halls to be repopulated beginning as early as August 14 to manage the process of moving in given social distance guidelines.
  • CSCU secured a grant for $350,000 from the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority for the “Support a Student Relief Fund for Undocumented Students.” Grants will be given to undocumented students impacted by the pandemic who were not eligible for federal support.
  • CSCU System Office prepared a planning template (pdf) in alignment with Phase 1 of the state’s reopening plans for staff to begin returning to work at the universities on July 13.
  • Return to work plans have been developed for CSCU system office.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

A picture containing drawing Description automatically generated

This week:

  • Our colleges and universities continued their campus-based planning for fall reopening.
  • Steering Committee reports were finalized for the universities, Charter Oak and the community colleges and posted to our website.  This information on academic affairs, enrollment management, technology, operations and logistics, and student life will be very valuable as campuses do their fall planning.  Thank you to the campus leadership, system office staff and union representatives who participated in this important effort.
  • I am in ongoing conversations with the state administration and public health experts on testing protocol for fall reopening.
  • CSCU System Office prepared a planning template in alignment with Phase 1 of the state’s reopening plans for staff to begin returning to work at the community colleges on July 6.
  • A plan for the return to work at CSCU system office is expected next week.
  • A planning template for the return to work of staff at the universities will be released next week.

The Updates to the Higher Education ReOpen report can be found on our website https://www.ct.edu/covid19 along with these weekly updates and additional information from the planning process.

Latest Update: Three Rivers Reopening Staff Offices on Monday, July 6

From President Jukoski, June 18, 2020

On Monday, July 6, all administrative and student service offices at Three Rivers Community College will be reopening at 50% occupancy with rotating staff schedules and with the creation of staff “teams” to limit the number of people working together at any one time. This capacity may be increased or decreased as public health guidance warrants. Your supervisor will be working with you to determine your schedule with the days and times you will be expected to be in the office. This includes the President’s Office; Institutional Advancement; Marketing and Public Relations; Academic Offices and the Library; Administrative Services, including Facilities, Finance, Payroll and Benefits, Purchasing, and Security; Information Technology; Nursing Administration; and the entire Student Services division.

The main entrance will serve as the only access to and from the building. Face masks are required to be worn to enter the building and while working; exceptions will be determined by your supervisor. All Staff, upon arrival, will be required to log in at the Security Desk (process to be determined). A hand sanitizer station will be available at this entrance. If at any time you become ill or feel sick, you will be directed to leave and follow the CDC/State guidelines.   https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html

Please note that plexiglass shields will be installed at the security desk, welcome center, admissions, financial aid, and library circulation desk; other areas will be evaluated as needed. All work areas and surrounding common areas will be thoroughly disinfected per CDC guidelines.

Students who are seeking services will be permitted in the building starting on July 20; additional procedures are being developed and will be in place prior to July 20.   The college will remain closed to the general public and there will be no outside groups using the campus during the summer and fall.

Additional procedures and policies are being developed and will be shared with you as soon as they are final. If you have questions, please contact your Dean or Director, so they can be addressed during our planning.

Mary Ellen Jukoski, President

Three Rivers Community College

Latest Updates: CSCU Campuses Plan to Reopen this Fall

Dear CSCU Community:

Like all other institutions of higher education across the country, we are navigating uncertain times and preparing for an upcoming academic year like no other. Over the past several weeks, campus teams and CSCU steering committees have done great work together to identify opportunities and challenges, and provide recommendations for academic affairs, enrollment management, student life, student support services, logistics, technology, operations, and facilities.  We still have a lot of planning to do and more questions need to be addressed in the coming weeks and months.

That said, I am excited to announce that we are planning to return to our campuses in fall 2020 with significant measures in place to make our institutions as safe as possible.

Based on significant guidance from public health experts and in accordance with Governor Lamont’s ReOpen CT Advisory Committee plan, we have determined that the CSCU colleges and universities will reopen their physical campuses to residential and commuter students for fall 2020 with the following protocols in place:

  • The four universities can start bringing residential and commuter students to their campuses on Monday, August 24. Classes will follow the common calendar through Thanksgiving, with the balance of the semester and exams online. Arrangements for residential students to move in are still to be determined.
  • The 12 community colleges are permitted to offer on ground courses beginning June 1 for those spring semester students who need to complete programs and for new students to enroll in workforce development programs.  This summer reopening is allowed under phase 1b of ReOpen CT for Higher Education.  Like the universities, community colleges may bring students back for the fall semester on August 24 and courses will follow the common calendar.
  • Charter Oak State College will continue to offer its catalog of online classes through summer and fall.
  • Plans for the reopening of the campuses for faculty and staff will be developed this summer.  Plans for reopening the CSCU system office and Charter Oak State College are being established as well.
  • Classes at the colleges and universities will be delivered in a variety of on ground, online, remote, hybrid and flexible course design models.
  • The community colleges and universities will be prepared to pivot to offer fully remote courses and services if public health conditions warrant.

Before our physical campuses are opened for the next academic year, each campus must write a plan that meets all standards outlined in the ReOpen CT Higher Education phase three framework as well as incorporating recommendations from the CSCU Steering Committees. The ReOpen framework provides guidance on the planning of repopulating campuses with the re-entry of students; monitoring the health of students, faculty and staff; containment of the virus should an outbreak occur; and preparing to shut down physical campuses and transition as seamlessly as possible back to a remote-only model if it becomes necessary.

As I said at the outset, we have many questions to answer and arrangements to make before we reopen.  We will share additional details in the coming weeks as we prepare for the fall. These plans will be communicated to the campus communities and I encourage you to monitor your email over the summer.  Updates will also be posted soon on the www.ct.edu website along with other ReOpen CT and CSCU planning documents for your information.

Our priority has been and will continue to be the safety of our students, faculty and staff. That will not change as we move forward in our thoughtful and deliberative planning process to welcome students back to our campuses in August.

Sincerely,

Mark E. Ojakian
President, CSCU

CARES ACT Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Reporting:  Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students

Read the report here.

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

May 15, 2020

Announcing Three Rivers VIRTUAL Commencement on Saturday, June 13 at 2:00 PM

Dear Three Rivers Graduate,

During the month of May, the Three Rivers campus is usually bustling with energy as we begin to prepare for the end of the semester and attend to final details for our annual Commencement Exercises held on our College Green. Our Faculty and Staff would have been dusting off their commencement regalia, our lawns would have been perfectly manicured, tents and chairs would be popping up overnight, but mostly the atmosphere would have been crackling with excitement as our graduates picked up their caps and gowns and readied themselves and their families to all arrive here on that one special day … when the skirl of the bagpipes calls us together and the majestic rhythm of Pomp and Circumstance notes the steady march toward a goal achieved.

COVID-19 changed all of that. We all will be forever changed by the unprecedented events that began early in 2020. We are profoundly aware of the changes in our world now. We offer our respect for the loss of so many and send our heartfelt gratitude to those working everywhere to help those in need.

You, our graduates, are living through times like we have never seen before and your strength and determination to persevere through these times to finish your coursework so that you can graduate is inspiring for all of us to witness.

And so, we will celebrate!

Together but separate, we will celebrate your accomplishments via a virtual commencement with all the “pomp and circumstance” that you deserve.  On Saturday, June 13 at 2:00 p.m. we invite you and your families and friends to join us virtually as we offer you COMMENCEMENT 2020!

Here’s how …

First, as with Three Rivers commencements in the past, we have created a web page dedicated to Commencement 2020. It will be updated with the latest information and can be seen at www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/commencement.

Second, for the first time, we are creating Graduate Profiles on our website. These individual profile pages will feature your photo and information about you, as well as provide a Guest Book for friends and family to write greetings and well-wishes. You can fill out the information form and upload your photo here: https://threeriverscollegefoundation.org/graduate-profile-form/. The deadline to submit your information and upload your photo is May 29, 2020.  We will also use your photo during our virtual commencement when your name is announced.

Next, we will let you know when you will be able to pick up your Commencement package at Three Rivers in one of our designated parking lots. Please keep checking your Three Rivers email for this important information.  Your commencement package will consist of:

  • your cap, gown, and tassel (Available only for those who request this. Requests can be made at https://forms.gle/PzVT8reAtC2Kss6Q7)
  • Commencement Program listing all graduates
  • Letter from President Jukoski
  • Three Rivers Alumni Decal
  • Commemorative gift from Three Rivers

Finally, Commencement 2020 will go live on Saturday, June 13 at 2:00 p.m. You will be able to watch it live at www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/commencement. It will also be live streamed on our Three Rivers Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/ThreeRiversCC/. We hope that you will join the virtual celebration, wearing your cap and gown, and invite your family and perhaps friends to celebrate with you, while still practicing social distancing. Our ceremony will last about an hour and will include Three Rivers traditions, brief remarks from me, and from Matt Fleury, chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education, and Mark Ojakian, President of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, and we will read the name and show the photo and profile of each and every Three Rivers graduate. Questions? Please email: commencement@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com.

While safely celebrating with your family and friends, we hope that you will take photos to commemorate this milestone in your life.  Please take pictures and/or videos to commemorate your celebration and share them with us on social media, using the hashtag #TRCC2020.

Your alumni community extends to you an invitation to begin this life-long relationship with your alma mater.  Stay in touch. Let our Advancement Office know where you are and what your latest accomplishments are.

We know you’ve worked hard for this moment in time, and so we would like to make you one last promise. We will invite you to attend and “walk” as the Class of 2020 at our next Commencement in 2021. Be sure to stay in touch with us so that we can find you and contact you for that day!

Congratulations graduates. You did it!

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D.

President

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

May 6, 2020

Dear Students,

 

We are writing to inform you of our plans to distribute CARES Act emergency grants.  The U.S. Department of Education recently issued guidance on distribution of these emergency grants to students, requiring that all recipients be Title IV eligible.  This means that students must have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2019-20 academic year.  To satisfy the Department of Education’s guidance, we will only be issuing grants to students who have met the Title IV eligibility requirements by completing a FAFSA and have satisfied all outstanding requirements related to completing a FAFSA.  Completing a FAFSA does not mean a student has to be in receipt of financial aid.  A completed FAFSA is one that fully determines a student’s eligibility for a Pell Grant, including the federal Expected Family Contribution calculation.

In addition, the following students will not be eligible for the CARES Act emergency grants:

  • Students exclusively enrolled in non-credit courses
  • CSCU employees attending classes for free (not student workers) and students on dependent waivers
  • Second Chance Pell students
  • High School Partnership/Dual Enrollment students
  • Undocumented, DACA, International students

We plan to begin issuing payments to eligible students next week.  If you have not already done so, please sign up for Direct Deposit to expedite distribution of funds at https://my.commnet.edu.

 

President Jukoski

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski
April 27, 2020

Dear Students,

I write today in frustration.

You may have heard that Congress recently passed the CARES Act, which includes money intended to help colleges and universities navigate these difficult times. A significant portion of that money – at least half – is supposed to be awarded as emergency grants to students. After the legislation was passed Secretary Betsy DeVos of the US Department of Education, stated unequivocally that colleges and universities would have the flexibility to distribute the funding to students as they saw fit. In keeping with the secretary’s statements, and the flexibility in the CARES Act itself, our colleges and universities had planned to distribute funding widely, sending checks to all eligible students.

However, without warning, and in apparent contradiction with the secretary’s promises, the Department of Education released guidance last week severely restricting which students are eligible to receive CARES Act payments. Specifically, the guidance has the effect of limiting assistance to those who have filed a FAFSA. As you know, there are myriad reasons an eligible student and their family would choose not to complete a FAFSA. The complexity of the process prevents many students from completing the form. Likewise, a large number middle class families – many of whom have experienced the loss of one or more incomes – did not file a FAFSA and will now miss out on these payments.  In addition, undocumented students, international students, and many noncredit students, are ineligible under the department’s guidance.

In total, it could disqualify up to 30,000 students across our institutions.

This is unconscionable to me, and I have already reached out to Secretary DeVos to encourage her to reverse this decision. We all hope that she will agree to allow payments to more of our students, and I will keep you updated on any response we receive.

In the meantime, our team is going forward with processing payments for students who remain eligible, so if you haven’t already done so, please sign up for direct deposit in MyCommnet.

·       Enroll in direct deposit (MyCommnet)

We understand the urgency of the situation, so we are working on processing payments as quickly as possible.

 

Sincerely,

Mark E. Ojakian

President, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

P.S. If anyone is interested in sharing their thoughts or concerns about this sudden decision to make up to 30,000 students at Connecticut’s public colleges and universities ineligible for much-needed emergency funding with Secretary DeVos, she can be reached at betsy.devos@ed.gov.

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski
April 24, 2020

Dear Students,

As you may have seen, the recently enacted federal CARES Act includes a distribution of funds to institutions of higher education, including Three Rivers Community College. A significant portion of this funding will be reserved to provide students with grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to Covid-19.

To avoid delays in receiving the grant: Please consider immediately enrolling in direct deposit by signing into myCommNet (https://ssb-prod.ec.commnet.edu/luminis/login.html) and clicking on the “Direct Deposit” box in the center column on the homepage of myCommNet. Please also review the accuracy of your address and any direct deposit information already on file.

Please note the following important terms of the CARES Act grant:

  • This grant is to be used as direct assistance for your expenses related to the disruption of your studies during the spring 2020 semester, such as: food, housing, materials, technology, health care, and child-care expenses.
  • Even if you have an outstanding balance on your college account, your grant will go directly to you, and will not be automatically applied to reduce your financial obligation to the College.
  • This funding does not impact your financial aid award.

Eligibility: The U.S. Department of Education has put in place a number of eligibility requirements in order to receive the funding. We are in the process of reviewing the federal requirements and will provide further communication in coming days.

For questions on direct deposit enrollment, please contact the Three Rivers Business Office at TR-Businesslink@trcc.commnet.edu.

We are working as quickly as possible to process the funding. We currently estimate the money to be disbursed in May, but the timing is subject to change. Students on direct deposit can expect the grant to be deposited sooner than those receiving checks. So enroll today on myCommNet at https://ssb-prod.ec.commnet.edu/luminis/login.html.

I will continue to provide you with information as it becomes available.

Be well. Be safe.

President Jukoski

Coronavirus Update Page of Info

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

April 22, 2020

Dear Students,

We know that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented you with a new set of challenges as you pursue your education. Three Rivers is committed to doing everything in our power to help you succeed. That’s why I am happy to report that, at Connecticut State Colleges and University President Mark Ojakian’s direction we, along with all other Connecticut community colleges, have adopted a pass/fail (credit/no credit) procedure for the spring semester.

That means you now have the option to convert any of the grades you earn in your spring 2020-semester courses to Pass (Credit) / Fail (No Credit) grading so that the courses do not affect your GPA.

Please go to the Spring 2020 Grade Conversion website for more information and instructions about how to apply for the option.

I hope this option gives you some peace of mind as you approach the end of the spring term.

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Jukoski
President
Three Rivers Community College

Coronavirus Update Page of Info

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

April 15, 2020

Dear TRCC Community,

We just received word from President Mark Ojakian regarding the CSCU System Office’s decision about summer classes. Please read below.Here at Three Rivers, we are quickly making plans to comply with these changes. If you have questions, please contact your advisor or the Registrar’s Office at Registrar@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com.

Be well!

President Jukoski

******************

Dear Students,

 I am writing today to provide you with an update on the community colleges’ plan for the summer session. As you know, while there have been some encouraging signs that social distancing has slowed the spread of the virus, the Covid-19 outbreak in Connecticut continues to disrupt our daily lives and threaten the health of individuals and communities. While I know all of us crave a return to normalcy, it is clear that the re-opening of our campuses will need to be a well thought out and deliberative process in line with the state’s recovery framework.

To that end, summer classes will be offered online-only until at least August 1 with the exception of some of the on-ground courses for students almost ready to enter the workforce in immediately critical non-credit and credit programs – such as CNA, Paramedic, Nursing, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, Respiratory Care, Radiologic Technologists, Advanced Manufacturing and Electro-Mechanical courses – which could begin as early as July 20.

All other on-ground/skills-based courses should be scheduled for the hands-on components/ lab classes after August 1, including hands-on laboratory courses that were not completed in the spring. The lecture portion of the course can be scheduled online prior to August 1 with the hands-on component scheduled starting August 1. If the pandemic prevents the colleges from being opened by August 1, we are exploring options for the hands-on portion to be offered in condensed sessions at the start of the fall semester.   Additionally, the number of students allowed in a laboratory classroom may be limited by social distancing guidelines. This may necessitate offering multiple laboratory sections with a small number of students.

This was a difficult decision, and please know that it was not taken lightly. At CSCU Provost Gates’s direction, we convened a Remote Teaching and Learning Crisis Team to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations, which our campuses will adopt.

Stay safe.  

Sincerely,

Mark E. Ojakian

 

Coronavirus Update Page of Info

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

April 9, 2020

Dear TRCC Community,

We understand that these are difficult and uncertain times for many of our students, but I want to assure you that TRCC remains focused on helping you achieve your educational and career goals. There are a number of important steps that we have taken to be more accommodating and flexible as you enroll for the summer and fall semesters.

Financial Difficulties with Payments – We know that the pandemic is greatly impacting many of our students. If you are concerned with meeting your payment obligations, here are some ways we might be able to help you.

  • Payment Plans – If you have issues with existing payment plans, please reach out to the Business office at TR_BusinessLink@trcc.commnet.edu or (860) 215-9312.
  • Outstanding Balances – Students with an outstanding balance on their account who have a hold and wish to register for Summer or Fall courses should contact the Business Office at TR_BusinessLink@trcc.commnet.edu or (860) 215-9312. Our staff will work with you on creating a repayment and/or financial aid solution to help you resolve your current balance and meet your educational goals.  Please note that we have relaxed our hold policy during this public health crisis.
  • Emergency Assistance  If you need emergency assistance, please reach out to Associate Dean Jodi Calvert at jcalvert@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com.
  • Scholarship Money – Each Spring, the Three Rivers College Foundation awards over $400,000 in student scholarships and awards. The Foundation has extended its scholarship deadline to May 1st. The application process is entirely online at www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/scholarships. Simply follow the instructions. Scholarship money will be deposited directly into student accounts. We encourage all students to apply.

If you are experiencing hardship during this pandemic, please make note in the space provided in the scholarship application. If you have any questions, please contact Betty Baillargeon at bbaillargeon@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com or Meghan LaCasse at mlacasse@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com.

Registering for Fall or Summer Courses – If you have questions or concerns with registering for Summer or Fall, you can find detailed instructions and contact information here.

We want you to succeed at TRCC so we’re here to help you. Remember, your goals are our goals.

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Jukoski, President

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski
March 24, 2020

Dear Students, 

We realize that this is a stressful and uncertain time. All of us in the CSCU system are committed to supporting you as we finish out the semester.

We have currently placed a hold on processing withdrawals. This is a temporary measure to make sure you have the time to speak to the right staff on campus to determine the best move for you. Should students receiving federal financial aid withdraw from classes, they may be on the hook to repay the funds awarded to them, and we want to make sure you understand if that will be the case.

 You will be able to withdraw from classes effective on the date you wish, but no withdrawals will be processed before April 3.

Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, please reach out to your faculty for help and support as we make the change to our learning environment.

As always, we will continue to email updates of the latest information to your TRCC email, so be sure to check it on a regular basis.

Information will also be posted on www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/coronaviruswith a link to a new student information and support page.

Please continue to practice vigilance and stay healthy. 

Mary Ellen Jukoski

President 

Coronavirus Update Page of Info

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 20, 2020

Dear Students,

I am following up to messages from earlier this week with additional details on our transition to becoming a fully online institution for the remainder of the semester. Such a rapid move of course presents a number of challenges, but after continuous discussions with our faculty, staff, and students, I am confident that we are in great position to deliver the high-quality education you deserve. Please carefully read the following information, as it is important for the next phase of our educational conversion.

Online Classes

I continue to work with our regional president, campus leaders, academic deans, and faculty to determine how many courses can continue in an online format. The good news is that the vast majority of classes – a higher number than initially expected – will be able to continue remotely.

Classes that cannot be delivered entirely online. 

In the event that one or more of your classes cannot be completed online, we will reach out to you directly.

Refunds

Three Rivers will not refund tuition and fees because we are converting to an online instruction model for the remainder of the term, enabling our students to complete the coursework that they have begun this semester.  In the unlikely event that a class is cancelled by the college, we will provide further information about refunds to impacted students.

How to receive critical services such as academic support, advising, and disability services.

Following are contacts and additional information to help you through this transition.

Three Rivers Office Contact Information

Resources for Students

If you need help with technology while continuing your studies online, the following resources are available:

The CSCU Connecticut Community Colleges Online Help Desk 

This should be your first stop if you need a NetID password reset or if you are having issues with myCommNet and Blackboard. They offerphone and chat support 24/7/365 with contact details at the link below.

https://cscu.edusupportcenter.com/ 

If the CSCU Help Desk is unable to assist you, the TRCC IT Service Desk is here to help

Email – Please open a ticket with our IT Service Desk by emailing

[TR-ServiceDesk@trcc.commnet.edu ]TR-ServiceDesk@trcc.commnet.edu from your CSCU email account. Emails from personal email accounts often get marked as Junk and do not get through. Including as much detail as possible will help us to resolve your issue as quickly as possible.

Phone – If you cannot access your student email due to account access issues (unknown NetID, expired or unknown password), please contact us via phone at 860-215-9049. We will be monitoring voicemail continuously during this time and someone will get back to you as soon as possible. Please leave your full name, a contact number, and a brief description of your issue.

Web Chat with IT support – If you have basic IT questions you can chat with an IT support staff member by visiting https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/IT/ during normal operational hours.

E-Tutoring Services

“Ask TASC” is our online tutoring service. It utilizes TASC’s own staff, so you’re getting the same high-quality service that you would get by visiting TASC in person — the same tutors, the same subjects, and the same familiarity with course content. Visit Ask TASC by clicking here: https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/learning-resources/tutoring-tasc/online-tutoring/

Disability Services

If students with documented disabilities have any questions or concerns related to your academic adjustments, connect with Matt Liscum (learning disabilities) mliscum@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com  or Elizabeth Willcox (physical disabilities) ewillcox@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com

Distance Learning (online class resources)

Distance Learning staff can provide more specialized support at

TR-DistanceLearning@trcc.commnet.eduDistance Learning staff are available Monday – Friday during business hours.

Library Services

Students can connect with a reference librarian for research assistance, and access library resources including electronic books, full text journal articles and streaming videos by clicking on the following link: http://trcc.commnet.edu/learning-resources/library 

Sexual Misconduct and Intimate Partner Violence Resources

Please click on the following link to access TRCC’s Title IX resource page:

https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/student-services/sexual-misconduct-resources-and-education/ 

Three Rivers College Foundation Scholarship Information

The Three Rivers College Foundation is currently accepting applications for their scholarships for TRCC college and high school students. Application information can be found at the following link:  www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/scholarships/. The deadline for scholarship applications is May 1. 

Community Mental Health Resources

Please click on the following link to access a list of community-based agencies that can assist with concerns related to behavioral and mental health:

https://www.trcc.commnet.edu/student-services/community-resources/[http://]

As always, if you are experiencing an emergency, please contact 9-1-1.

Food Insecurity

While the TRCC Full Plate Food Pantry is closed through the end of the semester, we want to make sure you are aware of other resources to address food insecurity within the community.

  • Most towns are participating in COVID-19 Community-wide Emergency Meal Programs for children 18 years or younger, regardless of whether they are a student or resident. Visit the website and social media pages of your local school district and municipalities for further information.
  • Additionally, you can find food bank information at either

Information on free internet offers for those who don’t have access at home. 

Comcast, Cox, and Charter are all currently offering some form of free internet service for students.

 

As always, we will continue to email updates of the latest information to your TRCC email, so be sure to check it on a regular basis. Information will also be posted on www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com/coronavirus, which will have a link to a new student information and support page later today.

Please continue to practice vigilance and stay healthy.

Mary Ellen Jukoski

President

Coronavirus Update Page of Info

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 13, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

While there is no additional information about closings and online classes, we have learned some things that you might find useful.

Free WiFi Offer from Internet Essentials from Comcast

Internet Essentials from Comcast, which works to provide affordable home WiFi for eligible households, has announced that:

“As the country deals with the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Comcast is taking immediate steps to help connect more low-income families to the Internet at home. Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, anyone who signs up for Internet Essentials will receive two free months of Internet service.”

After the two months, users can cancel or continue with paid service. Learn more at https://www.internetessentials.com/covid19

State of Connecticut Response to Covid-19

In addition to the State’s Coronavirus portal, they will also shared news on its new Twitter account at @COVID19CT and on Facebook at CT COVID-19 Response, where you’ll be able to keep up with the latest information.

Social Distancing – What’s up with that?

Senator Chris Murphy shared an excellent article from The Atlantic on the The Do’s and Don’ts of ‘Social Distancing’. It offers advice on everything from going on dates, getting your haircut to visiting elderly relatives.

As always, we will continue to assess the situation and communicate as often as needed.

Enjoy the weekend and Spring Break.

Mary Ellen

 

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 12, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

Here are the latest updates.

Three Rivers is closed effective today at 5:00 pm through Sunday, March 22.

Three Rivers will close the campus effective 5:00 pm, Thursday, March 12, and will remain closed through Sunday, March 22. We will continue to assess the situation and communicate as often as needed.

All employees who can are directed to begin teleworking tomorrow. All supervisors will connect with their employees today, including work study students, to determine individual work arrangements.

Here is some additional information:

  • For Everyone Planning Out-of-state Travel – Important –Everyone (students, faculty and staff) travelling out of Connecticut, including internationally, must fill out this Out-of-State Travel Information Form. This is being required by CSCU so that we have the background knowledge we need to keep our campus safe and healthy for all.
  • How to tell if you have coronavirus – We’re all wondering if our sniffles and sneezes could be the coronavirus. CNN has posted an informative article called Is it allergies, the flu or the coronavirus? How to tell the difference. It provides helpful details to distinguish your symptoms.
  • For the latest Connecticut information, visit the official State of Connecticut Coronavirus portal at https://portal.ct.gov/coronavirus.

These updates will continue to be sent to your TRCC email, so be sure to check it on a regular basis. By tonight, you will also be able to check www.threefdn.wpenginepowered.com for additional information.

Please continue to practice vigilance and stay healthy.

Mary Ellen

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 11, 2020, 3:30 p.m.

Dear Three Rivers community,

As you have no doubt heard, the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is spreading globally and has now been designated as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. I want to emphasize that there are no known cases associated with Three Rivers faculty, staff, or students. We are working closely with the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities President Mark Ojakian to keep our University community as safe and healthy as possible and continue to take every precaution to mitigate potential impact on campus. Today, we are announcing the following new precautionary measures:

  • Following Spring Break, all classes will be moved to an online-only format until at least Sunday, April 5.
  • The campuses will remain open for day-to-day functions, and all non-teaching faculty and staff are expected to continue to report to work as scheduled.
  • For students who don’t have access to the internet, Computer Lab – Room E112 Open Lab and the Library will remain open. The hours will be  Mondays-Thursdays from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm and Fridays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. Additional cleaning protocols are being implemented for your safety.
  • Students who engage in off-campus clinics, internships, and similar experiential activities, may continue to attend them if their respective facility remains open. Please check with your supervisor, if necessary.
  • All faculty, please take every opportunity this week and next to learn WebEx, MS Teams, Blackboard, and other tools to assist your online teaching, scheduling and hosting of online meetings.
  • All campus events scheduled between March 14 and April 5 are canceled (no matter the size), including those sponsored by external clients.

As one might expect, the situation and conditions are changing by the day—sometimes by the hour. Be assured that we continue to work closely with President Ojakian, the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and the Governor’s Office to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment for all members of our campus community.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding as we work through all necessary adjustments. I urge you to continue to follow CDC guidelines for staying healthy.

Sincerely,

President Mary Ellen Jukoski

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 11, 2020, 2:00 p.m.

Dear Students and Colleagues,

We will be moving to online classes for the two weeks following Spring Break, from Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 3.

  • Students – you will access your class online via Blackboard. We will provide more details as they become available. Please remember that all official communications and updates will be sent to your TRCC email so be sure to check it regularly.
  • Faculty – You have already received information from Dean Farinelli via email regarding moving your class online.

Staff will still report to work during this time.

Students who do not have access to computers or WiFi can use computers here at Three Rivers in Computer Lab, Room E112 and the Library.

We will be sending further updates as soon as they are available.

Remember, if you have questions, please call the hotline at (860) 215-9011.

Mary Ellen

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 10, 2020

Dear Students,

On March 4 and March 6, I sent Coronavirus Updates to students, faculty and staff. We just found out these accidentally did not get sent to students. Below is a special edition that will catch you up on the information from those two Updates.

President Jukoski

_________________________________________________________________________________

As the global COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak continues to intensify, I will be issuing updates via email on a regular basis to all Three Rivers students, faculty and staff. These updates will keep you informed on our planning here at Three Rivers and at CSCU (Connecticut State Colleges and Universities) for dealing with the possibility of it spreading to our community. We are taking every precaution to mitigate any potential impact on you and the campus.

TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.A.

Avoid travel to countries designated Level 2 and Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At this point, the countries designated Level 2 or Level 3 are China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and Japan, but continued transmission of the disease means that the CDC’s list is likely to grow in coming days and weeks. We strongly discourage all students, faculty, and staff from traveling to those countries.

If you travel to a country that is Level 2 or 3 today, or a country that is designated as such while you are there, you are required to remain off-campus for a period of 14 days from when you arrive in the United States and are asked to self-quarantine during that period.  Please continue to monitor the CDC’s guidance Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel (CDC)

If you must travel abroad, alert Three Rivers of your plans. We are doing everything in our power to prevent the coronavirus from spreading on campus. If you plan on traveling abroad during spring break, we are asking for your cooperation in sharing your information with us. In our next Update, we will provide you a link to a form that you should fill out.

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19

All students, faculty, and staff can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by:

  • Hand Hygiene –
    • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using a restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. To learn more about proper handwashing, visit the CDC’s website, When and How to Wash Your Hands (CDC).
    • Handwashing is most effective, however If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizers, that are made of at least 60% alcohol to work against the corona virus.
    • Respiratory Etiquette – Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
    • Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. The CDC provides detailed information on Home Cleaning and Disinfection. The CDC site on Preventing COVID-19 spread in Communities is also extremely helpful.

IF YOU EXHIBIT FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS

Anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms is required to remain at home, and those who become sick during the day must go home.

  • We will use the CDC definitions of flu or flu-like symptoms: Flu Symptoms & Complications (CDC)
  • In the event a student or employee arrives to work with flu or flu-like symptoms, they will be instructed by management to go home due to the symptoms they exhibited. They will be advised that they should see a health care provider as soon as possible.
  • Anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms but cannot self-transport home will be directed to wait for their ride in an Isolation Room on campus. This room is C102. Dean of Administrative Services Steve Goetchius at (860) 215-9002 or sgoetchius@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com should be notified of anyone using the room..
  • If they are diagnosed with the Coronavirus, we ask they contact (860) 215-9011 as soon as possible.
  • Students are not to return to campus until they are symptom-free.
  • The academic dean and faculty will work with the student to ensure a learning plan is in place. They are developing plans to access courses via Blackboard online. We will provide additional information when plans are finalized.

More details on this will be made available as soon as we receive them. We are in the process of creating a webpage that will be our information central for coronavirus.

As you know, this is a new experience for all of us, but the health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff are our priority. As I stated earlier, we will keep you informed on a regular basis.

If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call (860) 215-9011. We are working hard to ensure that we all have a safe working environment.

Thank you.

Mary Ellen

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 6, 2020

Dear Students and Colleagues,

As the worldwide COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak continues to grow in intensity, I am reminding you to do everything you can to avoid putting yourself and our campus community at risk. Here are the latest updates.

ISOLATION ROOM AT THREE RIVERS

As mentioned in the Wednesday, March 4 Update, anyone who has the flu or flu-like symptoms but cannot self-transport home will be directed to wait for their ride in an Isolation Room on campus. This room is C102. Dean of Administrative Services Steve Goetchius at (860) 215-9002 or sgoetchius@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com should be notified of anyone using the room.

TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.A.

Avoid travel to countries designated Level 2 and Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At this point, the countries designated Level 2 or Level 3 are China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and Japan, but continued transmission of the disease means that the CDC’s list is likely to grow in coming days and weeks. We strongly discourage all students, faculty, and staff from traveling to those countries.

If you travel to a country that is Level 2 or 3 today, or a country that is designated as such while you are there, you are required to remain off-campus for a period of 14 days from when you arrive in the United States and are asked to self-quarantine during that period.  Please continue to monitor the CDC’s guidance Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel (CDC)

If you must travel abroad, alert Three Rivers of your plans. We are doing everything in our power to prevent the coronavirus from spreading on campus. If you plan on traveling abroad during spring break, we are asking for your cooperation in sharing your information with us. This will help us have the information necessary to protect the campus community. Call (860) 215-9011 with the following information. (Please be sure to spell out your name and email.):

  • Your Name
  • Email
  • Whether you are a Student, Faculty, or Staff
  • Destinations during your travel (Include all)
  • Departure and return date

A REMINDER TO TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS 

Wash your hands and avoid people who are sick. All students, faculty, and staff can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by regularly washing hands for at least 20 seconds. Handwashing is most effective. If using hand sanitizers, they must be made of at least 60% alcohol to be work against the corona virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. The CDC provides detailed information on Home Cleaning and Disinfection. The CDC site on Preventing COVID-19 spread in Communities is also extremely helpful.

Above all, please be careful and stay vigilant.

If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call (860) 215-9011.

Thank you.

Mary Ellen

Coronavirus Update

From President Mary Ellen Jukoski

March 4, 2020

Dear Students and Colleagues,

As the global COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak continues to intensify, I will be issuing updates via email on a regular basis to all Three Rivers students, faculty and staff. These updates will keep you informed on our planning here at Three Rivers and at CSCU (Connecticut State Colleges and Universities) for dealing with the possibility of it spreading to our community. We are taking every precaution to mitigate any potential impact on you and the campus.

Suspended Travel to Designated Countries

Last week, CSCU suspended institutionally sponsored travel to countries designated Level 2 or Level 3 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That list of countries now includes China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, and Japan, but that list is likely to grow in coming days and weeks.

Students, faculty, and staff returning from Level 2 or 3 nations, regardless of whether or not they are showing symptoms, will be required not to return to campus for a period of 14 days from when they arrive in the United States. During those 14 days, we are asking those returning to self-quarantine and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

Preventing the Spread of COVID-19

All students, faculty, and staff can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases by:

  • Hand Hygiene –
    • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using a restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. To learn more about proper handwashing, visit the CDC’s website, When and How to Wash Your Hands (CDC).
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with 60%-95% alcohol.
  • Respiratory Etiquette –
    • Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw it in the trash can.
  • For additional information, see attached pdf of the poster, Stop the Spread of Germs. Feel free to share this poster with others and to print it out. These posters have been placed in every bathroom in the main building on campus. If anyone needs additional posters for campus, please stop by the Marketing Office in Room C211.

If You Exhibit Flu-like Symptoms

Anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms is required to remain at home, and those who become sick during the day must go home. Here is the process that will be implemented by Friday of this week (3/6/20).

  • We will use the CDC definitions of flu or flu-like symptoms: Flu Symptoms & Complications (CDC)
  • In the event a student or employee arrives to work with flu or flu-like symptoms, they will be instructed by management to go home due to the symptoms they exhibited. They will be advised that they should see a health care provider as soon as possible.
  • Students
    • If a student is unable to self-transport home, staff members should direct them to the campus isolation room and notify Dean of Administrative Services Steve Goetchius at (860) 215-9002 or sgoetchius@threefdn.wpenginepowered.com. We will announce the location of the isolation room by the end of day Friday, March 6.
    • If they are diagnosed with the Coronavirus, we ask they contact (860) 215-9011 as soon as possible.
    • Students are not to return to campus until they are symptom-free.
    • The academic dean and faculty will work with the student to ensure a learning plan is in place. They are developing plans to access courses via Blackboard online. We will provide additional information when plans are finalized.
  • Employees
    • If an employee is diagnosed with the Coronavirus, we ask they inform their manager as soon as possible.
    • They will be instructed not to return to work until they are no longer symptomatic.
    • Employees are to use their accrued paid time off for this purpose (where applicable) unless they and their supervisor agree to a temporary telecommuting arrangement.

More details on this will be made available as soon as we receive them.

As you know, this is a new experience for all of us, but the health and welfare of our students, faculty and staff are our priority. As I stated earlier, we will keep you informed on a regular basis.

If you have questions or concerns, do not hesitate to call (860) 215-9011. We are working hard to ensure that we all have a safe working environment. Thank you.

Mary Ellen

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Disclaimer

Beginning March 2020, Connecticut along with the rest of the United States suffered the effects of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Day-to-day life as it existed before the pandemic changed drastically, and individuals and institutions adapted to new practices and behaviors. Normative actions now include wearing facial masks, maintaining social distance, and working and learning remotely. Learning about and adherence to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance has become a way of life. As we plan for the next academic year, so much is uncertain, including the continuing threat of COVID-19.

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) must adapt to meet this reality. Going forward, it is up to all of us – faculty, staff and students – to do our part to ensure our campus community stays as healthy and safe as possible. This is a shared responsibility, and every member of our community must adhere to national, state, and local health guidelines and requirements, and adhere to those measures Three Rivers Community College deems safe and appropriate for the campus. This will include social distancing, wearing masks or other facial coverings, not reporting to class or work if sick, and isolating when required.

Although Three Rivers Community College is readily developing a schedule of courses that include some in-class and on-ground instruction, no one knows what the future may hold. In the case of an outbreak of the coronavirus or other illness, the institutions reserve the right to adapt the format of any class to an entirely online/distance learning modality as public health conditions warrant. Such change will not result in any increase or decrease of tuition and fees. We all understand that tuition and fees are in exchange for learning, academic credit, and certain non-academic services regardless of whether taught on-ground, in a hybrid environment or entirely remotely.

Most important to CSCU and Three Rivers Community College is the health, safety and welfare of every member of its community. Yet, despite campus efforts to comply with health and safety guidelines, it is not possible to guarantee a disease free environment, or to guarantee that campuses will not close and return to an online-only learning environment. These are the realities of working and learning during a pandemic. If you choose to return to campus during the pandemic, you accept that you are willing to do your part to keep the campus safe and acknowledge that you may be required to complete your course work in a remote learning environment.

The Three Rivers Community College community is looking forward to welcoming you back.