Employee Message July 14, 2021

 

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Dear Employees:

Wow!  Fall 2021 is just around the corner.  This past year has been a long, difficult, and disruptive period with COVID-19 as well as the “snow-VID” event.   Some of you wondered what would be next.  You have been patient, resilient, and particularly resourceful.   We have already begun  moving forward to our next chapter.  That does not mean the waters won’t be choppy at times, but we will together weather any storm and we will continue to do great things for our students and our community.  Thanks for your incredible persistence.

Reflecting on this past year, I remember the first weeks in March and April 2020 as being very scary with the uncertainty of everything.   Some thoughts come to mind:

  • In the beginning, we asked how will employees and students complete the Spring 2020 semester?  Our faculty and staff tackled preparation in an amazing way as courses transitioned on-line, and services like tutoring, advising, counseling, etc. did as well.  Who can do that?  Our employees can. Our students also worked very diligently to complete more than they ever imagined in the COVID-19 environment and also in “snow-VID.”  You have been a huge part of their success and also in helping each other.  There have been challenges, and you have responded.   The Human Resources Office is available to help and explain what resources are available to employees.
  • Now, we are ready to begin the Fall 2021 semester, and this will be our first semester since we began Spring 2020 with an expectation that campus will begin a semester in a somewhat normal environment.  Our plan and hope is to see many more students on-campus enrolled in more face-to-face offerings.  There should be more students on campus seeking assistance, while you are using your new Zoom tools to continue virtual support.

Below is a recap of our plans based upon our current knowledge of the COVID situation: 

  • Capacity: McLennan Community College facilities will be at 100% capacity indoors and outdoors. This includes all campus facilities and athletic venues such as the MCC Conference Center, the Highlands, and all campus areas.
  • Classrooms: We will return to our in-person instructional modes with no social distancing or masks/face coverings required in classrooms.  Students will have options for fully-face to face, blended, and online classes.  
  • Student and employee experiences: We will return to normal, in-person experiences, such as campus employee and student events—the picnic, student organizations, and recognition ceremonies.   
  • Masks/face coverings: Masks/face coverings are no longer required on campus. However, we do recommend that those who are unvaccinated wear a face covering indoors, as well as individuals working within labs and other settings that require this level of protection.
  •  Other COVID-19 Protocols: 
  • Plexiglass:  Plexiglass may remain up and in place; however, plexiglass is not required.
  • Hand sanitizer and wipes:  We will continue to encourage the use of hand

sanitizer and wipes in all buildings.

  • Self-reporting portal:  We will continue to require self-reporting for all students and employees.    Self-reporting portal
  • Contact tracing:  We will also continue contact tracing until further notice.
  • Leave Options:  Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have offered two leave options, which were in excess of the federal requirement.  As a reminder, effective May 19, 2021 the Emergency Sick Leave and Emergency Personal Leave (F-1-D, 11) were both suspended. 
  • Vaccinations: COVID-19 vaccinations for students or employees are not required. However, to keep COVID-19 at bay on our campus, I continue to strongly encourage vaccination, which protects against severe illness and exempts you from quarantining if exposed to a positive case -- which we know is very disruptive to the classroom as well as the rest of life.
  • If you have not been vaccinated yet, we will be offering a free vaccination clinic on campus August 25, 2021.  If you are not able to make that date, you can find a vaccine site at vaccines.gov.  There will be more specific information about our vaccination clinic as we get closer to the date of the clinic.
  • It is important to remember to be respectful of the differing opinions about vaccinations.  As we navigate the remainder of the Summer and enter the Fall semester, we want to continue to be positive and courteous in the way we interact with each other and with students.

This has been a very long message, but I want to be sure everyone is informed, and I will continue to keep you updated of any changes.  Please know that your McLennan Community College family cares.  Fall 2021 may still test you in numerous ways.  My challenge to employees is to be self-aware as you encounter struggles and also to assist students as you encounter those with needs.  Let’s all stay healthy and well physically and emotionally.