Colorado Mountain College to extend spring break, then hold credit classes via distance learning
Noncredit classes and on-campus events canceled
El Colorado Mountain College extenderá las vacaciones de primavera y luego impartirá clases de crédito a través del aprendizaje a distancia
Clases sin créditos y eventos en el campus cancelados
March 12, 2020
In taking precautions against the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), effective immediately, Colorado Mountain College is temporarily changing operations for all campuses and locations. These changes will affect all credit and non-credit students, as well as community members and employees.
- For students only, spring break will be extended by one week, through March 20, 2020.
- Beginning March 23, all credit, English as a second language and GED/HSE classes will move to an online or WebEx environment for a period of three weeks, or through April 12, 2020. In early April, the college will determine whether to return to a face-to-face environment beginning April 13, or continue in a remote environment through to the end of the semester.
- Effective immediately, all non-credit (community education) courses will be canceled for their duration and prorated refunds will be provided. Non-credit courses set to begin between now and April 12 are canceled, and students will be fully refunded. Non-credit courses scheduled to begin after April 12 will be subject to future determination as to whether they will run or be canceled.
- The campuses and residence halls remain open at this time and residents can stay in their rooms. Dining services will resume on Sunday evening, March 15. However, the college encourages students, who are able, to stay elsewhere and not return to campus until face-to-face classes resume.
“We believe this temporary change in our operations is in the best interest of our students, our employees and our community members,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, CMC president and CEO.
During this time, buildings will remain open to faculty, staff and students only. However, regular class sessions will not be delivered. Access to CMC facilities will be for business purposes only, such as work or to access technology/internet or to use the library. Faculty may use their regularly scheduled classrooms for purposes of accessing/using computing equipment, but students should not attend any classes in person. Faculty should continue to offer regular office hours, but in a distance format (Webex, telephonic, online, etc).
From March 12 to April 12, campuses will be closed to members of the public, including groups with planned events on campus. Campuses will reschedule the meetings or refund meeting costs.
“Wednesday night, Governor Polis issued a statement concerning institutions of higher education, and our responsibility to help control the spread of COVID-19,” said Hauser. “We believe offering credit classes via distance learning, while providing support for students who need access to online courses or to their housing, is the responsible choice to make.”
“We will continue to monitor conditions in Colorado and in our communities,” said Dr. Matt Gianneschi, CMC’s chief operating officer and chief of staff. “All campus leaders have been in contact with county health officials, and college leadership is in regular communication with departments at the state level. If conditions change locally or at the state level, we will be ready to act.”
“Making this decision was not easy, but, in an abundance of caution and to ensure that the college does not escalate conditions in our communities or among our local health providers, we felt it was the right decision at this time,” said Hauser. “We are hopeful that normal operations will return shortly, but we will nonetheless remain cautious and attentive to changing conditions.”
More information about the college’s response to the COVID-19 virus, including communications from President Hauser and frequently asked questions, can be found at https://coloradomtn.edu/covid19/.
