Message from the PRESIDENT/CEO
March 19, 2020
Campus Community,
I wanted to provide you with an update on Compton College in terms of COVID-19. The Compton CCD Pandemic Outbreak - Emergency Operations Plan guides our response to the possible scenarios that may occur as the COVID-19 situation progresses. As of March 18, 2020, 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, the California Department of Health reports there are a total of 675 positive cases and 16 deaths in California (including one non-California resident). For more information, go to www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.
Compton CCD is now operating at Level Three - Moderate Infection Rate. Recent confirmed case(s) of a community member, and/or family member of student, staff, or faculty within the county. Today, the Compton College Pandemic Coordinators and members of the President/CEO Cabinet met, and below are some updates:
1. At the March 17, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the transfer of $500,000 from the Worker's Compensation Fund to the Property and Liability Self-Insurance Fund to support expenditures associated with the implementation of the Compton Community College District Proactive Emergency Operations Plan - Pandemic Outbreak. Included in the budget is funding for Maintenance and Operation Department supplies, new equipment (laptops for employees who are telecommuting and students); contract services; faculty overload and staff overtime; postage; printing, and food.
Next week, we will receive the 325 laptop computers that will be available for loan to Compton College students this semester. The Student Services Division has established the process for the laptop loan program, our goal is to distribute the first set of 100 laptops on Monday, March 30, 2020, to eligible students.
2. Today, March 19, 2020, based on the Academic Senate's recommendation, we updated Administrative Regulation 4320 - Grading and Academic Record Symbols to include Excused Withdrawal (EW), which can be submitted by a student at any point in the semester or after the semester has been completed. The Excused Withdrawal Petition is available online here for Compton College students.
3. My first decision associated with the state of emergency was to move our campus to a telecommuting campus on Friday, March 20, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. through April 17, 2020. The following Departments' last day on campus and transition to telecommuting has been determined.
a. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 - Institutional Effectiveness, EOPS/CARE, and CalWORKs
b. Thursday, March 19, 2020 - Special Resource Center, Counseling Department, Guided
Pathways – Student Services Advisors, Educational Partnerships, Child Development
Center, and Athletics
c Friday, March 20, 2020 - All remaining Compton College departments.
Several essential functions will need to be completed on-campus during the next couple of weeks, and the schedule for offices and departments responsible for those functions is available here. Please note, we will ensure employees working onsite will abide by social distancing guidelines. We will also be re-examining the essential functions in light of this evening's Executive Order from Governor Newsom and the Los Angeles County Safer at Home Order for Control of COVID-19 Order.
4.Tomorrow, March 20, 2020, we will make a final decision on specific courses, such as labs and physical education courses, that cannot be conducted online and must be taught on campus, in-person. I appreciate all the creative input from faculty and staff regarding these courses.
5. Just a friendly reminder, all webpages should be updated by 4 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2020, to reflect the days the campus will be closed: Saturday, March 21 through Friday, April 17, 2020. If applicable, remind students to check their @compton emails regularly and to use
the new Cranium Cafe chat cards if available, to contact individual offices and departments.
Compton College COVID-19 Updates
Please visit the Compton College COVID-19 webpage here for updates.
If you are experiencing distress or anxiety due to the current circumstances, please
contact the Employee Assistance Program at (800) 531-0200. We will continue to work
through many issues and concerns as it relates to COVID-19.
Final Thoughts
As I write this message, I cannot imagine what you and your family are going through during these times. We all have been putting in extra hours the past couple of weeks to meet the needs of our students as we make this transition to alternative academic and student support services methods. For me during this time, I have been thinking about my grandmother, my mother, and my father. I haven’t been able to see them for the past couple of weeks. I think about Kamilo Ali Curry, and how last month he gave me a lecture about COVID-19 and the importance of washing our hands. I have been thinking a lot about the passing of Joyce Duren and how the EOPS/CARE staff are dealing with grief. This has been a roller coaster of emotions the last couple of weeks, however, I have had to stay focused as your leader and make decisions that are in the best interest of our institution.
We can celebrate our many accomplishments as an institution, however being involved in our response to COVID-19, and seeing everyone pull together for the best interest our students should be commended. I wish to thank you, and please take care of yourself and your family.
Sincerely,
Keith Curry, Ed.D.
(preferred pronouns: he/him/his)
President/CEO
Compton College
