FRCC COVID-19 Updates

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Covid-19 How FRCC is responding

Important Message from President Dorsey About COVID-19 - April 2

Many students have reached out to advisors and faculty with concerns about their ability to finish courses via remote access learning.  We want you to know that we have heard you.

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Quick Facts

  • Get answers to your Frequently Asked Questions in our FAQ section

  • President Andy Dorsey will be hosting a Webex Town Hall for students on Tuesday, April 7th at 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, April 8th at 2:00 p.m. You can click the link for each session when you’re ready to join the call. If you have issues connecting, visit the Webex Help Center or contact FRCC.covid19@frontrange.edu

  • Remote Access courses begin March 30, 2020; Student services will be available online

  • All campuses are temporarily closed as of Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. based on recent orders by local cities and counties, please check for updates on campus openings

  • Satisfactory (S) and Unsatisfactory (U) Grades will be available for the Spring 2020 semester only. The request for petition is forthcoming. 

  • Spring Graduations Ceremonies have been canceled; Alternative plans will be announced soon  

  • All questions regarding specific classes or courses should be directed to faculty or instructors. All other questions can be directed to FRCC.COVID19@FrontRange.edu

Transition to Remote Teaching and Learning 

Beginning March 30, 2020, classes on all campuses will resume, mostly using online learning or videoconferencing. We expect that classes will continue with remote access for the remainder of the semester, but will continue to evaluate the spread of the virus. Your instructor should be reaching out to you with specific plans, but please contact them if you have questions.  

Students in Concurrent Enrollment, or who are participating in Clinicals or Internships should reach out directly to their faculty or instructor. 

Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory grades

For this semester only, students have an option to request a grade of Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) instead of a letter grade.  Here is how it will work:

  • Faculty will grade courses with a letter grade just as they normally would.
  • Students are able to petition the registrar’s office to change the grade to an S or U. They can petition until 30 days after the end of the semester.
    • Neither Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grade counts toward GPA
    • The registrar will assign S grades for any letter grade of “C” or above.
    • Guarantee Transfer courses with an S grade will be transferable based on guidance from the Colorado Department of Higher Education
    • Courses with an S grade will still count toward graduation in all programs at FRCC, except in some health care programs.Please check with your advisor about these programs.

If you decide to petition for a S or U Grade, transcript will note that the S/U is in response to COVID-19. Once an S/U is assigned, the grade cannot be changed back to a letter grade.

The ”S” grade may be the right choice for many students, but not for all.  For some students, this type of change may affect tuition reimbursement from employers, VA Benefits or entrance into competitive programs. If you are aiming for competitive admissions program, you may not want to opt for S/U grades.This is an important conversation for you to have with your Pathways Advisor before making a final decision.

The request for petition is forthcoming. 

Events and Services

All campuses will be closed effective Wednesday, March 25, at 4:00 PM. This includes our testing centers. Campuses will remain closed through April 12, consistent with recent Denver and Boulder stay at home orders. 

Please note that many of our services have already moved online. This includes our Pathways Advisors, Financial Aid Advisors, our Registrar’s Office and many more. Please visit our website for contact information regarding individual offices.

All student affairs and external campus events will be canceled through April 17, 2020. This includes student life field trips, internal and external events and in-person New Student Orientation. All student club meetings and events will also be canceled.

Spring Graduation has been canceled. We are working on alternative ways to celebrate our graduates and we will announce those plans soon. 

FRCC Response FAQs

On campus, our cleaning teams are taking extra steps to disinfect high-touch areas, following the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and employing social distancing measure. We have also lengthened spring break for on campus students and transitioned to online courses as of March 30. All non-course related events are also cancelled until April 17, 2020. 
The College President works closely with college and campus leadership and the Community College of Colorado System to make decisions regarding closures and cancellations.

All campuses will close Wednesday, March 25, at 5:00 p.m. This includes our testing centers. All other services have moved to remote access.

Campuses will remain closed through April 12, consistent with recent Denver and Boulder stay at home orders. 

President Dorsey has shared the plans for movement of classes to the online environment.
College leadership are working on multiple plans to meet the needs of our communities.  The college has had no reported cases of COVID-19 and we are using this time to prepare for our transition to remote teaching and learning in an effort to mitigate any spread of the virus and ensure quality teaching and learning.
Your Online Course will continue as planned. CCC Online students do not traditionally have a Spring break and FRCC Online students are allowed to take the spring break of their home campus and will return to classes as usual after their spring break ends. 

We are still in conversation with school districts as they are each responding differently. Our high school partners are determining their respective responses to COVID-19. We encourage you to contact your high school to find out more about their decisions.

In an abundance of caution, we have decided to move most coursework online. Most courses will not have an on campus attendance option. All campuses are currently closed until April 12, 2020 and all coursework will take place remotely. 

Please contact your instructor to know what specific remote strategies your instructor will employ for their course.

Many of our student services can be taken care of online and on the phone. Please visit Frontrange.edu to contact the office you need.

All student affairs and external campus events will be cancelled through April 17, 2020. This includes student life field trips, internal and external events and in-person New Student Orientation. All student club meetings and events will also be cancelled.

We have not yet made a decision about our annual commencement ceremonies or pinnings yet. Please refer to our Website for updates

Your instructor will contact you with details.  We are handling each class on a case-by-case basis.  If your class meets on campus and you have health reason for not coming to campus, please work with your instructor or contact your dean of student affairs.

Your certification or your monthly payments is not expected to be affected by the transition to remote access courses. Please be aware that your individual enrollment will be what is reviewed once all decisions and adjustments are made, and we will work with you and provide any information that we can.

If you have questions about your specific circumstance, you can also contact the VA Education Call Center at: 1-888-442-4551 between 8 AM and 7 PM Eastern Time, Monday-Friday.

 COVID-19 FAQs

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China.

This is a rapidly evolving situation and the risk assessment may change daily. The latest updates are available on CDC’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) website.

The Colorado Department of Health reports 216 positive test results in Colorado, as of March 18, including:

  • Adams County: 10
  • Arapahoe County: 22
  • Denver County: 43
  • Boulder County: 7
  • Jefferson County: 25
  • Larimer County: 4
  • Weld County: 9

The CDC says older people and people with severe chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease should take special precautions.

 

Please continue to follow the CDC recommendations on how to prevent illness:

  • Clean your hands often: Wash your hands often with soap at water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with individuals who may be sick and put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
  • Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Make sure to throw used tissues in the trash and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with hand sanitizer.
  • Stay home if you're sick

Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.

Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

For more information about COVID-19, please reference the Center for Disease Controls and Prevention's Website. 

 

If you are feeling sick or worried that you may be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Call your doctor or medical provider immediately for advice. Do not come to campus. If you are going to be absent from work or class, please let your Faculty/Instructor or Supervisor know. 

Follow the protocol established by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment: 

  • If you have symptoms of COVID-19, first CALL a health care provider, clinic, or hospital. The provider will give you instructions on whether you need to be tested and on where to go to for care and testing. 
  • If instructed to seek care, follow the precautionary advice of the medical provider BEFORE going into any health facility.  
  • In order to be tested at the state’s community testing center, individuals must have an order from their provider (written or electronic) confirming they meet the testing criteria and need to be tested, and photo identification that matches the name on the provider’s order.

If you do test positive for the virus, please let the college know as soon as possible. You can contact your faculty or email us at FRCC.covid19@frontrange.edu.

 

FRCC COVID-19 Communications 

Messages from President Dorsey

Campus Hours
Effective March 25, 2020 at 4:00 PM

All campuses are closed

Resources

Our Offices of Student Life have compiled a list of resources, encompassing National, State and community resources. The document is live and will be updated regularly. 

Access the Resource Document Here

Emergency Student Success Grant

The FRCC Emergency Student Success Grant Program has existed for all currently registered FRCC Students. The grant is a one-time assistance during the students’ academic career at FRCC.

To help minimize the immediate critical needs of students impacted by COVID-19, we are focusing the fund to provide emergency support for various expenses to students who are affected by the current situation. Other examples include but are not limited to:  

  • Vehicle Repairs
  • Temporary housing assistance
  • Unforeseen medical expenses
  • Other Emergency Needs

Tuition, fees and books are not covered by the grant. High school students are not eligible.

APPLY NOW

303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 for answers in many languages, or email COHELP@RMPDC.org for answers in English.

Comcast is making changes to the Internet Essentials program in order to support students that may not have reliable access to the internet. Comcast is offering new customers 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service, which is normally available to all qualified low-income households for $9.95/month.

Find more information and see if you are qualified.

Get support from our Career Counselors and view available jobs and internship listings. 

Learn more about the COVID-19 Virus. 

We recognize public health emergencies can be stressful, so the CDC provided resources on mental health and coping during COVID-19. Unfortunately, the fear and anxiety can also lead to social stigma. That’s why the CDC also issued information about helping end coronavirus-related stigma and discrimination that is occurring toward groups of people including:

  • Persons of Asian descent
  • People who have traveled abroad or to states with coronavirus outbreaks
  • Emergency responders or healthcare professionals

We can all stop stigma and the spread of misinformation by knowing the facts about COVID-19 and sharing them with others.

We have compiled a collection of different food banks, pantry, and other opportunities for community members experiencing food insecurity. The resources listed below are from outside of Front Range Community College. We recommend calling or contacting each individual resource for the most up to date information on availability and hours. 

Our staff and faculty have put together a number of resources as we transition our courses to remote access learning. Don't forget to login to Desire2Learn for more resources.