Previous Updates to campus regarding COVID-19
Durham Tech is continually monitoring updates from the CDC, the state health department, and the Durham County Department of Public Health to determine the best course of action for our students, faculty, and staff.
Here you will find the previous messages sent to the campus community.
View the most current updates to the College and its operations..
May 27: Message from Tom Jaynes, Executive Vice President
We at Durham Tech continue to plan and implement a gradual, phased plan to regain access to our campuses. Our goal is to use a phased, modular, and tightly controlled approach. While each campus presents unique challenges and opportunities, we will ensure and monitor a base level of compliance with national, state, and local environmental health and safety protocols.
Effective Monday, June 1, the College will implement Phase Two of our recovery plan. During this phase, the College will expand access to four campuses: Main Campus, Orange County Campus, Northern Durham Center, and Duke Street North for urgent face-to-face instruction, skills assessment, or student support for small numbers of students using social distancing protocols. Students who are eligible for access will be contacted by the College to discuss these opportunities. Our campuses will not be open to walk-in students or visitors during this phase. Student support services and all other instruction for our Summer Term will continue to operate online and remotely. Students who need assistance with specific support services should email or call the appropriate office for help.
We hope you will continue to use the Student Resources web page to learn about a variety of services that may be available and helpful to you during this time. Please continue to let us know how we can support your needs.
Thank you for your persistence through this time. Keep learning, keep connecting.
May 12: Message from Tom Jaynes, Executive Vice President
We at Durham Tech have been working thoughtfully to plan a gradual, phased plan to regain access to our campuses. Our overall goal is to start our recovery using a phased, modular, and tightly controlled approach. While each campus presents unique challenges and opportunities, we will ensure and monitor a base level of compliance with national, state, and local environmental health and safety protocols. The College's plan, effective Monday, May 18, includes Durham Tech’s comprehensive strategies for the first phase of transitioning college operations back to our campuses. To begin this transition, the College will provide limited access to Main Campus and Orange County Campus for urgent face-to-face instruction or skills assessment for small numbers of students in programs that are considered critical to responding to the event and recommended by the North Carolina Community College System Office. Students who are eligible for access will be contacted by the College to discuss these opportunities.
We understand that some of you will need to continue to have access to our support services during this new phase. Please continue to use the Student Resources section on our Coronavirus Response web page to find information about a variety of services that may be available and helpful to you during this time. Please let us know how we can support you.
Thank you for your persistence through this time. Keep learning, keep connecting.
From April 23
Durham Tech Community,
I can hardly believe that only a few short weeks ago we were preparing for our annual Spring Fling on campus. Our nursing students were making plans for their pinning ceremonies. Our second class of Electrical Line Technicians were ready to graduate and enter the workforce. Our honorary societies were getting ready for their annual induction ceremonies. And we were starting preparations for Durham Tech’s 59th Commencement.
It is remarkable how quickly everything around us has changed in those few short weeks. Since then we, like almost every other college and university across nation, extended our spring break to help faculty prepare for the conversion to an online delivery format. That transition was daunting, but quite successful. Of the over 500 credit course sections on our spring semester schedule, we were able to convert all but about 25 to entirely online. We have temporarily suspended instruction in those classes and will be giving students an Emergency-Incomplete grade until they can complete the course.
In addition to the transition to online learning, we are now operating largely as a virtual college, with everything from advising and registration to tutoring and counseling available online. Access to campus is currently limited to a small number of essential campus police and public safety officers, information technology and facilities services staff, and employees in our financial services area. Everyone else (including yours truly) is teleworking.
As challenging as the transition to an online format has been for our faculty and staff, we know it has been overwhelming for many of our students. But thanks to the support of the Durham Tech Foundation, we have been able to distribute over 150 computers to students who did not have access to a computer in their homes. And several of our community organizations have partnered with the College to provide technology resources for students, including a grant from Coastal Credit Union to purchase additional computers for students for the upcoming summer term. We also assisted more than 50 students in getting free home access to the Internet. We have modified our grading policies to help ensure our students are not penalized academically for the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
We will be receiving about $1.4 million in student aid from the recently enacted CARES Act and are developing a process to distribute those funds to those in greatest need. And we also are working with partners to help offer our students with other supports. We have been providing our regular patrons of the Campus Harvest Food Pantry with gift cards from Food Lion and just this week have entered into an agreement with the Durham County Extension Service to make direct food deliveries and hot meals to students. We have also donated personal protective equipment from the programs in our Health and Wellness department to the UNC Health System and to Duke Health.
Unfortunately, we know that many of our students may still be overwhelmed by the turmoil caused by the pandemic, causing them to withdraw from classes. The College is currently investigating several options in order to enable those students to re-enroll at no additional cost when their lives are more settled.
While we plan to operate as an online institution for the summer term, we plan to reopen parts of campus for face-to-face instruction later this fall. And while we have had to cancel many of the celebratory events we had discussed in our meeting, we still hope to hold a live commencement for the students in the Class of 2020.
I am grateful for the outstanding work of our faculty and staff throughout this event. Every day I am reminded of their dedication, resilience, and creativity in serving our students and our community throughout the most challenging times.
President Bill Ingram
From March 26:
Message from President Ingram: Welcome Back and Keep Learning
Greetings from the President,
We at Durham Tech have been working diligently to prepare for the transition to an online learning environment for you. We look forward to your return to the College by way of remote instruction the week of March 30.
As you may have seen, Durham Mayor Steve Schewel made an emergency declaration yesterday that includes a Stay-at-Home order for Durham residents. The order will go into effect on Thursday, March 26, at 6 p.m., and will remain in effect until April 30. You can read the full statement on the City’s website. A similar order for Orange County has been declared for residents of Orange County, effective Friday, March 27, at 6 p.m.
In compliance with those orders, no student will be able to come to Main Campus, our Orange County Campus, or any other college facility at this time. We understand that some of you may face challenges accessing technology and will need to continue to have access to our support services, so we have put together a Student Resources section on our Coronavirus Response web page with information about a variety of services that may be available and helpful to you during this time. Don’t be shy about asking for help.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and welcome back to Durham Tech.
Be safe, and keep learning,
President Bill Ingram
From March 25:
Message from President Ingram on Durham's Stay-At-Home Order
Durham Tech Community,
As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Durham, the City of Durham has announced a Stay-at-Home order for residents. The order will go into effect on Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 a.m. and will remain in effect until April 30.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel announced the order Wednesday morning during a press conference at City Hall. The order will require residents to remain at their homes until April 30 as part of an attempt to reduce the number of new COVID-19 infections in Durham.
Read the full statement on the City’s website.
During this time, Durham Tech remote instruction will continue, starting as scheduled on March 30. The College remains open, but campus is restricted to essential employees only.
In recent weeks, we have implemented a number of measures, including teleworking and remote instruction, as a part of the guidance of local and state officials in the fight against COVID-19. We believe we are positioned to respond quickly to the City’s order and we will continue to review the order in detail to determine if additional changes are needed.
For more information:
• Review the Stay-at-Home order for residents
• Review the City of Durham Stay-At-Home Order FAQs
• Visit the Coronavirus Response web page for all Durham Tech updates on COVID-19
Please continue to be safe and keep learning.
President Bill Ingram
From March 15:
Durham Tech has closed all campuses and locations effective immediately, due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). All classes, including online classes, are canceled through March 29. Beginning March 30, the majority of in-person classes will shift to remote instruction.
From March 13:
Durham Tech to reduce in-person classes next week, begin remote instruction March 23
Due to the seriousness of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Durham Tech is taking immediate actions to reduce the exposure for our campus community for the week of March 16 and will temporarily move the majority of in-person classes to a remote, online format starting March 23. The steps are consistent with mitigation guidance announced by Governor Cooper on March 10, 2020.
All campuses and locations will remain open and operational at this time, but we will take precautionary measures to limit exposure and follow guidelines for social distancing. We will continue to monitor and reevaluate the progression of COVID-19 and will announce an update on the continuation of remote instruction by April 5.
In our efforts to maximize the safety of our students, faculty, and staff during this time, we will continue to follow guidance from the Durham County Department of Public Health and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
For the week of March 16, Durham Tech will operate with the following changes:
• All Mini Semester II courses will meet next week as scheduled;
• Online courses – credit and non-credit – will meet as scheduled;
• Basic Skills classes will meet as scheduled;
• Clinical and Work-Based Learning - specific details below;
• All other courses – credit or non-credit (seated/hybrid/blended) – will not meet.
Beginning March 23, Durham Tech will operate under the following changes:
• Majority of courses will move to online instruction;
• The College will notify all students about modifications to courses by March 22.
Resources and support will be provided to faculty and staff the week of March 16 preparing for full transition to online courses and services. Employees should plan to report to work on Monday, March 16.
While we request students to limit visits to campus as much as possible, we do understand that some students will need access to resources, including computer labs and libraries. Therefore, the College’s campuses and locations will remain open and operational for the foreseeable future.
High School Students
Durham Public Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have implemented closures and teacher work-days to reduce exposure during the COVID-19 response period. Please check the district websites for more information.
Middle College High School students with questions may contact the school at 919-536-7203 or email Rosalinda Silva at Rosalinda.Silva@dpsnc.net.
Dual-enrolled students participating in the Career and College Promise program should follow the same guidelines as traditional College students.
Clinicals, Fieldwork, Testing, and Work-Based Learning (For the week of March 16)
Clinicals, fieldwork, and work-based learning will continue unless the site has been closed to students.
Students will receive specific information from their instructor, clinical coordinator, or program director. Some programs may have specific requirements for students involved in lab or proctored examinations that may require students to return to campus. Students must adhere to those requirements as outlined by their dean or department head.
Monitoring Symptoms
Anyone who is symptomatic should not come to campus (or clinical or work-based learning sites) and must contact their instructor or supervisor immediately. Anyone who believes they may have Coronavirus (COVID-19) should immediately contact their healthcare provider.
Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure.
Teleworking
Employees should plan to report to work on Monday, March 16. The College will identify and make technical arrangements for work assignments that can be completed remotely, recognizing certain services must be provided in person. Accordingly, select offices will remain open for essential operations and student and employee support. Assignments for teleworking will be finalized by March 20. Arrangements that significantly impact current operation workflows must be approved by the appropriate division head.
College Events and Activities
The College recognizes there is considerable concern and uncertainty about events that are scheduled to take place on-campus for the rest of the academic year.
Effective immediately, the College is postponing, cancelling, or virtualizing any College-sponsored in-person event for the remainder of the academic semester.
Deans and division heads, please consider the events scheduled by your departments and instruct the event coordinators to make arrangements for postponing or cancelling the event. Event coordinators must also notify any on-campus support staff (i.e. ITS, Facility Services, Marketing and Communications, Campus Police and Public Safety, etc.) that were involved in the planning and preparation of the cancellation.
At this time, Commencement is still scheduled to be held on Thursday, May 14.
College Meetings
College employees should consider virtualizing or teleconferencing meetings with colleagues to reduce person-to-person interactions for the remainder of the semester.
The College will send additional information regarding resources and support next week for transitioning to online instruction.
For all classes and meetings, we urge faculty, staff, and students to remind each other of good hygiene practices; to practice social distancing; to voluntarily remove yourself from the event if you are not feeling well; and to make accommodations for ill or self-quarantined individuals. We will continue to assess our policies to address changing circumstances, including a potential extension of the April 5 deadline.
For all meetings, regardless of the size, please follow these precautions:
-- Encourage handwashing and hand sanitizing.
-- Advise your attendees about these precautions.
-- Urge anyone who feels ill to stay home and to participate online if possible.
From March 11:
A Message from President Ingram on Coronavirus Response (COVID-19)
Read the updated message from President Ingram.
From March 10:
Update: The State of North Carolina announced a State of Emergency on Tuesday, March 10, as state leaders continue to manage the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-10). This web page will be updated as the situation develops.
Absences
- All course work missed due to an absence related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) must be made up. Students who miss class time due to COVID-19 are required to immediately reach out to their instructor. The instructor, in consultation with the student, will identify a deadline for submission of the work that is appropriate to the requirements of the class.
- Students who miss clinical, fieldwork, or work-based learning work as a part of their program are expected to complete the missed work. Students should contact their instructors with any questions.
- If a Durham Tech-affiliated clinical, fieldwork, or work-based learning facility or organization closes due to COVID-19 response, the instructor will reach out to students who are impacted and will communicate the appropriate next steps for continued curriculum.
- Employees who miss time due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) must immediately notify and consult with their supervisor on continuity plans.
Travel
- Students, faculty, and staff returning from Level 3 or Level 2 countries will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days off campus effective immediately. This includes China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan.
- The College is restricting College-affiliated travel to locations outside of North Carolina.
- Personal travel to areas outside of North Carolina is strongly discouraged.
- Due to the high-level of transmission for COVID-19, anyone who travels to the following areas should self-monitor for symptoms for a period of 14 days: the cities of Austin and San Antonio in Texas, and the states of California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah and Washington.
Durham Tech will continue to monitor updates from the CDC, the state health department, and the Durham County Department of Public Health, and will use their guidance and recommendations.