Summer Courses, Chromebook Loans + Coping with Stress
Good afternoon, Comets!
I cannot thank you enough for the cheerfully industrious way you’ve all met the challenges of the last few weeks. I know I say that every update, but that’s because it grows more true each day. I know It isn’t always easy, but you have really come through for your students. Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it is done!. Well you all did it and are continuing to make the impossible possible for each other and our students.
REMOTE INSTRUCTION
On Wednesday, the district formally announced that remote instruction will continue for the remainder of the semester. The path forward for especially hard-to-convert courses is still being determined.
All Summer classes will be delivered via remote instruction. We are also preparing some in-person courses to be added as late-start classes if the shelter-in-place orders are lifted.
Student services will continue to operate remotely until the shelter-in-place orders are modified or canceled.
And, all students will now have the option of choosing P/NP grading for all classes, and the late withdrawal deadline has been extended to May 15th. Please urge students to speak with a counselor before they make a decision about grading or withdrawal. Every student’s situation is unique.
Please review the attached email for a more detailed explanation of where things stand.
LAPTOP LOAN PROGRAM
The additional Chromebooks purchased by the CCC Foundation have arrived so we are making available to students for checkout by mail starting next week. Please refer any students in need via the loan referral form. Thanks to everyone at the foundation, in IT and in the library for helping to make this happen. This has already been a real lifesaver for dozens of students. With this expansion, we should be able to help three times as many stay in school!
COVID-19 RESOURCES
The county information hub has been updated to include a number of resources, including a brief coping guide and instructions for DIY face masks, which I have attached to this email.
SOCIAL MEDIA
It’s important to show students, prospective students and the community that learning is still happening, and that we are still actively engaged in this semester. If you’re an instructor, we would love some screencaps of what you’re doing in class. And, if you’re in student services, we’d love to see how you work from your home office. Students can find content like this reassuring, charming and very encouraging. Please email your photos and screencaps to Larry at lwomack@contracosta.edu. He’ll post them on social media. If you include students, please just make sure they’re over 18 and include their written permission for use.