Posted: April 30, 2020
Good morning everyone,
Hope this message finds you all in good spirits and health, working hard towards wrapping up the spring 2020 semester successfully. You’ve shown resiliency and heart through the duration of this pandemic so far; I’ve never been prouder of this Trapper family and our ability to pull together for our students and for each other. Let me extend my gratitude to you today and every day. You are what makes Northwest College such an extraordinary place.
Here are the latest updates:
Campus Closure
To minimize the risk to our community and do our part to avert potential clusters of new COVID cases, Northwest College is extending the closure of our campus buildings through May 31. We will continue our current practices of telework, event cancelations/modifications, travel restrictions, and social distancing practices until further notice. We will use this time to assess and strategize a transition plan for re-opening campus, in consultation with Park County Health officials. Expect transition to be gradual and to include incremental steps; this is a marathon, not a sprint.
As you may know, Governor Gordon announced this week that effective May 1, as part of a phased approach designed to minimize public health risk from COVID-19, modified public health orders will allow gyms, barber shops, hair salons and other personal care services to reopen under specific operating conditions, including easing the restrictions on daycares. We are currently reviewing options for reopening the Johnson Fitness Center and the Children’s Learning and Care Center. Details will be provided in a future communication.
Academics
Online and remote instruction will continue through the summer 2020 semester (June 8 - July 22); robust online support services will remain in place. We do not know what fall semester will look like yet; we are diligently planning for multiple contingencies and will communicate details as soon as we know more.
Enrollment Services
New Student Registration events will be going virtual; dates will be announced on the website soon. Our Big Horn Basin high school registration events will begin on Monday, May 4, and go through Friday May 15. Calling, texting, email, and mail campaigns are ongoing.
Commencement 2020
A reminder that our virtual commencement ceremony will be taking place the evening of Friday, May 15, at 7 p.m. Streaming options will be posted at https://nwc.edu/celebrate2020. The planning and testing of components for the virtual commencement ceremony are happening as I write this. Faculty and staff who would like to participate in the Zoom portion of the ceremony, in regalia alongside our students, will be provided the Zoom link in a future communication
We know that not being able to hold a live commencement ceremony this spring is very disappointing for our students who have come so far, so let’s try to make it as special for them as we can. The graduation committee would love to include an intro slideshow of faculty and staff photos to kick off the virtual ceremony. Please consider taking a photo of yourself, in regalia or not, holding up a “Congratulations graduates!” or “Well done, Trappers” type sign. You can post to your own social media using the hashtag #NWCgrad2020 (public posts only) or submit photos to social@nwc.edu by May 8 for inclusion.
I appreciate your dedication and patience as we wade through these waters together. We want to be responsible and respectful citizens in doing our part to limit the spread of the virus within our community. A careful, incremental plan for re-opening is a key part of that. The health and safety of you and your family are paramount; take care of yourselves and each other. We will get through this together.
Stefani Hicswa, Ph.D.