NWC COVID-19 recap March 20, 2020

Posted: March 20, 2020

Greetings NWC Students,

We hope today sees you happy, healthy, and safe. Today’s message is a quick recap of this week’s COVID-19 announcements and updates and some new information:

Quick recap

• The College buildings are closed to the public through April 3, but we’re still operating digitally (email, phone, and online). Please call or email any office you need to during this temporary closure. Three main numbers for you:
  • Student Services: 307-754-6101
  • Academic Affairs: 307-754-6472
  • Business Office: 307-754-6048

We will communicate ASAP if the situation allows us to re-open our buildings to the public as planned on April 6 or if the closure will be extended.

• Spring semester classes are scheduled to resume April 6; faculty have converted classes to online instruction for the remainder of the semester, and students will be hearing from them with details on the new distance learning format (online, video conferencing). We are offering many enhanced support services to ensure students complete this semester - on time with limited incompletes and no withdrawals. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for the help you might need.

Financial questions

We are monitoring proposed federal legislation calling for financial support for Colleges and Universities, students, and employees. We are hopeful that these efforts will provide some much-needed relief during the course of this pandemic and its aftermath.

At an emergency meeting of the NWC Board last night, Trustees approved my recommendation to provide prorated refunds to students for residence hall charges and meal plans. Please watch your email for instruction from the NWC Housing office. If you have nowhere else to go, arrangements will be made to accommodate you.

Whatever it takes

We have had to act pretty quickly, and we want to acknowledge that things are not likely to be perfect as we move fully online with spring 2020 courses. This is an enormous shift for our campus, and I want to give a heartfelt thank you to all involved in the rapid transition to an online format that is still rigorous and engaging for our students.

We’re committed to helping our students to the spring 2020 finish line - whatever it takes.

Remember:

• read any communication from Northwest College thoroughly and completely; the answer you need may already be in the communication.
• if you have a question about specific classes, please email your instructor directly.
• if you have a question about work, please email your supervisor directly.
• if your questions are not urgent, we ask that you wait for further communication that may address your concerns (i.e. graduation).
• if you have an urgent question that you don’t know whom to send it to, please send it to COVID-19@nwc.edu
• continue to monitor your campus email and/or https://nwc.edu/covid-19 for future updates.

Please take care of your mental and physical health during this situation. Online coursework certainly has unique challenges, but abiding by the Governor’s order to close public places and maintain social distancing protocols is unprecedented.  The sooner we all do our part to flatten the curve of COVID-19, the sooner we will be able to return to business as usual.

Try to enjoy what remains of your extended spring break. Be well.

Stefani

Stefani Hicswa, Ph.D.