[BLC] FW: COVID-19 Update

[Carli Schiffner]

From: John Boesenberg <jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2020 10:25 AM
To: Grant Rodeheaver <grodeheaver at sbctc.edu>; Carli Schiffner <cschiffner at sbctc.edu>; Laura McDowell <lmcdowell at sbctc.edu>
Subject: FW: COVID-19 Update

Please forward the message to Commission members.  This includes PIC, Student Svs., Instruction, Research, IT, HR, BAC.    Let me know if I missed a Commission or if you have questions.

John Boesenberg, Deputy Executive Director
Business Operations
360-704-4303; jboesenberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>

From: John Boesenberg
Sent: Monday, March 9, 2020 3:55 PM
To: Amit Singh (amit.singh at edcc.edu<mailto:amit.singh at edcc.edu>) <amit.singh at edcc.edu<mailto:amit.singh at edcc.edu>>; Amy Morrison (amy.morrison at lwtech.edu<mailto:amy.morrison at lwtech.edu>) <amy.morrison at lwtech.edu<mailto:amy.morrison at lwtech.edu>>; Arlen Harris <aharris at sbctc.edu<mailto:aharris at sbctc.edu>>; Beth Gordon <bgordon at sbctc.edu<mailto:bgordon at sbctc.edu>>; Bob Mohrbacher - Centralia (bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu<mailto:bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu>) <bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu<mailto:bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu>>; Carli Schiffner <cschiffner at sbctc.edu<mailto:cschiffner at sbctc.edu>>; Chad Hickox (chad.hickox at wwcc.edu<mailto:chad.hickox at wwcc.edu>) <chad.hickox at wwcc.edu<mailto:chad.hickox at wwcc.edu>>; Cherie Berthon <cberthon at sbctc.edu<mailto:cberthon at sbctc.edu>>; Cheryl Roberts <cheryl.roberts at shoreline.edu<mailto:cheryl.roberts at shoreline.edu>>; Chris Bailey (cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu>) <cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu>>; Christine Johnson (christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu>) <christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu>>; Daria Willis (dwillis at everettcc.edu<mailto:dwillis at everettcc.edu>) <dwillis at everettcc.edu<mailto:dwillis at everettcc.edu>>; Darrell Cain - Pierce Puyallup (dcain at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:dcain at pierce.ctc.edu>) <dcain at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:dcain at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Eric Murray (emurray at cascadia.edu<mailto:emurray at cascadia.edu>) <emurray at cascadia.edu<mailto:emurray at cascadia.edu>>; Grant Rodeheaver <grodeheaver at sbctc.edu<mailto:grodeheaver at sbctc.edu>>; Ivan Harrell (iharrell at tacomacc.edu<mailto:iharrell at tacomacc.edu>) <iharrell at tacomacc.edu<mailto:iharrell at tacomacc.edu>>; Jan Yoshiwara <jyoshiwara at sbctc.edu<mailto:jyoshiwara at sbctc.edu>>; Jim Minkler (jim.minkler at ghc.edu<mailto:jim.minkler at ghc.edu>) <jim.minkler at ghc.edu<mailto:jim.minkler at ghc.edu>>; Jim Richardson (jrichardson at wvc.edu<mailto:jrichardson at wvc.edu>) <Jrichardson at wvc.edu<mailto:Jrichardson at wvc.edu>>; John Boesenberg <jboesenberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>>; John Mosby (jmosby at highline.edu<mailto:jmosby at highline.edu>) <jmosby at highline.edu<mailto:jmosby at highline.edu>>; Joyce Loveday (joyce.loveday at cptc.edu<mailto:joyce.loveday at cptc.edu>) <joyce.loveday at cptc.edu<mailto:joyce.loveday at cptc.edu>>; Julie Walter <jwalter at sbctc.edu<mailto:jwalter at sbctc.edu>>; Julie White - Pierce College Fort Steilacoom (juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu>) <juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Kathi Hiyane-Brown (khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu<mailto:khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu>) <khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu<mailto:khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu>>; Kevin Brockbank (Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu>) <Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu>>; Kevin McCarthy (kmccarthy at rtc.edu<mailto:kmccarthy at rtc.edu>) <kmccarthy at rtc.edu<mailto:kmccarthy at rtc.edu>>; Kim Perry - Bellingham Tech (kperry at btc.edu<mailto:kperry at btc.edu>) <kperry at btc.edu<mailto:kperry at btc.edu>>; Kim Tanaka <ktanaka at sbctc.edu<mailto:ktanaka at sbctc.edu>>; Kimberlee Messina (Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu>) <Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu>>; Kristen Jones (kristen.jones at bellevuecolleg.edu<mailto:kristen.jones at bellevuecolleg.edu>) <kristen.jones at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:kristen.jones at bellevuecollege.edu>>; Laura McDowell <lmcdowell at sbctc.edu<mailto:lmcdowell at sbctc.edu>>; Lin Zhou - Bates <lzhou at batestech.edu<mailto:lzhou at batestech.edu>>; Linda Kaminski <lkaminski at yvcc.edu<mailto:lkaminski at yvcc.edu>>; Luke Robins (lrobins at pencol.edu<mailto:lrobins at pencol.edu>) <lrobins at pencol.edu<mailto:lrobins at pencol.edu>>; Marty Cavalluzzi - Olympic <mcavalluzzi at olympic.edu<mailto:mcavalluzzi at olympic.edu>>; Michele Johnson <mjohnson at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:mjohnson at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Rebekah Woods (rwoods at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:rwoods at columbiabasin.edu>) <rwoods at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:rwoods at columbiabasin.edu>>; Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap - South Seattle (Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu>) <Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Sandra Fowler-Hill (sfowler-hill at clark.edu<mailto:sfowler-hill at clark.edu>) <sfowler-hill at clark.edu<mailto:sfowler-hill at clark.edu>>; Sheila Edwards Lange - Seattle Central (Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu>) <Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Shouan Pan (shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu>) <shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Suzanne Johnson (sjohnson at greenriver.edu<mailto:sjohnson at greenriver.edu>) <sjohnson at greenriver.edu<mailto:sjohnson at greenriver.edu>>; Terry Leas (terryl at bigbend.edu<mailto:terryl at bigbend.edu>) <terryl at bigbend.edu<mailto:terryl at bigbend.edu>>; Tim Stokes (tstokes at spscc.edu<mailto:tstokes at spscc.edu>) <tstokes at spscc.edu<mailto:tstokes at spscc.edu>>; Tom Keegan (thomas.keegan at skagit.edu<mailto:thomas.keegan at skagit.edu>) <thomas.keegan at skagit.edu<mailto:thomas.keegan at skagit.edu>>; Warren Brown (warren.brown at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:warren.brown at seattlecolleges.edu>) <warren.brown at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:warren.brown at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Wayne Doty <wdoty at sbctc.edu<mailto:wdoty at sbctc.edu>>
Cc: Katie Rose <krose at sbctc.edu<mailto:krose at sbctc.edu>>
Subject: COVID-19 Update

The message is being sent via the WACTC listserv on March 9, 2020.  It is our intent to forward it through the Commission listservs tomorrow.  New information that was not included in the call this morning has been added in red.  Please let me know if you have concerns.

As discussed during  the WACTC conference call on Friday (March 6, 2020), this message is a summary of new information and activities related to COVID-19.  Many of the items listed below were discussed during this morning's briefing.


  *   General Information:
     *   The State Board has consolidated information about COVID-19 closures, messages to campus, FAQ and resources webpages, communications plans, and remote attendance guidance in Google Drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PnHhItWpvNhUhhxrCq5LSzxjenmVS5nw.  It is our intent to use this location as the primary vehicle for communicating COVID-19 information.  These e-mails will alert readers to new information, with the details posted to this site.
     *   Governor Inslee appeared on the CBS show "Face the Nation" indicating that officials are considering mandatory measures for social distancing as part of Washington State's efforts to combat the outbreak.  Colleges were advised to take a look at LWIT's experience and plans and think about trying to end winter quarter early and potentially starting spring quarter late - through tightening up schedules, compressing courses, etc.  College leadership should also ensure awareness of events, activities that they are hosting or sending employees to.
  *   Insurance:
     *   DES has indicated that all state agencies/institutions are covered for tort claims that may arise should a student/staff member allege that he/she contracted the coronavirus at the college.  However, it will likely be difficult to support such a claim, given the spread of the disease in our communities.
     *   Colleges with COP's were required to purchase additional property insurance by the State Treasurer's Office.  The property insurance included a rider that provided limited coverage due to communicable diseases.  More information and a list of colleges with this coverage is provided at the Google Drive.
  *   Continuity of Instruction:
     *   Several CTCs have closed for a few days to complete planning for continuing instruction on-line.  This includes Renton, Bellevue and Seattle districts.  Services continue to be offered on campus.
     *   LWIT has also been working in that direction and attempting to go-live with on-line teaching/learning for as many courses as possible - maintaining that effort at least through the end of winter quarter. For courses that cannot continue through on-line learning, LWIT is planning to continue winter quarter instruction for the first 2 weeks of spring quarter and shorten spring quarter for those courses to 8-weeks.  (Spring break for students and staff would continue as initially scheduled.)  Being mindful of equity issues (access to WIFI, accessibility to laptops/phones, etc.), LWIT has purchased additional equipment for students and staff. Details on distribution are still being developed.  There remains a lack of clarity on the impact of switching to on-line learning on veterans, especially in the areas of housing allowance.  State Board staff will work with DVA/other relevant agencies to provide clarity.
     *   Keeping folks off campus has been difficult, especially in areas like financial aid.
     *   PLU and UPS have joined UW and Seattle University in transitioning to on-line instruction through the end of spring break.  Campuses remain open.  Links to their sites are available at the Google Doc site.
     *   The City of Kirkland is working on protocols for rolling its citizens off of self-quarantine.  There does not appear to be existing processes in place for when and how this occurs.
     *   Clinicals.  Many colleges are continuing to have students participate in clinical instruction.  Several colleges indicated that several clinical site providers in their area have informed them to no longer send students, so they can focus on addressing COVID-19.
  *   Athletic events:
     *   NWAC has expressed its intent to continue regional championship competitions, scheduled in Oregon.  Concerns were expressed regarding travel limitations and sending student across state lines.
  *   Employee Related Issues:
     *   LWIT sent notice to its employees Sunday evening.  See the Google Drive site
     *   Colleges that have moved to all or mostly-on-line instruction are continuing to provide services and have employees report to work. Colleges are reviewing telework policies for employees in positions that lend themselves to working from home.
     *   Students who are unable to work (at their off-campus employment), may be eligible for UI benefits.  Employment Security Department has a number of programs that would allow folks to work part-time and collect UI benefits should their work hours be reduced and not to have to look for work if temporarily  unable to work due to COVID-19.
     *   Additional guidance on use of leave, sending employees home, etc. is anticipated to be provided soon by OFM.
     *   Higher education institution have the ability in statute (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=41.04.680) to adopt local policies establishing shared leave pools.  A statute adopted in 2006 provides this authority for state agencies.  Higher education wanted the ability to establish shared leave pools but did not want to get pulled into the state's shared leave pool.  This resulted in the ability for higher education institutions to establish shared leave pools "consistent with the needs of the employees of their respective jurisdictions."  Although this language provides some flexibility, colleges to look to the requirements that are listed in statute and make decisions regarding their applicability to the needs of their employees.
  *   Meetings:
     *   Discussions are occurring today concerning upcoming WACTC, SBCTC meetings and commission and council meetings.  May use Zoom or WebEx to have system meetings.
     *   Today the AG's Office issued guidance in a Q&A format on Open Meeting Requirements, as impacted by COVID-19.  Essentially, the emergency proclamation does not affect the Open Meetings Act  requirements (in our system, this applies to State Board and Trustee meetings).  However, the guidance provides various options for consideration in how to meet the Open Meeting Act requirements and avoid large gathering .  Although the guidance indicates agencies are not required to provide opportunity for public comment, under a separate higher education statute, CTCs are required to provide that opportunity.  The full guidance is posted to the Google Drive.


John Boesenberg, Deputy Executive Director
Business Operations
360-704-4303; jboesenberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>

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