Dear Proa Tribe,
As you all know, we have entered turbulent waters once again with the recent notifications about new community transmission of COVID-19. To help us all navigate through the turbulence, please note the important announcements below, which are also summarized as follows for your convenience:
- A College employee tested positive for COVID-19 as the COVID-19 Task Force expands its work.
- College facilities will be closed from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
- All face-to-face and hybrid classes, along with most student support services, will be migrated online from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
- The Accreditation Exit Report will proceed as planned at 11:45 am this morning.
- College employees will transition to teleworking from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
- As this is an evolving situation, please stay informed through official sources.
- Practice good hygiene.
A College employee tested positive for COVID-19 as the COVID-19 Task Force expands its work.
Through contact tracing activities conducted by the COVID-19 Task Force and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation (CHCC), we have recently learned that one of the employees of NMC has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Additional contact tracing activities are being conducted to determine the extent of the outbreak. Other safety protocols are being carried out by our Facilities team and other departments at the College. While all of these preventive measures are occurring, we encourage you to remain calm but vigilant in staying informed and carrying out preventive measures. If you are concerned that you may have come in contact with someone who tested positive, you can contact the COVID-19 Task Force Contact Tracing Team Tip Lines at (670) 287-2274 or (670) 286-1729. Also note that walk-ins are accepted at community-based testing sites, so long as you bring an official photo ID for on-site registration.
College facilities will be closed from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
In light of this evolving situation with the COVID-19 community transmission and the declaration of a 10-day closure by the CNMI Governor (see attached notice), Northern Marianas College on-campus offices will remain closed through November 7, 2021. The College will continue to monitor COVID-19 information as it becomes available and will keep employees and students informed of any new announcements and measures that need to be implemented.
All face-to-face and hybrid classes, along with most student support services, will be migrated online from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
All classes that are conducted face-to-face or have a face-to-face component will migrate to a virtual/online platform from Oct. 29, 2021 through Nov. 7, 2021. This time period may be modified so we ask students to contact their instructors for detailed information. Other classes that are already conducted online or virtually will continue as scheduled. Student support services will also be available through online, virtual, and telephone support. Detailed information with contact information will be provided by Dean of Student Support Services Charlotte Cepeda.
The Accreditation Exit Report will proceed as planned at 11:45 am this morning.
The exit report between the WASC Senior Commission Visiting Team and the campus community will proceed as scheduled. This will take place today at 11:45am via Zoom links provided earlier. The exit report will provide the campus community with a summary of commendations and recommendations from the Visiting Team.
College employees will transition to teleworking from October 29, 2021 through November 7, 2021.
NMC employees are instructed to telework from October 29, 2021 through Nov. 7, 2021. This decision was made to maintain a safe and healthy workplace, including minimizing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, sustaining academic programs and operational continuity, and protecting the wellbeing of all employees. More information about this will be shared by the Human Resources Office and by employees’ respective supervisors. Information about the submission of timesheets will also be shared. Employees who need to pick up laptops and other equipment must adhere to campus entry requirements.
As this is an evolving situation, please stay informed through official sources.
The spread of COVID-19 may continue to escalate in our community. The situation is dynamic and quickly evolving. The information we share today may need to be updated in days or perhaps hours. Some of the timelines we identify may need to be moved up depending on circumstances that emphasize student and employee safety and well-being. Ensure that you continue to monitor OFFICIAL sources with the latest information, including the NMC email and website, NMC social media platforms, the CHCC, and the Centers for Disease Control.
Our primary concern remains the health and safety of our students and employees. While we face this new outbreak in our community, I continue to have confidence in our team as we work together to identify and implement innovative and creative solutions and responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact your advisors or instructors if you are a student and the Human Resources Office if you are an employee.
More details and updates will be sent to students and employees through their official NMC email accounts. Students and employees are asked to monitor and check their email regularly. Also, for the latest updates, please visit NMC’s website at www.marianas.edu, or follow NMC on Facebook (@nmc.proa), Instagram (@nmc.proa), and Twitter (@GoProa).
Practice Good Hygiene
As always, note the following reminders/guidance to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community:
- Vaccinate if you have not already. Visit vaccinateCNMI.com for more information.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Wear a face cover in public spaces and common areas.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Rather than into your hand, cover your cough or sneeze with a bent elbow or handkerchief or into a tissue. Throw used tissue away immediately.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
As I began with, we are sailing, once again, through turbulent waters. However, we are prepared with protocols, procedures, and systems in place at the College and in the broader community to effectively respond to these recent developments. We will get through this. Our proa will not sink. We will sail ahead, with a focus on learning first, lifting the tide for everyone.
Sincerely,
Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD