Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

At this time, we do not anticipate the spring semester to be extended; however, in order to decrease the overall concentration of students on campus, Waubonsee is taking the following immediate actions:

• Spring Break has been extended through March 29.
• Credit courses will resume on March 30, with modified delivery.
• All buildings on all campuses remain closed until the governor and state health officials determine that it is safe to resume normal college operations.

Beginning March 30 and through the end of the spring semester, Waubonsee will provide instruction online or through other alternative methods to substitute for as many face-to-face offerings as possible. The college is assessing all lab and studio components of all credit courses on a case-by-case basis based on the current stay-at-home order that is scheduled to last until April 30. Faculty members will inform students about these decisions as the decisions are made. 

Accelerated courses set to begin on March 23, will now begin on March 30.
Faculty teaching those courses will make necessary adjustments to course syllabi so that all content can be covered and learning outcomes achieved. Where possible, those courses will be delivered online, with labs and studio components meeting on campus. Students should be sure to check their Waubonsee email to get full details from their faculty members.

All spring semester noncredit courses (Personal Enrichment, YEP camps, Professional Development and Trips) have been canceled.
The college will be working on issuing refunds as processing time allows.

Adult Education (High School Equivalency and English Language Acquisition) programs have been moved online or at-a-distance until further notice.​​​​​​​
Please contact adulted@waubonsee.edu for more information.

The college has extended some withdrawal dates given the changes in instructional delivery. As always, you should consult with an advisor at advising@waubonsee.edu before withdrawing. Also, if you are receiving financial aid or veteran benefits, you should consult the Financial Aid Office to see how a withdrawal could have an impact. Email financialaid@waubonsee.edu. Please see the Registration, Refund and Withdrawal Dates chart  for the full listing of important dates.

General resources, tutorials and tips about online learning and the Blackboard system are available at our Technical Resources for Online Learning page.

Comcast is offering new, low-income Internet Essentials customers two months of free internet. Comcast is also raising the speed of that program's service to help people during this time.  Visit https://corporate.comcast.com/covid-19 for information on this resource.

If you feel like you do not have all the technology resources you need to complete your courses in these new ways, please send an email to LibraryTechSupport@waubonsee.edu to tell us what you need. Be sure to include your X-number and a callback phone number and/or email.

There is free Wi-Fi available in the N1 parking lot on the Sugar Grove Campus. Enter the campus on the north side and follow the signs to the N1 parking lot. There is no password required to access the internet in this lot. Feel free to sit in your vehicle in this lot and use the free internet.

Fox Valley Park District is also offering open Wi-Fi access available in the parking lot of any Fox Valley Park District building. For information about their facilities, visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

If you forget your password, you can reset it using our online password system. If you have questions, please email the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at tac@waubonsee.edu. Be sure to include your X-number and a callback phone number and/or email. TAC will be available remotely Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and will reach out upon receiving your email to assist you.

No Drops for Non-Payment

Through the remainder of the spring semester, the college will not drop for non-payment. If you are enrolled in Spring 2020 classes and have a balance on your student account, you are still responsible for the balance; however, the College will not drop you from your classes due to your inability to pay.

For summer 2020 enrollments, the college will not drop for non-payment through May 31. You will, however, need to select a payment option (i.e. pay in full, payment plans, financial aid awarded and accepted, scholarships, employer/third party payment, or another verified payment source) by June 1.

Concerns and Alternative Arrangements

If you have concerns about paying your balance or your payment plan for spring or summer semester, please email payments@waubonsee.edu and we will work with you to find alternative payment arrangements during this difficult time. For spring semester students, the College will automatically reverse any late fees that are posted to student accounts after March 13, 2020. Please allow up to one week for this process.

If you are enrolled in a payment plan with automatic installments for spring or summer, your payment will still be attempted on the scheduled installment date(s). If you have concerns about making your scheduled installment, please contact payments@waubonsee.edu at least 3 days before your installment date, and we will work with you to make alternative arrangements.

Courses You Drop

If you are seeking a refund for courses starting on March 30, we encourage you to simply drop before the specified refund date, which has been pushed back (March 31 for 3-week courses or April 3 for 7-week courses). Please view the Registration, Refund, and Withdrawal dates chart for complete details (direct link to updated here).

If you are seeking to withdraw from and receive a refund for a course in which the refund date has already passed, please submit a Student Account Appeal form (via mywcc student portal) for consideration.

Keep in mind, you should consult with an advisor before withdrawing so you can understand the potential effects it could have on your academic goals. Email advising@waubonsee.edu. Also, if you receive financial aid or veteran benefits, you should consult the Financial Aid Office to see how withdrawal could have an impact. Email financialaid@waubonsee.edu

Canceled Courses

As always, if the college cancels a course, you will automatically be issued a refund; no action is needed on your part. Please allow additional time for processing given the current circumstances.

Any upcoming deadlines, including those that were originally set as March 15 and April 1, have now been extended to May 15. This should allow students to have time to test and apply for the program once college services resume.

Visit the college's Services Directory for current information about services hours and methods of contact.

Please contact our 24/7 Waubonsee Talk Line at (630) 264-0394 or visit the Crisis Information and Referrals page for additional professional support.

Waubonsee recommends that you follow the travel guidelines set by the CDC.

Like many others, Waubonsee has been closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. We are committed to taking the necessary steps and precautions to keep our employees and students safe and healthy. As such, the following actions will be taken, effective Friday, March 13 at 8 a.m.:

• Through May 15, all non-essential, college-related travel by students and employees is prohibited. All pre-paid travel expenses will be reimbursed to you. If you have a circumstance that you feel is essential, please work with your administrative supervisor for approval.  In regards to personal travel, we encourage you to give extra thought and take precautions in order to protect the health and safety of yourself and those around you. In adherence with the CDC guidelines, we encourage anyone who has traveled to a level 2 or level 3 area, to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

We are continuing to monitor this situation as it unfolds. See below for additional information and resources, including mental health. Please check this website daily for any updates and information.

Yes, help is available! There are several video modules in mywcc for you to review to get you ready for alternative delivery methods. They are:

• 10 Tips for Success in Your Online Course (about 11 minutes long) 
• Effectively Communicating Online (about 13 minutes long) 
• Online Courses: Staying Motivated & Disciplined (about 11 minutes long) -- this one is particularly helpful, especially for students who haven't had online coursework prior to this issue 
• Taking Tests Online: Strategies for Success (about 12 minutes long)

You can see all of these videos in your mywcc student portal. Once logged in, navigate to "Student Lingo" then "Online Learning" to view these helpful videos.

Waubonsee has many resources available to assist faculty with remote instruction. Please review the Academic Continuity page on the Faculty Development and Engagement website.

Instructional Support has moved online.  Please use the Faculty Development and Engagement Events Calendar to book appointments or contact facultydae@waubonsee.edu directly for alternative appointment scheduling.

The college closed at noon on March 18 and will remain closed through Sunday, May 3. While all campus buildings will remain closed during this time, credit classes will resume on Monday, March 30. All classes will be conducted online or through alternative delivery methods starting on March 30 and will continue this way through the end of the semester. There will be no in-person class meetings for the rest of this semester.

Classes that require labs or studio sessions are currently being reviewed. Arrangements will be made for these sessions to be completed. Those labs and studio sessions will not resume until further notice.

Please read the following memo for additional details regarding new/revised procedures for COVID-19 related absences. If you have additional questions, please contact Human Resources at hr@waubonsee.edu.

Through May 15, all non-essential, college-related travel for students and employees is prohibited.  If you have a circumstance that you feel is essential, please work with your administrative supervisor for approval.  In regards to personal travel, we encourage you to give extra thought and take precautions in order to protect the health and safety of yourself and those around you. In adherence with the CDC guidelines, we encourage anyone who has traveled to a level 2 or level 3 area, to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Waubonsee will reimburse employees for pre-paid expenses for travel canceled due to the coronavirus related concerns. This applies if the event is canceled or if you choose not to travel due to personal concerns. If you have related travel expenses, submit your travel reimbursement request through normal college procedures.

If you choose to travel out of state or out of country, you are asked to report this information to Human Resources using this form:

Employees may contact the college's Employee Assistance Program, NexGen EAP, by calling 1-800-EAP CALL (327-2255) or by logging into www.nexgeneap.com. If you are a first time user of the EAP resources, the Group ID is 8596.

• ENI Coronavirus Resource Packet (PDF)

With the recent surge in media coverage and articles, it can be difficult to keep up with important, relevant information about the Coronavirus. Human Resources is here to help. We have collected some reliable resources from the CDC and our business partners to help you prepare and stay safe. View more information and resources in the HR portlet of mywcc. 

External Resources:

KCT credit union is offering an Emergency Fund Loan with simple terms and a very low rate exclusively for employees of public school district, local, state and federal governments. For more information visit www.kctcu.org

The college has a number of resources in place to assist employees in providing uninterrupted service to students and employees. Communication and flexibility are key. Options include:

• Email:  You should reach out to students and communicate your expectations like in the classroom. Email may also be helpful in supplementing office hours and responding to student questions
• Video Conferencing:  Video conferencing is a great way to stay connected with your team and other teams at the college.
  • Zoom:  Zoom is an intuitive web-based conferencing tool to facilitate communications via video, audio, and chat -- or any combination thereof! You can setup your Zoom Room and your team members can enter via the link or call in for audio only. Even screen-sharing is easy on Zoom!
  • Google Meet:  Google Meet is another option for remote connection. If you are a heavy user of Google, this will be an easy way to work with your team.
• Video Recordings:  Kaltura is available for all Waubonsee employees. Video can be uploaded to Kaltura from phones, tablets, computers, and even directly from the LMS.
• Video Calling:  Google Duo and Apple FaceTime are free applications that you can use to stay socially connected from a distance with colleagues, friends and family members.

As always Employee Development is available to help you with training on how to use these tools.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a mild to moderate respiratory illness that can spread from person to person and may develop serious illness in older people and those with underlying medical problems. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

Please visit the CDC website for more information about the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

To help protect yourself from respiratory illness, the CDC recommends everyday preventative actions including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• See your doctor if you have fever, cough, body aches and fatigue
• If you or a family member is sick, stay home and limit contact with others
• Please visit the CDC website for more information about prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Monitor your symptoms closely and contact your healthcare professional with questions or concerns. Remember that the likelihood is low that you have coronavirus (COVID-19).

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Most important, stay home if you’re sick.

Please visit the CDC website for more information about steps to protect others.

It’s important to keep in mind that you generally need to be in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes:

• Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19
• Caring for a sick person with COVID-19
• Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes OR
• Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).

If you have not been in close contact with a sick person with COVID-19, you are at low risk for infection but should continue to take all the precautions generally prescribed by the CDC and local health departments and government authorities.

If you have been in close contact or otherwise feel like you’ve been exposed, please contact your primary healthcare provider and/or your local health department.

In accordance with the college’s Communicable Diseases Policy, any employee, faculty member or student who has a confirmed case of the coronavirus or who becomes aware of someone else (e.g. employee, student) who is infected should immediately inform one of the following designated individuals.

Students:

• Scott Peska, Assistant Vice President of Student Services
• (630) 466-2363 or speska@waubonsee.edu

Employees:

• Michele Needham, Executive Director of Human Resources
• (630) 466-2367 or mneedham@waubonsee.edu

The college will maintain this webpage (www.waubonsee.edu/covid19) to keep students, employees, and the public informed with all status updates and changes to college operations. 

In some instances, changes to this page will be shared with students and employees by text message, email, and phone call. Not all updates will be shared this way; only changes that require immediate notification. Plan to check this page regularly for the latest information even if you do not get an alert notification.

Through May 15, all Waubonsee events with an expected attendance of 10 or more are canceled. For a full list of canceled events visit the Waubonsee Calendar. Unfortunately, commencement is canceled. We are exploring alternate ways to celebrate the accomplishments of our students. 

The SBDC is working remotely and available for assistance. You can contact us by phone (630) 906-4143 or email sbdc@waubonsee.edu.

Additional Resources:

• Apply for a Disaster Assistance Loan with the SBA
  Due to the volume of applications the site is periodically down or very slow. Please continue to retry.
• Coronavirus Small Business Resource Links & Referrals (PDF)
• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act (PDF)
• Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist (PDF)
• Sign up to request assistance and email updates from the SBDC

Note: Resources and information is continually changing, check back regularly.

Waubonsee Community College has a plan for handling infectious diseases. This plan covers ongoing environmental cleaning and disinfection as well as emergency response cleaning and disinfection to reduce any risk to the students, employees, and guests of the college. 

Visit the college's Services Directory for current information about services hours and methods of contact.

1:55 p.m.

Waubonsee has recently learned about two new cases of coronavirus among the college community – a Waubonsee employee, the second to contract the virus, along with a Waubonsee student, the first that the college is aware of. College officials are cooperating with local health departments regarding the next steps to ensure the health and safety of the community. Our thoughts are with these individuals throughout the recovery process. 
 
Privacy laws prevent us from sharing many details. However, we can tell you the employee last reported to work on March 9. This employee has reporting responsibilities on the college’s three active campuses (Sugar Grove, Aurora Downtown, and Aurora Fox Valley) and is in a non-faculty role at the college. The last time the student could have been on campus would have been Wednesday, March 18, as campus buildings closed at noon that day and remain closed until April 13. 
 
As part of the state's protocol, public health authorities are responsible for identifying those who came in close contact with each diagnosed individual and communicating with them directly about the appropriate actions to take. 
 
As testing increases throughout Illinois, an increase in confirmed cases is expected. Going forward, any updates on additional Waubonsee-related cases can be found on waubonsee.edu/cases, and public health officials will be in direct contact with anyone at risk of exposure. 
 
Any Waubonsee students and employees who feel like they may have any symptoms of the coronavirus should contact their health care provider for guidance. Anyone who does test positive for the coronavirus is asked to report to that information through the appropriate channel at Waubonsee to help protect the health of other students and employees. Students should report to Dr. Scott Peska, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, speska@waubonsee.edu. Employees should report to Michele Needham, Executive Director of Human Resources, mneedham@waubonsee.edu. 

As a reminder, all college buildings at all campuses remain closed until April 13. During this time, all buildings are being cleaned and disinfected to provide maximum protection in the future for all employees, students, and guests. The college continues to adhere to all local and state reporting and investigation protocols, as well as state and federal social distancing guidelines.

• View Dr. Sobek's Monday, March 30, 2020 Update on Youtube

12:30 pm.

As Waubonsee’s faculty members and students are preparing to resume their learning activities online and through other alternative delivery methods on March 30, the college’s buildings and grounds teams are working hard to clean and disinfect all of the buildings at all of the college’s campuses.

All college buildings will remain closed until Monday, April 13 while this work is being done. The health and safety of all of our employees, students, and guests to our campuses are essential. When the buildings open again and employees return to campus, they will do so with the assurance that every precaution has been taken and everything is as clean and safe as possible.

We thank all of the people on Waubonsee’s buildings and grounds teams who are working so hard on this difficult task during this time.

3:00 pm.

Waubonsee’s credit classes will resume on Monday, March 30 through online or alternative delivery methods. The college will also begin offering virtual student services on Monday, March 30.

All college buildings, however, will remain closed until Monday, April 13 to protect the health and safety of all Waubonsee students and employees. Because the campus buildings will be closed, some services will have reduced methods of contact for students and employees. The colleges’ Services Directory shows the current status of services with hours and methods of contact. This page will be updated as changes in service availability are made.

We appreciate your patience as the college works to provide maximum service while protecting the health of the community.

4:15 pm.

I would like to extend warm wishes to our entire Waubonsee community for the health and safety of all our loved ones. I also want to assure everyone that while Waubonsee campus buildings remain closed at this time, Waubonsee operations are continuing.

This week, students remain on an extended Spring Break and faculty and staff are working hard to ensure that credit courses and student and academic support services resume March 30 through online learning, alternative course delivery methods, and alternative service delivery methods. Please check our website www.waubonsee.edu/covid19 regularly for updates. Answers to many of the questions we have received are available within the FAQs section and we are posting frequent updates.

Every day presents us all with hard choices, and I was deeply saddened to make the decision to cancel our May 2020 commencement ceremonies. Celebrating the collective achievements of our graduates with their family and friends is always a highlight of the year for me and I know this cancelation is deeply disappointing to everyone. We are looking into new and creative ways to celebrate our students' accomplishments and we look forward to sharing this with you in the future.

Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D.
President, Waubonsee Community College

5:00 pm.

In these unprecedented times, our daily reality is being altered seemingly by the minute. We know that this can make an already difficult time even more challenging. The entire college community is working to provide students and employees as much information as possible, while trying to balance our collective safety and our continued growth as students and professionals.

All Waubonsee campuses will remain closed through Sunday, April 12 except for essential personnel required to keep the college operating efficiently. Credit courses are scheduled to resume on March 30 through online learning or other alternative course delivery methods for the remainder of the Spring semester.

Student and academic support services will resume on March 30 through phone, e-mail, and virtual communication when available. Again, all campus buildings will remain closed but we will continue to offer services to our students and our community through alternative methods. Soon, we will provide more information on service times and options for all Waubonsee Community College departments through April 12.

Please continue to put your safety and health first as we continue to navigate through a challenging time as a country. Your Waubonsee family is here to support you and help in whatever way possible. Continue to check the website for helpful information and resources. We will continue to send alerts when up-to-date information is available.

5:00 p.m.

The ongoing situation with the spread of the coronavirus is changing rapidly. The college leadership is working continuously to gather information, make decisions, and keep our students, employees, and the community informed. We know that many questions remain. This update is intended to address some of the questions that our students are facing right now.

The college’s spring break remains extended through Sunday, March 29. Beginning on Monday, March 30, all credit courses will be conducted either online or through an alternative course delivery method. Online or alternative course delivery will continue through the end of the spring semester. At this time, it is not expected that the spring semester will be extended. We will continue to explore options and methods of course delivery and will evaluate any course labs and studio components that cannot be offered through alternative delivery methods; each of these will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If some face-to-face delivery is needed, we may consider some small group or individualized instruction but not until Monday, April 13 at the earliest.

All students will hear directly from their instructors within the next week or so. The college is working through options to determine the best answers to the other questions you have. We ask for your patience as administrators and faculty members develop those solutions as quickly as possible. In the meantime, if you have a question regarding a specific course please submit that question via college’s webpage about the coronavirus at www.waubonsee.edu/covid19.

The college remains closed until March 29. We are hoping to re-open on March 30 with limited services and operations and many of the employees will be working remotely. Administrators are currently reviewing this plan for their respective departments and more information will be provided to employees in the coming days. Many of our services are available online or via email. Please visit the FAQ section of this website for more information.

We understand that there are students who may not have all the technology resources necessary available to them (computer or Wi-Fi, for example) to complete online learning or alternative course delivery. For those students, we would like to understand what those limitations are. If you feel like you do not have all the technology resources you need to complete your courses in these new ways, please send an email to LibraryTechSupport@waubonsee.edu to tell us what you need.

Also,the college has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 commencement ceremonies. We know that graduation is a monumental achievement and the commencement ceremony is a celebration of that achievement. Because of the work you have put into reaching this milestone, we greatly regret having to make this decision. However, the safety and health of our students and employees, as well as the safety and health of your family members, is our top priority. The college will begin exploring other options to mark your accomplishments. For those students who have already ordered a cap and gown, you will receive an email with additional information. If you have specific questions related to these things or anything else, please submit those questions through the college’s webpage about the coronavirus at www.waubonsee.edu/covid19.

9:40 a.m.

Earlier today we learned that an employee of the college has tested positive for the coronavirus. The employee works in Collins Hall on the Sugar Grove Campus. The last day the employee reported to work was March 4. This is the first reported case of the coronavirus at Waubonsee. Our thoughts are with this individual throughout the recovery process.

Because of this information, the college is taking additional measures to protect the community. All college campuses will close for business at noon on Wednesday, March 18. This is a change from the college’s previous announcement to close at 10 p.m. on March 18. All college operations and meetings for the day are canceled, including the Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

During this time, all buildings will be thoroughly cleaned.  There will be no access to any college buildings until further notice. 

The college will continue to provide updates at www.waubonsee.edu/COVID19. If you have questions or immediate concerns, please call the Waubonsee coronavirus hotline at (630) 466-2820.

5:15 p.m.

At this time, there are no known cases of the coronavirus connected to Waubonsee. In an abundance of caution, the college is implementing the following measures to reduce the risk to our employees and students, as well as to help stop the spread of the virus throughout the community.

• Effective Wednesday, March 18 at 10 p.m., the college will close and will remain closed through Sunday, March 29. The college plans to re-open on Monday, March 30. On Monday, March 30, to the extent possible, college employees are encouraged to work from home. For more information and details from Human Resources read their March 16 memo here.
   
• Effective Monday, March 16 at 10 p.m. the Total Fitness Center, gym facilities, and the running/walking track on the Sugar Grove Campus will be closed until further notice.
   
• On Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18 campus hours of operation will be as follows:
  • Sugar Grove Campus will remain as normal with reduced hours for student services running from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
  • Campus hours of operation at the Aurora Downtown and Aurora Fox Valley Campuses will be reduced to 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
     
• On Monday, March 30, college libraries, bookstores, the Henning Academic Computing Center, and other student services will re-open but will have limited services available through Sunday, April 12. 

• The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has canceled all athletic activities and competitions for the remainder of the spring semester.

• All Waubonsee events with an expected attendance of 50 or more people scheduled through Friday, May 15 are canceled. The college's commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16 are expected to continue as scheduled.  

The college's ban on non-essential business travel has been extended to Friday, May 15. Also, effective immediately and continuing through Sunday, April 12, any employee traveling for personal reasons anywhere outside of the state of Illinois must report their travel plans to Human Resources through the form on this webpage. 

These are unprecedented times. I want to encourage each of you to do your best as we navigate these unknown waters. We can do this if we stay positive, patient, and connected to each other. Don't be afraid to ask for help from those around you. I often say that Waubonsee is more than college, it is community college. Now, more than ever, community will be critical to our success.

Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D.
President, Waubonsee Community College

6:15 p.m.

I want to thank all of you for your concern and dedication as we continue to work through the rapidly shifting developments related to the coronavirus and its impact. And, I want to assure you that our Emergency Management Group and our Coronavirus Action Team are working around the clock to determine how best to ensure the well-being and safety of our students, employees and community.

We are reviewing the action plans we posted on the coronavirus web page on Friday and expect to issue additional guidelines by the end of day tomorrow, Monday, March 16. In the meantime, if you are scheduled to work tomorrow and are concerned about reporting to work, please contact your administrative supervisor.

In the last week, I have seen our Waubonsee community come together to provide support, information, resources, and options. I am truly appreciative of the flexibility, kindness, patience, and hard work of everyone involved. We remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students, employees, and community members as we work together through this unprecedented situation.
 

Christine J. Sobek, Ed.D.
President, Waubonsee Community College

11:40 a.m.

There continues to be no known coronavirus cases related to Waubonsee and at this time, the college remains open and we do not anticipate the spring semester to be extended; however, in order to decrease the overall concentration of students on campus, Waubonsee is taking the following immediate actions:

Spring Break has been extended one week for ALL students.
In addition to the scheduled spring break dates of March 16-22, Waubonsee is extending the break one week with no classes meeting through Sunday, March 29.

During extended spring break, campuses will remain open and services will remain operational. 
All College staff and administrators will report for work during their normal work hours during the extended break. The library, selected computer laboratories, other laboratories, and student service offices will be open for student use during normal operating hours; however, when and where possible, students are encouraged to refrain from coming to campus and to instead utilize online resources (such as SmartThinking for tutoring), email, or phone communication with college staff.  

Extended break allows for alternative instructional delivery methods to be developed.
During the extended spring break period, all College full-time and adjunct faculty will prepare for alternative instructional delivery. Training in alternative delivery formats will be offered; more details will be available by Friday, March 20, on the Faculty Development and Engagement website at facultydae.waubonsee.edu 

Credit courses will resume on March 30, with modified delivery.
Beginning March 30, Waubonsee will provide instruction online to substitute for as many face-to-face offerings as possible. Lab and studio components of courses may continue to meet on campus. More details and student success resources will be provided at a later date.  Students will learn more from their faculty no later than Friday, March 27. 

Accelerated courses set to begin on March 23, will now begin on March 30.
Faculty teaching those courses will make necessary adjustments to course syllabi so that all content can be covered and learning outcomes achieved. Where possible, those courses will be delivered online, with labs and studio components meeting on campus. 

All noncredit courses (Personal Enrichment, YEP camps, Professional Development, and all Driver Safety classes) will be canceled effective immediately (March 13) through March 31.
The college will be working on issuing refunds as processing time allows. 

Adult Education (High School Equivalency and English Language Acquisition) will be canceled effective immediately (March 13) through April 12. 
It is anticipated that classes will resume on Monday, April 13.

Anticipated return to face-to-face instruction is currently scheduled for Monday, April 13. 
Please monitor this webpage www.waubonsee.edu/COVID19 for more information and details as they come available.

Like many others, Waubonsee has been closely monitoring the coronavirus situation. While there are currently no known cases of coronavirus related to our campuses, we are committed to taking the necessary steps and precautions to keep our employees and students safe and healthy. As such, the following actions will be taken, effective Friday, March 13 at 8 a.m.:

• Through March 31, all Waubonsee events with expected attendance of 50 or more are canceled. For a full list of canceled events visit the Waubonsee Calendar.
• Through March 31, all non-essential, college-related travel by students and employees is prohibited. All pre-paid travel expenses will be reimbursed to you. If you have a circumstance that you feel is essential, please work with your administrative supervisor for approval.  In regards to personal travel, we encourage you to give extra thought and take precautions in order to protect the health and safety of yourself and those around you. In adherence with the CDC guidelines, we encourage anyone who has traveled to a level 2 or level 3 area, to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

We are continuing to monitor this situation as it unfolds. See below for additional information and resources, including mental health. Please check this website daily for any updates and information.

At Waubonsee, the health, safety and well-being of our students and employees is our top priority. As such, we are closely monitoring the developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in coordination with public health officials from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Illinois Department of Public Health, Kane County Health Department and Kendall County Health Department. While the risk to the general public remains low in both the United States and Illinois, this website will be used to update the Waubonsee community with current information and resources regarding the College's response.

Current College Status:

At this time, there are no reports of the coronavirus in anyone connected to Waubonsee and all college operations and activities will continue as scheduled. The college leadership will continuously monitor the situation and will make appropriate decisions if circumstances change. Any changes to scheduled activities due to the coronavirus will be posted on this webpage and will be shared on the college’s social media channels, as well as through any other appropriate channels.

Email from Dan Larsen, Executive Director of Campus Safety and Operations:

Good Morning,

The 2020 winter season is in full swing and I hope your Spring 2020 semester is off to a great start.  Winter is generally considered cold and flu season and this year is no exception. One illness similar to the influenza (flu) virus that has gained notoriety recently is the Coronavirus. You may know the Coronavirus is a communicable upper respiratory illness that produces many of the same symptoms of the flu. The Coronavirus has just recently been discovered in the United States and many are concerned as to what impact it may have on them. 

It is important to take a moment to let you know Waubonsee Community College, in partnership with our federal, state and local authorities, is closely watching the developments associated with the Coronavirus. The Illinois Department of Public Health and both Kendall and Kane County Health Departments have all indicated the best actions we can take are standard prevention techniques like:

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick.
• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue away.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Please note:

To date, there have been 12 confirmed cases of this new form of coronavirus in the United States,  In contrast, there have been at least 15-million flu illnesses reported in the United States since the start of flu season in October 2019.-according to CNN this morning 2/10/2020

The Waubonsee Community College Department of Campus Safety and Operations (CSO) is the contact for any questions or concerns you may have regarding the Coronavirus on campus. The CSO department can be reached at 630-466-6820 and below are a list of links for more information.

• http://www.cdc.gov 
• http://www.dph.illinois.gov/search/site/coronavirus 
• http://kanehealth.com/Latest-News/Novel%20Coronavirus%20Status%20in%20Kane%20County%20012420.pdf