TO:   Members of the North Central Michigan College Community

FROM:   Dr. David Roland Finley, President, North Central Michigan College

Last night, Governor Whitmer announced the statewide closure of all K-12 school buildings beginning Monday, March 16, through Sunday, April 5. This announcement was made in order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan.

As of 11:10 p.m. last night, the number of presumptive positive cases in Michigan is 12.

NCMC is still following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Guidance for Institute of Higher Education that do not have COVID-19 identified in their community.

We continue to monitor and evaluate college operations based on the latest information and recommendations from local, state and national health experts and officials.  Measures that have been taken as part of the College’s immediate response plan as of this March 13 update include:

Campus Operations

Spring Break for NCMC students will begin on Monday, March 16 and extend through Sunday, April 5. Thus, Spring Break will be three weeks in length instead of the previously announced two. A decision about whether to return to campus on April 6 will be made by April 3 and communicated to all affected parties.

Beginning March 16:

  • All classes, including online, labs and clinicals, will be cancelled. This includes the Gaylord and Cheboygan Education Centers, as well as all classes taught in the high schools.
  • All employees are expected to report to work, including student workers. All buildings will be locked during this time. Employees and student workers will have to use their electronic cards/fobs for entry into buildings. Student workers will be issued entry cards shortly.
  • External visitors to campus will be limited to only faculty, staff and authorized individuals pre-approved for entry.
  • All on-campus events are cancelled.
  • Res Hall will be closed.
  • SCRC will be closed to public, including PE Students. Employees can walk the track.
  • Iron Horse Café will be closed to the public and will remain open as long as there are dorm students on campus.
  • Campus Cupboard will remain open.
  • Library will be closed to the public - library staff reports to work.
  • LSS will be closed – LSS staff reports to work.

Employees with Symptoms, Potential Exposure or Extenuating Circumstances

  • If you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, please stay home and contact the Director of Human Resources VIA PHONE at (231) 348-6837 or leckerle@ncmich.edu for information about next steps.  
  • If you have symptoms of Coronavirus, please contact your health provider for information on next steps. 
  • Employees responsible for childcare who are adversely impacted by the closure of K-12 schools or employees with other extenuating circumstances, contact the Director of Human Resources at (231) 348-6837 or leckerle@ncmich.edu

Personal Hygiene

Employees should continue to follow CDC guidelines regarding personal hygiene practices that mitigate the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19):

  • Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (or your elbow), then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are not sick wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
  • Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.  The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.  
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Cleaning

Our Physical Plant staff will remain vigilant in their efforts to proactively clean and sanitize all areas of campus.

Symptoms of COVID-19

According to the CDC, reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases. The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: fever, cough, shortness of breath.

We are coordinating our response with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Health Department of Northwest Michigan.  More information on cases in the US is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html.

Continue Checking Here for On-Going Updates

To streamline communications moving forward, all students, faculty and staff are being directed to the North Central website as the vehicle for all Coronavirus updates as we know them. We will keep you informed as this issue evolves, working in earnest to respond in ways that ensure the health, safety and well-being of our college community.  Thank you.