TO:   Members of the North Central Michigan College Community

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

For the safety of our North Central Michigan College community, we have made the difficult decision to close the College at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19, and remain closed through Monday, April 19. All classes, including online classes, labs and clinicals, at all campus locations (Petoskey, Gaylord and Cheboygan) will be delivered via remote instructional methods effective April 6 through the end of the semester. Although the College’s physical locations will be closed, we will still be responding to students’ needs during this time. 

All staff except those with essential job functions will be sent home at the end of the day today. While campus is closed and doors are locked, limited access will be available with your employee ID card if you need equipment or supplies. We ask that you severely limit your need to be on campus and follow social distancing and other CDC health protocols, if you must visit campus. Employees performing essential job functions will be required to report to campus periodically during this time. Vice Presidents will communicate with supervisors to identify essential job functions and the respective expectations within the next three working days. 

Compensation will be continued for full-time and part-time College employees through the time the College is closed. Full-time faculty and adjunct faculty are not impacted by this decision, as pay is governed by a year-long contract. Student workers will be compensated for the two weeks prior to the planned Spring Break to lessen the financial impact. Should the period of closing go beyond April 19, the College may choose to modify this plan. 

Beginning April 6, we will deliver classes via remote instructional methods through the end of the semester.  Faculty are responsible for communicating with their students with respect to completing necessary coursework.  They will be making every effort to help students avoid delays in accomplishing their educational goals. Our Faculty Association has generously offered to assist during this time members and will be mentoring others in their discipline to utilize remote instructional methods.

All face-to-face clinical, internship, or lab experiences as part of those classes have been suspended; students should await contact from their instructors about alternative strategies for accomplishing objectives in these situations.

Our dorms will be closed through the end of the semester.  Individual appointments may be made with students to move their belongings out of the residence hall.  Additional information will be sent to the residence hall students regarding credit on their account for the weeks they cannot return to their rooms.  A specific e-mail will go out to the dorm students within the next two weeks.

All on-campus events are cancelled through May 8. Commencement and Nurse Pinning ceremonies are being postponed. Please know that although these important ceremonies are being delayed, students who have fulfilled their degree requirements for the winter 2020 semester will have the credential posted to their transcripts by May 22nd. Transcripts can then be used as proof that a degree was earned.  The Diploma will be distributed by mail, date to be determined.

As we are all navigating this unprecedented situation, I want to thank our outstanding campus community for their support and cooperation. We are a dedicated team and will continue planning for a bright future for our students. I’m convinced that we will all emerge stronger. Thank you for your optimism and resilient spirit.

Stay safe, everyone.