At the August 12 Kern Community College District Board Meeting, the board unanimously passed a resolution directing the chancellor to develop and implement a COVID vaccine requirement to increase vaccination rates for students, faculty, and staff. Please contact your campus human resources department with any questions. You can also email the COVID-19 team from your site with any questions or concerns:
On June 17th the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted to adopt the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards. Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to allow the revisions to immediately take effect. The updates include changes to face coverings and physical distancing requirements based on vaccination status. These changes support our phased-in approach to returning to our campuses for fall and the intention of providing a full complement of on-site instructional, administrative, and student support services beginning August 9th.
I recognize that this is another in a series of substantial transitions, so initially, employees will work a schedule that is a combination of on-ground/remote. I know many of you have already been working this type of schedule, or have fully transitioned back to campus; for all others, this will become scheduled and systematic for our return on the 9th. Employees eager to return to campus can do so at any time, and we encourage employees to begin this transition following the July 4th holiday.
Over the next two weeks, our COVID-19 Response Core Team will be working on updating the COVID-19 Reopening Protocols to reflect recent changes and any districtwide guidance, and I will send out more detailed information once we have completed this task. Until then, we will maintain the status quo with regard to wearing face coverings while indoors.
Please note that contact tracing will still be required of all employees; therefore, everyone must complete the coming on campus form on the website or via the KCCD Campus App and scan appropriate location QR codes.
I understand that this has been a period of uncertainty as we were waiting for updated guidance on COVID-19. We are committed to getting you clear direction to help you in your planning for a return to campus and some semblance of normal. As always, we are committed to your safety as we look towards meeting the needs of those students who were most impacted by the pandemic.
Thank You,
Dr. Claudia Habib
Porterville College President
Latest COVID-19 News Updates
Click the image to view a PDF with clickable Zoom links:
Student Services Drive-Thru Jan 19th-21st to Offer Convenient Assistance to Students
Want to Make Your First Year at PC a Success? Interdisciplinary Studies and Student Success Courses Now Being Offered!
Message from Porterville College President – Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
After much discussion on both the Porterville College Campus and at the Kern Community College District, Porterville College will continue to operate remotely with a Hybrid Education Model during the Spring 2021 Semester.
Much like our Fall 2020 course model, the Majority of Classes in the Spring Semester will be held online or in alternative remote formats. Only a limited number of instructional courses, support services, and essential functions will be provided in-person with strict social distancing protocols in place.
Although this decision is not a surprise, it is still disappointing. As I have stated many times over the course of the last six months, I miss you all very much. I miss having conversations every day with students and staff during walks around campus. I miss meeting and getting to know students as they take their breaks between classes or play Dungeons & Dragons in the Cafeteria. I miss attending student life events like Basketball and Volleyball Games, Student Club Celebrations, and Pizza with the President to share with you all as a PC Community.
I cannot wait until we are back on campus together, but my priority remains YOUR SAFETY. The risks associated with a return to campus are currently just too high. I am very proud of our students' spirit as they adapt to the virtual environment, and I am grateful for the continued efforts by faculty and staff of providing the best academic experience during this pandemic.
We will continue to consult with local, state, and federal agencies and monitor conditions for a return to campus in the future. I am optimistic that with the progress of potential vaccines and treatments, we will be able to return to in-person campus operations in Fall 2021. We will share information and planning details as they become available.
Don’t let your guard down. Use face coverings and maintain social distancing to keep you and your family safe and to help us get closer to our goal of returning to campus. Let's make this semester count!
Thank You,
Dr. Claudia Habib, President
Bartleby Learn Offers HOMEWORK DONE FAST Tool to Students
From the Bartleby site:
Subscribe to 24/7 access to step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems and subject matter experts on standby when you're stuck. *One month free trial starts at time of purchase. After your trial, your subscription automatically renews at $9.99/month. Cancel at any time.
Rent/Mortgage Assistance Programs Available to Help Qualified Students
CSET (Community Services Employment Training) has two rent/mortgage assistance programs that students may qualify for:
The Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) emergency rental/mortgage assistance program will provide assistance to low- and moderate-income households that have had a reduction in income or became unemployed or have been affected in other ways due the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons applying must meet all applicable income and eligibility requirements. Only one (1) pre-application per household will be accepted.
The Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) is intended to help a family or individual with up to one-month's rent or mortgage. A verifiable hardship is required to receive assistance. Each household may receive this assistance only one time per funding period. Only one (1) pre-application per household will be accepted.
Read the EOPS flyer for details on how you may qualify:
New Free Resources (Including Some Amazing Apps) Available for Students and Faculty
View this University Business resource page to access 120 free resources. While many of them are faculty-specific, there are some excellent apps for students as well that can help with everything from sleep problems and stress to academic tools.
Update to PC Food Pantry Drive Thru for Students
The event will remain every Thursday, although the time will be one hour earlier, from 10:00 – 11:00 to compensate for the heat that we will be experiencing over the summer months. Please share as we would like to make sure we communicate the change and eliminate any confusion. This message has been sent through Navigate to our students.
Dear Porterville College Student,
With schools and many businesses closed, many of you who have not needed the Pirate Pantry services will need assistance more than ever. Porterville College continues to work with Community Food Bank to create a network of support for our students in emergency. Porterville College will be providing no-contact, drive-thru Mobile Pirate Pantry for Porterville College Students. One bag of Groceries will be given to each student. Students must present a current Porterville College Student ID Card or canvas login showing courses with matching picture ID to receive a bag of groceries. Please have the verification items ready when you pull up to receive your bag of groceries. The Drive Thru will be available every Thursday at 10am to 11pm and will be first come first served, beginning April 2, 2020. The drive-thru will take place in the parking lot located in front of the AC building. There will be clear signage upon entry and we ask that all participants practice social distancing. There will be marked locations that you should adhere to, while you wait your turn. We are facing unknown and unpredictable needs in the coming months and your college is working to assist in meeting those needs.
Stay Safe and Healthy,
Porterville College
Office of Financial Aid
100 E. College Ave.
Porterville, CA 93257
2020-2021 Academic Calendar Now Available
Click to view the academic calendar for 2020-2021:
Congratulations to the 2020 Porterville College Medal of Distinction Recipients
Each department has created a special video message for their recipient. Click the videos below to view.
Ivan Villanueva: Medal Recipient in Teacher Education
Jacob Roper, Kayla Drake, and Mae Vercnocke: Medal Recipients in Natural Science
Aiden Willet: Medal Recipient in Fine Arts
Joshua Reagan: Medal Recipient in Mathematics
Heathy Ochoa: Medal Recipient in Communication Studies
Alan Mata: Medal Recipient in Engineering
Porterville College Virtual Art Exhibition 2020 Now Available to View
The Fine Arts Department has found a way to keep a long held PC tradition alive with the 2020 “Virtual” Student Exhibition. Click the video below to begin exploring the latest works of art created by Porterville College.
The PC Update has gone VIRTUAL.
Click on the graphic below to view our new interactive version of PCs Monthly Newsletter!
Financial help is available to help you make it through the COVID-19 Challenges!
APPLY NOW to the CA College Student Emergency Support Fund!
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2224 to schedule an appointment
International Students
559-791-2220
NextUp
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2224 to schedule an appointment
Transfer Center Services
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2329 to schedule an appointment
Student Health Services
559-791-2212
Student Wellness Services
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2329 to schedule an appointment
Student Fees
559-791-2220
Computer Commons
559-791-2256
Veterans Resource Center
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2222 to schedule an appointment
Pirate Pantry
559-791-2301
Library
559-791-2318
Learning Center
559-791-2227
Unless otherwise noted, this plan will remain in effect through the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience as we work through this unprecedented event. If you have any further questions, you may call 559-791-2200.
What You Should Do Now
Now is the time to consider your own readiness for participating in online classes. Some factors to consider:
Canvas – Are you familiar with, or have you used, Canvas (Learning Management System)? If you have not, or if it has been a while, now is the time to get more familiar with this tool. Canvas is where most online instruction will occur. Access Canvas on a computer through InsidePC or download the Canvas app to your smartphone:
Below are links to the Canvas Guide for students, the Canvas 101 course shell that houses support videos for students, and the YouTube Canvas tutorial channel for students:
Available technology – We recognize that not all students have ready access to the technology needed (including computers and high-speed internet access) to participate in online classes. We are asking faculty and staff to be as flexible as possible during these circumstances. Remember that, in most cases, you can access all the tools necessary to take online classes (including Canvas) on your smartphone or mobile device. We are looking at the feasibility of providing limited access to the The LRC and Library according to guidelines provided by health officials.
Tutorial services also will be available via Canvas and Zoom.
To view information flyers about drive thru COVID testing locations, click on the following images:
Resource Directory
The following information provides a helpful list of resources and contact information for students during the COVID-19 crisis.
Crisis Intervention and Emergency Services
This table provides a list of emergency services and resources and their phone numbers. For users with smart phones, tap the number to begin a phone call or text message on your mobile device.
CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which has now been detected in 60 locations internationally, including the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”).
On January 31, 2020, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-19.
The following video, made by a medical professional who works exclusively with COVID-19 patients at a premier hospital in New York City, provides a balanced explanation that answers the most common questions about the virus. Its informed insight (grounded in experience rather than speculation as often seen in the news media) will help dispel fears and myths about the COVID-19 crisis.
Source and spread of the virus
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, and now with this new virus (named SARS-CoV-2).
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a betacoronavirus, like MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. All three of these viruses have their origins in bats. The sequences from U.S. patients are similar to the one that China initially posted, suggesting a likely single, recent emergence of this virus from an animal reservoir.
Early on, many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread. Person-to-person spread was subsequently reported outside Hubei and in countries outside China, including in the United States. Some international destinations now have apparent community spread with the virus that causes COVID-19, meaning some people have been infected who are not sure how or where they became infected. Learn what is known about the spread of newly emerged coronaviruses.
How COVID-19 spreads
Current understanding about how the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads is largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses. COVID-19 is a new disease and there is more to learn about how it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, and to what extent it may spread in the United States.
Person-to-person spread
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. However, as noted by the doctor in the video above, it requires sustained contact for about 15 to 30 minutes in a closed space to get the virus through the air. The most common way of infection by far is when you touch your face after touching a surface with the virus.
Can someone spread the virus without being sick?
People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).
Some spread might be possible before people show symptoms; there have been reports of this occurring with this new coronavirus, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
How easily does the virus spread?
How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious (spread easily), like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained. The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community (“community spread”) in some affected geographic areas. Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.
Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria, worldwide spread of the new virus.
Current risk assessment:
For the general American public, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered high enough to warrant social distancing practices and other strategies to help "flatten the curve" of the spread, which will avoid an overload of the healthcare system.
Close contacts of persons with COVID-19 are also at an elevated risk of exposure, though people who wash their hands and avoid touching their face can avoid getting the virus even if they have a person in their household with the virus (as noted by the doctor in the information video under the Coronavirus).
Travelers returning from affected international locations where community spread is occurring are also at elevated risk of exposure.
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure*:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Call your healthcare professional if you have shortness of breath, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or if you have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19
Prevention
There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoid close 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, 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 well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
Handwashing can help prevent illness.It involves five simple and effective steps--Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry--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. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Treatment
There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
The following links provide guidelines and information on dealing with operations during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, below these links you can view a graphic that explains what to do after you are tested for COVID:
