Latest COVID-19 News Updates

NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 Crisis, we will NOT be ticketing cars in the campus parking lots during the Fall Semester. 

• Guidance for Private Gatherings: 10/9/20 Update from the California Department of Public Health 
• COVID-19 INDUSTRY GUIDANCE: Expanded Personal Care Services 
• Guidance for wearing Face Coverings from the CA Dept. of Public Health 
• Guidance for wearing Face Coverings from the CA Dept. of Public Health (Spanish)
• Porterville Enforcing State-Issued COVID-19 Mask Rules With Citations and Fines
• COVID-19 update: Numbers on rise, PDC facility to open, outbreak at Porterville Convalescent
• Gavin Newsom issues statewide mask order: Californians must wear face coverings in public 6-18-20
• #COVID19 Update for Tulare County. June 16, 2020
• Coronavirus update: Tulare County continues to be area of concern to state (6-15-20)

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

Food Aid for Students Available Through Tulare County

View the FoodLink calendar for October 2020 for assistance with food.

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.

Click here for more information and to subscribe: Homework Done Fast

An Important Message From President Habib About the Fall 2020 Semester

The PC Update for July 2020 is Now Available

Want to Make Your First Year at PC a Success? Interdisciplinary Studies and Student Success Courses Now Being Offered!

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.

Apply here: https://www.cset.org/covid-19

A Message from the Porterville College President Regarding the Fall Semester (6-15-20)

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

These past three months have been unlike anything anyone has ever experienced. Our traditional learning practices, campus activities and celebrations have been disrupted, and for many of us, the confusing uncertainty is making us feel that our lives are on hold.

It has been inspiring to watch everyone in our PC family come together to address the crisis caused by the pandemic with resiliency, and adapting to these unforeseen and unpredictable circumstances.

At Porterville College we strive to offer the best academic college experience, no matter the modality or location. With the Spring semester behind us, we now focus on the future, we assess the lessons learned and we study the best way to ensure academic continuity in the Fall semester. Many on campus have worked diligently to explore all available options and to monitor this evolving situation. A faculty and staff taskforce have spent a great deal of time studying the viability of returning to campus, and has outlined safety protocols needed to achieve this potential return.

This Fall Semester, we will be implementing a hybrid approach in which instruction and support services will be predominantly online, with a few exceptions. Our decision is based on our regional context as it relates to the pandemic, and respecting county, state and federal orders. Public officials’ updates of the evolving data surrounding the progression of COVID 19 suggests that we can expect further waves of the virus later this year.

The following three priorities were taken into consideration:

Health and Safety

Minimizing the risk of infection for our students, faculty and staff is paramount. The majority of classes will continue to be held online through the fall to reduce exposure, and to mitigate the spread of this disease.

Academic Continuity

Preserving educational opportunities and helping students advance towards their educational goals is our focus. These are the future professionals who will help us recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Adaptability and Support

We will continue to be flexible and adaptable in response to the evolving situation while providing support through trainings, communication, access to technology and tools.

The following are some of the general guidelines that we have in place. Additional details will be provided by each department:

Student Services:

Student Support services will continue to operate virtually through the Summer and Fall. In general, students should check with the counseling and student support service offices using our website. We encourage students to take advantage of whatever options are offered during this difficult time. We remain committed to their mental health through our Counseling Center, and to address food insecurities through the Food Pantry. Students’ financial aid situations will vary. They should remain enrolled so they are eligible for financial aid. Access to financial aid assistance will be available online or by phone.

Both existing and new co-curricular events will be held online, including student clubs and ASPC meetings.

Instruction:

We will deliver a rigorous and innovative academic experience for all students regardless of the mode of delivery. Very few classes or labs will be taught in person on campus. This applies to those courses that are impossible to teach online in areas such as Allied Health, Industrial Maintenance, Fire Academy, EMT, to name a few. We will be converting those classes into a low-density model following strict safety and social distancing protocols that will be enforced to ensure your health and safety. Faculty will provide more information to their students.

Faculty Training:

Faculty will continue to teach their courses via Zoom, Canvas and other remote methods. Webinars, tools and digital resources and training sessions are available through the summer to support quality online instruction. Faculty are diligently creating high-impact learning experiences and they are now more prepared than during the original transition to online learning.

Athletics

The conference will offer guidelines for competition as we transition from Stage 3 to Stage 4 according to evolving state and county health measures. While this guidance does not completely eliminate uncertainty, it should nonetheless provide opportunity for student-athletes to experience the many benefits of being part of intercollegiate athletics. We should continue to field teams for the Fall term regardless of our ability to ultimately compete.

Campus Operations:

Access to campus facilities will be restricted to limited hours and essential personnel. The bookstore will continue to meet the needs of students through our website. Access to the fitness center will be limited to student athletes and their coaches, but will be closed to the general student population and the public. There will be no food services or large events. We have doubled down on our cleaning and sanitation rotations for classrooms, public spaces and restrooms to ensure the cleanest possible environment.

In addition, we are extending WiFi access to the campus parking lots located by the Academic Center and technology tools such as laptops and MiFi hotspots will still be available through the library’s loaner program. We believe this plan is reasonable and is the best way to ensure the health and safety of our campus community while maintaining the high-quality education experience you have come to expect from PC. We are resilient, we have PC Spirit and together we will see this crisis through.

Dr. Claudia Habib

President, Porterville College

Interested in Free EOPS Resources?

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

ESL Express Enrollment Coming Soon - June 4th, 2020

Excessive Heat Warning in Effect May 26 Through May 28

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Tulare County in effect from May 26, 12:00 PM PDT until May 28, 07:00 PM PDT. Criteria for an excessive heat warning is a heat index of 105 °F or greater that will last for 2 hours or more. An Extreme Heat Warning means that some people can be seriously affected by heat if precautions are not taken. Please review the following Adobe Spark Extreme Heat Presentation for safety tips and resources.

2020-2021 Academic Calendar Now Available

Click to view the academic calendar for 2020-2021:

2020-2021 Academic Year Calendar

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.

Attention Graduates: Want to Purchase a Cap and Gown as a Keepsake? Online Ordering is Now Available

Class Name Change (INST to STSS)

Interdisciplinary Studies (INST) has changed to Student Success (STSS). See the flyer for details on which classes this will affect.

A Message to the PC Community

Porterville College President, Dr. Claudia Habib, shares some important updates about COVID-19 (4/20/20). To select different sections of the video, click the topics below. Click the YouTube image to watch the full video:

• Great things are happening at PC

• Summer/Fall Registration

• 2020 Commencement News

• Upcoming Student Survey

• Exciting Financial News (Financial Help for Students)

• We Need Your Help, Pirates!

Click the following video to watch the full-length update from Dr. Habib:

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!

Do your part to help your fellow Pirates in need.  Visit the Porterville College Foundation COVID-19 Student Relief Page. 

Students, please note the following:

• In response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, all Porterville College classes will be conducted online.
• The deadline to drop classes has been extended to April 9 to give you time to properly adjust to the virtual environment.
• Please take the added time to discuss your options with an advisor before you decide to drop.

Call Us

A video message to students from Porterville College President, Dr. Claudia Habib (4/6/20):

A video message to students from Porterville College President, Dr. Claudia Habib (3/30/20):

A video message to students from Porterville College President, Dr. Claudia Habib (3/22/20):

In English:  https://youtu.be/JFzvlZ5TDKw

In Spanish: https://youtu.be/wECVN2TjdJ8

Archive of Updates

Porterville College has been tracking the COVID-19 situation from its earliest stages. You can view past updates and notices on the archive page.