Porterville College
Classes that are listed in the schedule as "Flexible" are still ONLINE classes. They simply do not have a single set meeting time (asynchronous). All "Flexible" classes have varying meeting times that will be specified by your instructor.
Classes listed as "Scheduled" are also ONLINE courses. These classes will have specific meeting times (i.e. Tuesdays at 4:00 pm).
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 Crisis, we will NOT be ticketing cars in the campus parking lots during the Fall Semester.
CSET (Community Services Employment Training) has two rent/mortgage assistance programs that students may qualify for:
Apply here: https://www.cset.org/covid-19
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
Read the EOPS flyer for details on how you may qualify:
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.
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
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.
Click to view the academic calendar for 2020-2021:
2020-2021 Academic Year Calendar
Each department has created a special video message for their recipient. Click the videos below 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.
Click the button below to visit the online store for Class of 2020 cap and gown keepsakes--available for the same price as you would pay if you were purchasing them in-person at the campus store:
Interdisciplinary Studies (INST) has changed to Student Success (STSS). See the flyer for details on which classes this will affect.
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:
Click the following video to watch the full-length update from Dr. Habib:
Students, please note the following:
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
Porterville College has been tracking the COVID-19 situation from its earliest stages. You can view past updates and notices on the archive page.
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:
CDC has developed guidance to help in the risk assessment and management of people with potential exposures to COVID-19.
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*:
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
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:
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.
For more in-depth information and to stay up-to-date with current conditions please visit the Kern County Public Health website at https://kernpublichealth.com/2019-novel-coronavirus/
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:
