NOTE:Due to the COVID-19 Crisis, we will NOT be ticketing cars in the campus parking lots during the Spring Semester.
Alert to Students! Tuition Payments Can Only Be Made Online
As a result of the COVID-19 campus closure, Porterville College can only accept payments online. Please do not mail payments. You can make online payments through the InsidePC Portal.
Important Note: ALL CLASSES will be delivered ONLINE this Spring Semester.
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 Spring Semester.
Need Help With Food? Tulare County Has Released Their Food Distribution Calendar For September 2020
An Important Message From President Habib About the Fall 2020 Semester
The PC Update for July 2020 is Now Available
To view the PC Update, click on the following image:
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:
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.
In light of the recent developments concerning COVID-19 and Porterville College's transition to remote instruction, we recognize that students may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. We understand that the transition to remote learning methods may present various levels of access barriers for students, and we want you to know that the Disability Resource Center (DRC) remains committed to supporting each of our students with your transition and success.
DRC is providing remote services such as:
Cranium Video Conference Appointments
Phone Appointments
Email Questions
Assistive Technology Support
Alternate Media
Study Strategies
Sign Language Interpreting and Real Time Captioning
General Questions and Support
And More
DRC phone and email systems have been updated and are now staffed and available during remote operations. Students can now also leave voicemail messages if calls are not answered. Due to limited staffing at this time, response times to email and voicemail may vary with consideration to normal business hours. We will do our best to return calls in a timely manner.
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
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.
ESL Express Enrollment Coming Soon - June 4th, 2020
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.
Attention Graduates: Want to Purchase a Cap and Gown as a Keepsake? Online Ordering is Now Available
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.
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:
Click the following video to watch the full-length update from Dr. Habib:
Update for students from Barnes & Noble College on the status of the PC bookstore in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
On Tuesday, March 24th, Barnes & Noble closed all Barnes & Noble College campus stores to best protect the health and well-being of our employees, students, and campus communities. While they had originally planned to reopen stores on Monday, April 6th, continued developments in the spread of COVID-19 have led them to re-evaluate their plans.
The PC bookstore will remain temporarily closed to the public. Barnes & Noble College management will continue to follow federal, state and campus guidelines for an appropriate re-opening date for all stores.
The PC Bookstore will be ready to support online course material selection and delivery for Summer Session. There will be NO interruption in service for students this summer.
Barnes & Noble has also extended the grace period for rental returns through the first week of Fall classes. They will not be charging any students who were unable to return their books on time.
The PC Bookstore remains open for business online through the following e-commerce site and mobile app - with free shipping for all orders:
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, all of Porterville College's classes are being conducted online. Please contact your instructor for more information.
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.
Beginning April 2, 2020:
PC Food Pantry will Offer Drive-Thru Service
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 to receive a bag of groceries. Please have your ID card ready when you pull up to receive your bag of food. The Drive-Thru will be available every Thursday from 11 am to 12 pm and will be on a first-come-first-served basis, 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 for your turn to receive food. We are facing unknown and unpredictable needs in the coming months and your college is working to assist in meeting those needs. Thank You!
Porterville College is NOT implementing a campus closure. We will be moving all face-to-face classes to online or other alternative format beginning Monday March 30. Spring break will be extended for one week and classes will resume on, March 30.
As of today, March 17, 2020, we have three confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Tulare County.
It remains important to note that the risk to students, faculty and staff continues to below, according to the Tulare County Department of Health and Human Services.
We hope you are enjoying a safe and restful Spring Break. The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our upmost priority. Our mission is to support student success and we will do everything within our power to minimize the impact of this crisis on our students education.
Porterville College is taking appropriate measures and will continue to follow the expert guidance of the Tulare County Department of Health and Human Services and the Kern County Community College District.
To this end, Porterville College, will be transitioning all face-to-face instruction to alternative methods for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester beginning Monday, March 30, 2020. This transition will utilize several online and other alternative platforms. Please check with your professors through Canvas and your campus email to see which methods will apply to you.
The below timeline has been constructed to clearly communicate The Porterville College transition plan at this time.
Important Dates
Wednesday, April 15: VIRTUAL Open Registration Begins for Summer/Fall 2020
Interested in Free EOPS Resources?
Read the EOPS flyer for details on how you may qualify:
Not Sure How to Access the Learning Center's Resources Online?
Use the following guide to better understand the online process for accessing resources from the Learning Center:
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:
