Porterville College
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
Contact your supervisor if you have any questions and consider wearing a mask when outdoors. To monitor the air quality, go to: https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Porterville&state=CA&country=USA
NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 Crisis, we will NOT be ticketing cars in the campus parking lots during the 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.
To view the PC Update, click on the following image:
CSET (Community Services Employment Training) has two rent/mortgage assistance programs that students may qualify for:
Apply here: https://www.cset.org/covid-19
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:
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.
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
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.
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:
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:
Students Please Note: All Summer 2020 classes will be held online, due to the current COVID 19 crisis.
Online Learning Center Step-by-Step Guide
Financial help is available to help you make it through the COVID-19 Challenges!
to the CA College Student Emergency Support Fund!
Please take the added time to discuss your options with an advisor before you decide to drop.
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!
Dear Porterville College Students,
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 |
Read the EOPS flyer for details on how you may qualify:
Online Learning Center Step-by-Step Guide
California Virtual Campus - Online Education Initiative Resources
PASS Leader Online Study Sessions
Writing Mentor Online Services
Learning Center Faculty Assistance Online
Contact Admissions and Records Online
Ask a Counselor a Question Help Form
General Student Questions and Comments Form
|
Student Support Services |
March 30 – May 15 |
| Academic Support (Tutoring) | 559-791-2227 |
|
Admissions & Records |
559-791-2220 or pcar@portervillecollege.edu |
|
CalWORKs |
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2303 to schedule an appointment |
|
Counseling (General) |
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2329 to schedule an appointment |
|
DRC |
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2215 to schedule an appointment |
|
EOPS |
Remotely via Cranium Café or by phone. Please call 559-791-2224 to schedule an appointment |
|
Financial Aid |
559-791-2301 or pc_faid@portervillecollege.edu |
|
CARE |
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:
To view information flyers about drive thru COVID testing locations, click on the following images:
The following information provides a helpful list of resources and contact information for students during the COVID-19 crisis.
| Services | Phone |
|---|---|
| Emergency Ambulance/Police/Fire | 911 |
| Non-Emergency Porterville Police/Fire | 559-782-7400 |
| National Domestic Violence Hotline | 1-800-799-7233 |
| National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255 |
| Disaster Distress Hotline | 1-800-985-5990 |
| National Sexual Assault | 1-800-656-4673 |
| Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline | 1-888-506-5991 |
| TrevorLifeline- LGBTQ+ Youth Crisis Hotline | 1-866-488-7386 |
| Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline | 1-800-331-1585 |
| Crisis Text Line | 741741 |
| Services | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Family Crisis Center – Women Shelter | 559-784-0192 | CC Family Crisis |
| Family Services of Tulare County | 559-741-7310 | FSTC |
| Open Gate Ministries (men or women w/children) | 559-591-1241 | Open Gate Ministries |
| Visalia Rescue Mission, Shelter of Hope: Women and Children | 559-734-7921 | VRM Hope for Women and Children |
| Visalia Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter | 559-740-4178 | VRM Hope for Men |
| Services | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Food Link Tulare County | 559-651-3663 | Food Link TC |
| PUSD Meals for Students | 559-793-2400 | School Nutrition and Fitness |
| CA Meals for Kids |
Phone App |
Information About the Phone App |
| Helping Hands | 559-784-6235 |
No website available. |
| Porterville Coordinating Council (Love Inc.) | 559-793-0213 | Facebook Page |
| Porterville Rescue Mission | 559-789-9588 |
No website available. |
| City of Porterville – Lunch Program | 559-782-7536 | City of Porterville Lunch Program |
| Services | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency | 559-624-8000 | TCHHSA Online |
| Family Health Care Network | 559-781-7242 | FHCN Online |
| Sierra View Medical Center | 559-784-1110 | Sierra View |
| Health and Human Services Agency | 559-624-8000 | CHHS Online |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | 1-800-232-4636 | CDC Online |
| Services | Phone | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| Porterville Adult Mental Health Clinic | 559-788-1200 | 1055 W Henderson Avenue Porterville, California |
| Alternative Services | 559-783-2402 | Rehabilitation - Drug/Alcohol Counseling |
| Central California Family Crisis Center | 559-784-0192 | CC Family Crisis |
| Porterville Pregnancy Resource Center | 559-782-1225 | Porterville PRC Online |
| Kings View Tulare & Kings County | 1-877-306-2413 | Kings View |
| Family Health Care Network, Behavioral Health | 559-781-7242 | FHCN Services Online |
| Porterville Wellness Center Current Members, Phone Appointments | 559-256-1183 | Porterville Wellness Center is closed to the public, but they have wellness kits and informational pieces outside the building. |
| Services | Phone |
|---|---|
| Parenting Network | 559-793-2527 |
| Porterville Pregnancy Resource Center | 559-782-1225 |
| Porterville Youth Services | 559-788-1200 |
| Turning Point (Youth Services) | 559-783-6492 |
| Victim/Witness Assistance | 559-782-4835 |
| Services | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| CSET | 559-732-4194 | CSET |
| CSET: Energy Assistance | 1-844-224-1316 | CSET Energy Assistance |
| Free Tax Preparation (VITA) | 559-741-4640 | VITA Online |
| Services | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Central California Legal Services | 1-800-350-3654 | Central Cal Legal |
| Legal Aid of Tulare County | 559-733-8770 | Legal Aid of Tulare County Online |
| O.L.A. Raza | 559-784-1121 | O.L.A. Raza Online |
| Tulare County Family Court | 559-733-6052 | Tulare County Family Court |
| Tulare County Child Abduction Unit | 559-733-6623 | Tulare County Child Abduction Unit |
| CHIRLA | (213)353-1333 | CHIRLA Online |
California Community Colleges - PISCES Free Online Tutoring Software
Online Health and Wellness Resources
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: