As the fall semester gets underway at Craven Community College, we want to remind you that we have been making efforts to protect the health and safety of students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The safety and wellbeing of our faculty, staff, students, and visitors is our highest priority. As such, we are committed to taking the necessary steps to help our college community feel protected in accordance with safety measures intended to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Following guidance from the governor, public health officials, and the North Carolina Community College System Office, Craven CC has enacted numerous safety guidelines and protocols as it begins to offer face-to-face instruction and services that include registration, advising, and academic support services.
Below is an FAQ that we hope will help you understand some of the protocols and changes you can expect on our New Bern, Havelock, and Volt Center campuses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will there be face-to-face classes in Fall 2020?
Craven Community College will begin classes on August 19, 2020 in several formats including face-to-face, hybrid, and online. There will be more online classes offered, and thus there will be fewer students on campus. The College is following the guidelines and recommendations of the federal Centers for Disease Control, State Department of Health and Human Services, and our local Craven County Health Department to minimize the risk of exposure to and spread of COVID-19.
Are face coverings/masks required at Craven? Will I have to wear one all day?
All students, faculty, and staff coming to campus must HAVE a mask. Students should bring their own masks to campus. Craven Community College is requiring masks be worn in areas where an individual is unable to social distance themselves from others. Your instructor may require you to wear a mask in their class. Please check your syllabus and your email prior to class start to determine if masks are required. Remember: wearing a mask not only protects you from contracting the virus, it also protects those around you from becoming sick.
What if I forget to bring a face covering to campus?
The Security Office can provide you with a disposable mask if you forget to bring a face covering to campus. Your instructor will have disposable masks available in the event a student forgets to bring their mask to class. You may consider securing your mask to your clothing or keeping it folded in your pocket so that it doesn’t get misplaced. Masks should not be shared with other individuals.
What if I cannot wear a mask for medical reasons?
The safety of Craven Community College’s students, faculty, and staff is a priority. The College will make every attempt to accommodate you if you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons. You may be asked by your instructor to distance yourself in the classroom by sitting in a designated area. In the event accommodations cannot be reasonably made, you will be directed to an advisor to look at alternatives to your course schedule.
What if I refuse to wear a mask?
Students, faculty, and staff are required to HAVE a mask on campus. Students are required to follow instructions provided by faculty and staff. If you refuse to wear a mask, you could be in violation of the student Code of Conduct and subject to sanctions up to and including suspension from the College.
What is Craven Community College doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
The College has hired a professional cleaning company, in addition to its existing housekeeping staff, to ensure more frequent cleaning of high traffic areas such as restrooms and classrooms. Door handles and areas that are frequently touched will be cleaned more often as well. Other interventions put in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19 infection include:
- Smaller class sizes and distancing in the classroom; in some cases, larger class spaces will be used to enable social distancing (e.g. Orringer Auditorium, AMC Tiered Classroom)
- Sanitizing spray and towels will be available in classrooms so that tables can be wiped down following class
- Students, faculty, and staff must HAVE a mask on campus; masks may be required by your instructor during class
- Hand sanitizer dispensers inside each building entrance
- Plexiglass shields at reception areas across campus
- Wall signage and floor decals across campus reminding students, faculty, and staff to maintain social distancing or wear a face covering
- Procedures to deal with potential or real cases of Covid-19 on campus
How will I know if I have COVID-19?
A COVID-19 test is the only definitive way to diagnose the presence of the virus. People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms – ranging from mild to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus and may include the following:
- Fever or chills
- Cough, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea (CDC.gov)
What if I become sick while at the College?
If you don’t feel well or become sick while at the College, please leave campus and go home or to your doctor right away. If you are in class, let your instructor know that you are not feeling well and he/she will send you home. Your instructor will direct you on how to make up the coursework you miss.
If you seek medical care and your doctor of other health personnel advise you to be tested for COVID-19, do not return to class until the result of that test is communicated to you. If the test is positive, you will be quarantined for 10-14 days. If the test is negative, monitor your symptoms and do not return to class until you are without symptoms and a fever for 24 hours.
What if I test positive for COVID-19?
If you test positive for COVID-19, do not return to classes until you are released by your doctor or the Health Department. Those who test positive must quarantine for 10-14 days and any contacts that you have had will be contacted by the Health Department (contact tracing) and be quarantined as a safety precaution. You should not return to class until you are fever free for 48 hours and without symptoms.
What if I live with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19?
If you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should be contacted by the Health Department regarding potential quarantine, as you are a direct contact of an individual with COVID-19. If you develop symptoms, please see your doctor to determine your need for testing. You should not return to class until your quarantine period has ended or you are released by a doctor.
What can I do to minimize my risk of contracting COVID-19?
As Craven Community College is taking precautionary steps to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission, you should exercise conscientious preventative hygiene. These steps include:
- Know and practice the three (3) Ws: Wear a face covering; Wait six (6) feet apart and avoid close contact; and Wash hands often or use hand sanitizer
- Wear a mask whenever you are in close proximity to another person
- Avoid crowds; avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- If you are sick, stay home!
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow
- When traveling, monitor the CDC advisories and obey restrictions and quarantines
Helpful Links
Below are several links you can use to obtain up-to-date information regarding COVID-19:
- Centers for Disease Control
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
- NC Chamber of Commerce Resource Guide
- World Health Organization
- Craven County Health Department
- Managing stress during the COVID-19 outbreak
