GCC announces partial campus closures and switches to virtual learning
Glendale Community College announced Thursday its Verdugo and Garfield campuses will partially close, and many classes will switch to online platforms indefinitely starting March 18.
School administrators confirmed that as of press deadline they are not aware of diagnosed coronavirus cases or exposure risks related to the campuses but are taking precautionary measures.
All classes from March 16 to 17 are canceled so faculty can switch to Canvas, a platform that allows professors to post assignments, information and grades. The campuses will remain open for courses that require in-classroom activity such as science labs, physical education, cooking and welding. Educators are expected to communicate with their respective students to provide direction.
“[Health officials are] suggesting keeping people at least 6 feet apart. We can do that in the library. We can do that at the cafeteria and in our lab,” said Drew Sugars, the college’s director of communications and community relations.
For classes switched to online learning, instructors plan to meet with their students on the same day and time as previously scheduled through Canvas virtual conference. Students who don’t have access to digital devices and Wi-Fi could use on-campus computers at both sites. There are also laptops available for check out at the Verdugo Campus Library.
All college staff will be available on campus to meet student needs, but some services are available over the phone or through online platforms like academic counseling. Public events estimated to attract no more than 100 people will continue as planned. Non-essential travel for staff and student trips is prohibited.
When asked what the consequences students, faculty and staff would face with the changes, Sugars said, “We want to keep the courses going all the way through spring ... We want to give a valuable educational experience. We don’t want to just go through the motions.”
He added, “We’re not going to furlough anybody. Nobody is being asked to stay home because there’s no work. The only people we would ask to stay home is for self-quarantine and we don’t have anybody doing that yet.”
The facilities department is working to sterilize classrooms and common areas with disinfectant wipes, including doorknobs and keyboards. Pedestal hand sanitizers were ordered several weeks ago but have not arrived, according to Sugars.
“We recognize that these are extreme measures that will not satisfy everyone. Please know that these decisions have been made with the best of intentions and a focus on health and safety,” stated Supt./ President David Viar in a March 12 letter.
Some students have criticized the college’s communications.
On Wednesday, Brenda Valenzuela said she did not receive any communications until this week. For her, it translated to “lack of worry or concern for the student body.”
Valenzuela added she’d prefer if the college “not let it get to the point where we do have a case on campus, then close down.”
She’s concerned about possibly bringing the virus home and exposing it to her father who has diabetes and a weakened immune system.
Previous college communications about the coronavirus include emails on March 9 and 12 addressed to students, faculty and staff.
Sugars said there was a page dedicated to coronavirus information set up in January but the college “walked a fine line because we wanted to make sure people had a resource, but we also did not want to create anxiety for people.”
The college created a page with the latest announcements, information on Canvas for students and faculty, list of courses meeting face-to-face and general coronavirus information through glendale.edu/COVID19.
