NorthWest Arkansas Community College

View document: NWACC Return to Operations Academics Fall 2020

Face-to-Face Delivery:

• For some courses, class delivery will be the traditional method of face-to-face instruction. This is particularly true for NWACC’s technical programs and lab courses.
  
  
• Classes will meet as scheduled. Prepare for possible changes required if NWACC needs to move to online later in the semester.
  
  
• For faculty who self-identify as having underlying health conditions which may enhance their risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and believe they cannot safely perform their teaching assignments, deans should refer the faculty member to Human Resources.
  
  
• It is possible that some students will self-identify as having underlying health conditions that enhance the risk from COVID-19 and thus limit their ability to attend face-to-face classes. Refer students to the Director of Disability Resources.

Hybrid Face-to-Face with Social Distancing and Remote Synchronous Deliveries:

• Classes will meet as scheduled. Prepare for possible changes required if NWACC needs to move to online later in the semester.
  
  
• The number of individuals in a classroom at any one time will be limited to 30% of room capacity as determined in AdAstra, while the larger percentage of students will access the class remotely, in real time, through classroom camera equipment. Certain programs may have additional protocols documented as to room capacities and additional safety protocols.
  
  
• Face-to-face participants will utilize social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet between other participants or separated by a physical barrier. Face-to-face participants will be limited to individuals registered with the Office of Disability Services or have requested academic assistance with the faculty member and academic dean (developmental courses as an example).
  
  
• Facilities is working to set up classrooms and laboratories in a manner that allows for social distancing.
  
  
• As much as possible, move lab exercises, hands on activities, and clinical assignments closer to the beginning of the semester to mitigate issues that could arise if there is a need to move all online occurs.
  
  
• Promoting social distancing in classrooms and to meet students’ needs, NWACC Information Technology and Facilities departments are currently working on plans for classrooms to have limited capacity and the ability to teach utilizing camera equipment. Once installed, training will be provided to faculty and staff on the usage of all new classroom technology.

Online or Remote Delivery:

• For online instruction at NWACC, faculty members must have successfully completed the Canvas Advanced training.
  
  
• The Office of Distance Learning will be providing multiple faculty development opportunities highlighting best practices for both online and hybrid instruction.
  
  
• The Arkansas Department of Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission, and U.S Department of Education have been notified of increased online and hybrid methods of instruction.

Offsite Delivery of Instruction:

• Protocols will be established for offsite delivery of instruction working with the appropriate academic supervisor, including the Dean of Health Professions and Dean of Adult Education.

TERM	DEFINITION
Synchronous Hours	General consistent scheduled course hours that generally take place in a specific lab/classroom. Synchronous course hours can be delivered either in a face-to-face format or remotely.
Asynchronous Hours	Courses are not scheduled to meet at specific date or time and learning happens via pre-recorded session or other virtual forms of lessons.
Half - Synchronous Hours (Remote)	Courses are scheduled to meet a minimum of 50% of the course length face-to-face on campus at predetermined times, for specific lengths in assigned rooms and with the other half of the course delivered via prerecorded sessions or other virtual forms of lessons.

 

MODALITY	DEFINITION	SCHEDULING	TYPE
Face-to-Face (F2F)	Course meets at a predetermined time for a predetermined length in a scheduled room (synchronous learning).	F2F/ Rotation A/B Split	Synchronous
Hyflex	Course is scheduled similar to face-to-face courses. The student has the choice to attend in class or by video conferencing platform at a specific scheduled time.	F2F/ Rotation A/B Split	Synchronous
Remote	Course is scheduled similar to face-to-face courses. The student attends by a video conferencing platform at a specific scheduled time.	F2F/ Rotation A/B Split	Synchronous
Hybrid	Course is scheduled to meet a minimum of 50% face-to-face and 50% online.	Flipped	Half -Synchronous
Remote Hybrid	Course is scheduled to meet a minimum of 50% using a remote video conferencing platform and 50% online.	Flipped/ Rotation A/B/ Online	Half -Synchronous
Online	Course meets fully in a virtual environment with no on-campus component.	Online	Asynchronous

 

SCHEDULING OPTIONS DEFINED

Rotation A/B - F2F	A/B Rotation with remote synchronous instruction (i.e. turn on the camera when you walk into the classroom). No other online element (Cap and Split or Synchronous Hybrid).	Synchronous
Remote	Course will be held at a specific time but on a video conferencing platform. All students attend remotely.	Synchronous
Flipped With Rotation	Didactic portion recorded and students do on their own time. Students come to class one day a week for a classroom activity, assignment, lab, etc.	Asynchronous
Fully Online	Didactic portion recorded and students do on their own time. Students come to class one day a week for a classroom activity, assignment, lab, etc.	Asynchronous

 

 

 

Please view the COVID-19 Daily Checklist. You are asked to review this each day before leaving home.

When entering a campus building, please disinfect hands, wear a face covering, and read through the Daily Checklist to perform another self-screening of COVID symptoms.

NWACC will NOT be taking body temperatures.

Stay updated on NWACC's face covering guidelines by visiting the face coverings page.

NWACC is NOT requiring that you receive the vaccine, but encouraging it, so the choice is up to you. You can find COVID-19 vaccine locations on the Arkansas Department of Health’s vaccination locator website, or search local pharmacies or local vaccine clinics. 

Please educate yourself on any of the vaccine’s risks and consult your physician if you are high risk, have known allergies or have other concerns. You should always seek medical advice before receiving a new vaccine. View the CDC website to learn about possible vaccine reactions. 

 

NWACC encourages you to practice social distancing. Please be sure to watch for posters and signage throughout campus advising to maintain a 6 ft. distance from others as per CDC guidelines.

MEETINGS: Employees are encouraged to limit meeting sizes and social distance, as well as utilize Microsoft Teams and phone meetings, whenever possible. 

BREAKS/MEALS: Employees are strongly encouraged to stagger break times and meal times to maximize social distancing. 

Many employees checked out technology and equipment which will now be required to return to campus in order to perform your job duties. The college does not have the ability to allow you to have technology setup at home and in your campus office work space. You will need to consider this when returning to campus and in your plans for taking equipment safely back home with you if you will be working remotely on a hybrid basis.

Please maintain good sanitizing habits with all items you bring into the building.

Employees are encouraged to NOT share food or drinks. All employees are also encouraged to be diligent about disinfecting any appliances before and after use to prevent the spread of germs.

You may want to consider the old ways of sharing coffee pots and food supplies (such as coffee creamer), and using microwaves and refrigerators with groups of other people - Think through how you can best navigate this by bringing a thermos of coffee from home, or packing lunch in a small cooler. These are just a few suggestions regarding how you can help keep yourself and others around you safe.

NOTE: Due to limitations in all offices and on all campus circuits, employees are not authorized to bring in additional individual coffee pots, refrigerators and microwaves. 

It is strongly advised that each employee use their own office equipment WHEN POSSIBLE and not share office supplies such as pens, paper, notebooks, etc.

Please disinfect all shared equipment like printers and copiers before and after each use to prevent the spread of germs.

The college’s custodial service will be increasing rounds of cleaning throughout campus to ensure work spaces are sanitized.

Facilities will be supplying areas (distribution to be determined) with additional sanitizing spray and paper towels. Please do your part to help keep personal office spaces and shared work spaces disinfected.

You may bring your own disinfecting supplies from home, but please be sure that no bleach products are used as these can damage furnishings, carpets, chairs, etc. 

COVID-19 Related Terms, Definitions & Guidelines:

Positive (or presumed positive):
An individual who has been tested by a medical provider or facility for COVID-19 (coronavirus) because he/she has symptoms or believes to have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Testing: There are two different types of tests used to diagnose an individual with COVID-19: Antigen test and PCR laboratory test.

Antigen Test (Rapid Test) – Detects COVID-19 by antigen test in a respiratory specimen. 

• Antigen test is also referred to as a rapid test, as results can be returned to the person in as little as 15 minutes (and up to 2-hours).
• For the antigen/rapid test, the result of negative is not sufficient to provide an accurate determination of COVID-19. This is due to the fact that Antigen tests have a higher rate of false negative results. Antigen tests that are returned as negative must be followed by a PCR test.
• If you receive a negative result and you are symptomatic or have been exposed to a known positive, it is also critical that you follow up with a PCR test. Do not assume you are negative.

 PCR Test (Standard Laboratory Test) - Molecular tests, such as RT-PCR tests, that detect the virus’s genetic material.

• PCR tests look for the presence of antibodies, which are proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies are detected in the blood of people who are tested after infection; they show the body’s efforts to fight off a specific infection (cdc.gov).
• Currently, test results are returned in 1-5 days.
• PCR tests are more accurate than antigen/rapid tests.

Symptomatic:  Someone who has symptoms of the COVID-19 virus that exhibits:

• Symptoms appear between 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
• Symptoms may include:
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath of difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Isolation: Isolation separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick (cdc.gov). Example: A person who lives in your home is diagnosed with COVID-19. This person needs to be isolated to a separate room and bathroom in the house, if possible.

Quarantine: Separates and restricts the movement of people who were diagnosed with and/or exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick (cdc.gov). 

View the CDC website to learn more about what "exposure" to COVID-19 means and when to quarantine and/or isolate.  

COVID-19 Case Reporting:

If you have experienced ANY of the following: 

• Symptoms related to COVID-19 and/or
• Tested positive for COVID-19
• DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS
• Report this information to your direct supervisor. 
• Do not return to campus until directed to do so by your supervisor.

NOTE: The CDC has updated guidance for persons who are exposed to the virus. View CDC information on exposure.

Responding to a COVID-19 Report:

If you're a faculty member or supervisor who has had a student or employee report a positive COVID-19 case to you, please follow the response checklist and training information that is accessible in Canvas.