Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Prevention & Response

Summer / Fall Classes

Gov. Ralph Northam’s Executive Order 65 is in effect. While LFCC will continue to offer remote learning, we can now resume limited in-person instruction, including practical training, which had been disrupted this past spring. These classes comply with safety and physical distancing requirements. Our fall semester classes will be primarily online and will continue to offer quality real-time interaction with instructors. Certain practical courses will be on campus, following safety and physical distancing standards.

Access to Campus Buildings Extended

LFCC Students, faculty and staff may now access campus buildings during regularly posted hours found here.

CARES Act Grants

The CARES Act includes a Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) to provide emergency student grants. You may be eligible for emergency student grands through the CARES Act’s Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). Learn more about HEERF Resources.

Face Masks / Coverings Required

Face coverings are required in classrooms and public spaces when social distancing (six feet of separation) cannot be continually maintained for more than 10 minutes.

Student Grade Survey

Please complete the “Student Grade Survey” for each of your Spring 2020 courses so you can let your professor know which grading scale you prefer. You must log into each of your courses in Canvas and complete the survey by Monday, May 4 at 11:59 p.m.

• Student Grade Survey FAQs

Student Access to Campus Buildings: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For the purposes of facilitating remote learning, students are permitted access to campus for the following reasons:

• To gain access to a computer and/or WiFi to complete online services. Students must maintain social distancing standards of 6 feet and sanitize work spaces before and after use with disinfectant wipes. Access to computer labs and buildings is only permitted for LFCC students, faculty and staff.
• To pick up library books or other learning materials requested by the student when advance arrangements have been made.
• To return class assignments, papers, projects, or other communication at the request of faculty.

Employee Access to Campus Buildings: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

• Short visits of one hour or less for work-related activity by employees don’t require prior approval between the hours of 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., but employees are asked to check in with campus police upon arrival.
• Employees coming to campus to work for more than one hour should have prior approval from their supervisor.
• Employees needing access to campus outside of the current operating hours of 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. should have prior approval from their supervisor, and have such notification sent to campus police by email or phone.
• Other requests for access not mentioned above may be sent to Chief Jay Roy by email at [email protected]
• Middletown Campus and Luray-Page County Center: [email protected] or call 540-868-7233 / 540-868-7114
• Fauquier Campus and Vint Hill Site: [email protected] or call 540-351-1555

Grading Policy

The Virginia Community College System is adopting an emergency grading policy for all Spring 2020 classes that end after April 6. Students who wish to receive a traditional earned letter grade may request one from their instructor; however, all others will receive a pass/no pass grade. Read VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois’s letter explaining the policy here: https://www.vccs.edu/vccsblog_post/emergency-grading-policy-for-vccs-spring-2020-classes/

• VCCS Grading Policy / Memorandum
• Dual Enrollment Letter to Parents
• Dual Enrollment Grading FAQ

Classes Will Remain Online

• Classes will remain online for the duration of the spring semester. Students in certain health professions programs with labs or clinicals will receive updates and guidance from their instructors.
• Since summer and fall registration begins in the coming weeks, the College is planning for the Summer Class Schedule to be all online. Federal and state authorities have advised higher education leaders that social distancing requirements are likely to continue into the summer months. As a result, it is safer to plan for online instruction for summer. Should these restrictions be lifted, we can always add late-starting on-site classes.
• The testing center will be closed. The only exception is for a limited number of students who will be contacted directly by their program coordinators to schedule tests by appointment only.
• The library will be closed, but resources are available online through their article databases, eBook collections, and streaming video. If assistance is needed during this time, the library staff can be contacted through text, email, or live chat, using the Contact Us box on the library’s website: lfcc.edu/library. Faculty and students can make library loans remotely with pick up at the security desk.
• The campus bookstores will be closed; however, Follett’s online store remains open with free ground shipping and free e-books where available for affected students: lfcc.edu/bookstore

As the community spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) virus has continued and the number of cases in Virginia has continued to rise, we are forced to make additional changes to our schedule and operations. The following will become effective Monday, March 23, 2020.

Classes Will Remain Online

• Classes will remain online for the duration of the spring semester. Students in certain health professions programs with labs or clinicals will receive updates and guidance from their instructors.
• Since summer and fall registration begins in the coming weeks, the College is planning for the Summer Class Schedule to be all online. Federal and state authorities have advised higher education leaders that social distancing requirements are likely to continue into the summer months. As a result, it is safer to plan for online instruction for summer. Should these restrictions be lifted, we can always add late-starting on-site classes.

Campus Operations

• Effective Monday, March 23, all operations – with limited exceptions, such as student services, campus police and facilities – will be conducted remotely using technology or alternative means. Remote operations will continue at least through August 23.
• Employees who have been approved to telework must request permission from their supervisor before returning to campus. Brief visits to complete mission-critical work will be allowed on an as-needed basis. While our campuses are not closed, staffing is limited to essential personnel only.
• The testing center will be closed. The only exception is for a limited number of students who will be contacted directly by their program coordinators to schedule tests by appointment only.
• The library will be closed, but resources are available online through their article databases, eBook collections, and streaming video. If assistance is needed during this time, the library staff can be contacted through text, email, or live chat, using the Contact Us box on the library’s website: lfcc.edu/library. Faculty and students can make library loans remotely with pick up at the security desk.
• The campus bookstores will be closed; however, Follett’s online store remains open with free ground shipping and free e-books where available for affected students: lfcc.edu/bookstore
• At the Middletown Campus, Subway and the Fitness Center will remain closed through August 23.
• All in-person LFCC events, rentals and student activities are canceled through August 23, unless an event or activity can be conducted at a distance.
• We are aware that some students may need access to wi-fi or a computer for online courses. Others may stop in with questions about enrolling for summer or fall classes. Lastly, there may be occasions when faculty or staff need to access their offices. To accommodate these needs, the following buildings will be open Monday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for limited student or employee access:
• Middletown Campus – Fairfax Hall (enter at the Toxopeus Welcome Center)
• Fauquier Campus – Wolk Hall
• Luray-Page County Center

Student Services and Resources

• More information about student services and resources is available here: https://lfcc.edu/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-prevention-response/coronavirus-student-services/

Events

• All in-person LFCC events, rentals and student activities are canceled through August 23, unless an event or activity can be conducted at a distance.

Employees

• As mentioned previously, all employee operations – except for limited student support and services such as campus police and facilities – will be conducted remotely through August 23. Occasionally, certain employees will be called to campus for specific, mission critical tasks, but we expect this will be rare.
• Employees who have been approved to telework must request permission from their supervisor before returning to campus. Please stay home, stay safe, and keep others safe.
• Departments have done an excellent job planning and coordinating telework agreements. Please note that full-time and part-time employees may be assigned professional development duties as part of their remote work.
• As we learn new information about PHEL (Public Health Emergency Leave), unemployment benefits, workers’ compensation and short-term disability, we will provide updates. The Office of Human Resources will also email updates to supervisors, as needed.

• Professors will use LFCC email and notifications within Canvas to share details about their classes. Students should check LFCC email and Canvas frequently. Course instructions will also be posted in Canvas. For those who haven’t taken online courses before, there is a self-paced tutorial that explains how to use Canvas to complete online coursework. This tutorial is located on the Canvas dashboard and titled “Building with Canvas.“
• The testing center will be closed. The only exception is for a limited number of students who will be contacted directly by their program coordinators to schedule tests by appointment only.
• The library will be closed, but resources are available online through their article databases, eBook collections, and streaming video. If assistance is needed during this time, the library staff can be contacted through text, email, or live chat, using the Contact Us box on the library’s website: lfcc.edu/library. Faculty and students can make library loans remotely with pick up at the security desk.
• The campus bookstores will be closed; however, Follett’s online store remains open with free ground shipping and free e-books where available for affected students: lfcc.edu/bookstore
• More information about student services and resources is available here: https://lfcc.edu/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-prevention-response/coronavirus-student-services/
• LFCC Students, faculty and staff may now access campus buildings during regularly posted hours found here.
• COVID-19 Testing Notice: LFCC’s priority during the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) pandemic is to maintain the health and safety of our students, employees and community. If you believe you may have contracted the virus and are being tested, or a member of your household is being tested, and you have been on one of our campuses within the past two weeks, please let us know so that we may adequately clean campus areas and prepare a response.
• Students: Please contact Caroline Wood, Associate Vice President of Academic and Student Support at [email protected] for additional guidance.
• If you had close contact with a person ill with COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Health recommends that you stay at home for 14 days after the last time you saw the person and practice social distancing. Please follow the guidance of your medical provider and the VDH.

• All operations – with limited exceptions, will be conducted remotely using technology or alternative means.
• Staying home or self-isolating when appropriate: Notify your supervisor and stay/go home in the following scenarios:
• You are ill/not feeling well
• You have had recent close contact with a person with COVID-19
• You have tested positive for COVID-19 or have any COVID-19 symptoms as noted on the CDC website.
• Symptom and Illness Reporting: Regardless of whether on-site or working remote, if you are experiencing any symptoms as noted on the CDC website, you must contact Human Resources within 24 hours. This information enables our leadership to monitor health conditions and is part of our return to campus plan.
• Please contact JoAnn Ellwood, Associate Vice President of Human Resources at [email protected] for additional guidance.

• Effective June 11, 2020, LFCC Workforce Solutions Professional Development and Continuing Education will resume courses and programs. For student and instructor COVID 19 safety guidelines, please visit this page: https://lfccworkforce.com/covid-19-student-and-instructor-guidelines/

• All Adult Education classes have been moved to an online model, and students are being directly contacted by their instructors to coordinate these services.

• Consultants are available to answer business questions via telephone, email, or video meetings. Please email [email protected] or call 540-868-7094 with any questions or to make an appointment. Here is the
• Here is the latest link from the SBA on the SBA Disaster Relief Programs: https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19
• Please visit https://lfsbdc.org/coronavirus for more information.

• All in-person LFCC events, rentals and student activities are canceled through August 23, unless an event or activity can be conducted at a distance. The college will continue to monitor and heed recommendations from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health, and will update this policy as the situation warrants. If you have questions regarding a previously scheduled event, please contact the coordinator of the event. We are exploring alternate ways or dates to celebrate and honor our students, employees, donors, community leaders, and, most importantly, our graduates. Many of these events typically occur in April and May.
• Commencement: With guidance from the CDC, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), the Chancellor of the VCCS and the community college presidents across Virginia have made the difficult decision to not hold May commencement ceremonies. For more information, please visit lfcc.edu/commencement.