COVID-19 Resources COVID-19 Update
Please visit the COVID-19 FAQ page for additional information.
In accordance with the Illinois Governor’s Stay at Home order, Lake Land College is restricting access to college buildings and grounds to ensure the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff.
We will continue working closely with the Coles County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health to take the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our college community.
This page is a starting point for information and updates about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our campus. We hope these resources and links will answer questions you might have and connect you to more detailed information about any specific concerns you might have.
In response to the growing concern surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Lake Land College has activated the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) and formed a Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force to implement the College’s Pandemic Illness Response Plan. The Task Force has been further broken down into nine Action Teams focused on key areas of continuity, including: Information Technology, Physical Plant, Community Health Coordination, Human Resources, Communications, Academic Continuity, Service Continuity, Business Continuation and Extension Centers and DOC Sites Service Continuity.
Lake Land’s Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force has been working around the clock to develop actions that balance the safety, health, and well-being of our college community while minimizing disruption of our students’ academic experience. With that said, we are taking the following steps to help protect all members of our campus community.
Dear Colleagues,
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, April 2. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
President’s Office
To create a sense of community, we will periodically share photos of construction projects or scenery on campus. The photos are taken by staff who are authorized to be on campus to perform an essential task. Please visit S:\Pandemic Planning 2020\Photos of Campus to see several photos of campus projects.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force will conference once a week moving forward. The Cabinet continues to conference daily to manage the college’s response to the COVID-19 situation.
Academic Continuity Team
The Dual Credit Office is reaching out to all high school Dual Credit coordinators to see where they are at in their remote learning plan and to offer assistance in moving dual credit courses to an alternate delivery format.
Business Continuity Team
New COVID-19 tracking forms for Week 4 were sent out today. Please continue sending the forms to Madge Shoot via email by 5 p.m. each Wednesday.
Communications Team
Thank you to everyone who sent in selfies for the student communication plan. Please continue to submit staff or student message ideas to Kelly Allee or Jean Anne Grunloh.
Community Health Coordination Team
College Nurse Sharon Uphoff reported that she served five students at the Laker Food Pantry on Wednesday. She said the students have expressed gratitude for all the help they have received from Lake Land.
Extension Centers and DOC Service Continuity Team
CBI has waived the additional fee to take Traffic Safety courses online and is working with county officials to offer all of the traffic safety courses in a virtual environment. Staff are also working on a process to offer the CDL permit course online.
Human Resources
HR encourages everyone to take advantage of the resources offered by Aetna.
Information Technology Team
The glitch in the VM software on 4/1/20 was caused by the running of a penetration test security scan against our network servers. This is a normal process that our Information Security Assurance Technician performs to ensure we haven’t unknowingly opened up a security vulnerability with the ongoing work we do. Be assured, we continue to run anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-phishing, and every other type of anti-platform available to protect our network, our servers and our client computers. ISS staff will suspend this penetration testing task during the virtual environment.
The Help Desk will resume normal office hours beginning Friday at 5 p.m. Call volume continues to be light. Extended hours can be reinstated should the need arise.
Physical Plant Team
Outdoor construction projects and mowing of campus and Kluthe Center grounds continues to progress.
Service Continuity Team
The college continues to look into securing a means to conduct virtual placement testing with the vendor.
For additional information or more details of actions by each team, please visit the Pandemic Planning 2020 subfolder on the shared drive.
Please don’t hesitate to email me with questions, updates, or simply to share a positive story about working in your virtual environment.
I hope you enjoy the lovely sunshine and have a great day!
Josh
Today I would like to focus on the differences in the modes of email communication available to Lake Land students and ask for your assistance in sharing this information whenever possible with students to help them stay connected and informed.
Students and staff have a Laker Hub ID and password that can be used to log in to the Laker Hub and Laker Mail accounts. Students and instructors can use this same login to access Canvas. Please note the following:
This information was helpful to me in thinking about how we can better ensure students feel connected to the college in a virtual environment. Perhaps students are not aware of how the different platforms work or the opportunity to connect their email account to the Laker Hub.
I will be sending a similar message to students today. As you continue to have conversations with students, I ask that you help them understand the differences, inquire as to whether they are having any difficulties receiving and/or responding to college emails, and encourage them to stay in touch.
If you have additional suggestions or questions, please let me know.
Thank you for all that you are doing to keep up the Laker Spirit among colleagues and students!
WOW! We made it through our first week as a virtual campus. CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you all so much for your teamwork and positivity during the past few weeks.
As we wrap up the week, we would like to share some data and innovative ways we are engaging students!
Registration
Student Life
Athletics
Nathalya de Souza Thank you so much! The best experience in my life with no doubts. I’m so grateful for coach Amory Porter for giving me the opportunity and coach Ashli Wicker for leading the way and being such an amazing coach to me.I learned a lot and I meet great people that I’ll take for the rest of my life in my heart! Thanks everyone and every family that welcomed me in their houses and families! 😊 Forever ♾ a laker 🙏🏽 thanks LLC for making my dreams come true! ♥️
ISS Updates
Thanks again for the incredible work you have done to transition to a virtual working environment. The collaborative efforts of our Laker family has truly been inspiring. I hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend and look forward to connecting next week.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, March 26. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
The Illinois Community College Board has created a coronavirus resource page. It includes several memos on guidance for Adult Education and grant programs, pertinent EOs, IBHE guidance, childcare information, Open Meetings Act information, USDOE Guidance, and information from the IDPH and CDC, among other links. There is also a link to submit questions to the ICCB. It is a good place to see what is going on around the state.
The Cabinet continues to conference daily to manage the college’s response to the COVID-19 situation. The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force will continue conferencing twice a week in the first few weeks of the virtual environment.
Overall, the transition to virtual learning has been going well. Several students are moving ahead with registration for summer and fall. Staff in the Technology Division are migrating the lecture component of IDOT classes for online delivery beginning April 20, with the lab component being completed at a later date.
The College will continue tracking employee work schedules above and beyond the normal work day as a result of work for COVID-19 responses and planning. New forms for Week 3 will be coming soon. Please continue sending the “additional salary tracking sheet” forms and the expense sheets to Madge Shoot via email by 5 p.m. each Wednesday.
The Mailroom is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Print Shop is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with access approved only for limited, preauthorized staff. If you are the authorized mail representative for your department, you still need to complete the Campus Visitor Form each time and wear your nametag.
Dr. Bullock launched his first Bullock Broadcast video message on Thursday. He plans to record at least two videos per week to share messages with students and staff.
Please remember to send your “silver linings” or fun pictures of working from home to the Laker Low Down.
The team did not have anything new to report. Team members continue to be in communication with the local health department.
CBI is developing online curriculum to assist area businesses during this time and is working with Human Resources on training opportunities for employees. DOC faculty and staff continue to move forward with remote instruction. Alternative Education and GED instructors are working to move class content online.
HR is continuing to collect remote work ideas for part-time staff. They are also working on training that staff need to complete in order to meet annual training requirements.
Data points:
The Board of Trustees Agenda for the March 27 Special Meeting includes the renewal of a contract with Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System to provide an emergency hospital location in the Field House in case of a catastrophe. The agreement was originally signed in 2009.
Physical Plant staff continue to monitor campus through the building automation system. Scott Rawlings expressed thanks to Campus Police Officers who are checking Physical Plant supplies and operations.
Student Services teams continue to serve students in the virtual environment. College Nurse Sharon Uphoff reported she served several students Wednesday through the Laker Food Pantry. She highlighted how grateful the students were for the food assistance.
Please don’t hesitate to email me with questions, updates, or simply to share a positive story about working in your virtual environment. I wish you continued good health!
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Tuesday, March 24. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
Dr. Bullock reported that the Cabinet is conferencing daily to continue managing the college’s response to the COVID-19 situation. The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force will continue conferencing twice a week in the first few weeks of the virtual environment. Josh said he has been in regular communication with the Illinois Community College Board regarding continuity of operations issues.
The first day of the virtual environment went fairly smoothly. As of March 23, all sections that needed to be migrated to online were completed. There are still a few challenges with lab components that faculty are working through.
The College will continue tracking employee work schedules above and beyond the normal work day as a result of work for COVID-19 responses and planning. Please continue sending the “additional salary tracking sheet” forms to Madge Shoot via email by 5 p.m. each Wednesday.
Please be sure to review the email about the Campus Visitor Approval Form to clarify processes. The Communications Team continues to distribute daily messages to staff and students.
If you have a best practice of how to communicate with cohorts that you advise or lead, could you please email Kelly Allee. We would like to share the information in the Laker Low Down.
All the Allied Health PPE supplies were donated to local healthcare facilities. The facilities were grateful to the College for sharing the supplies.
CBI is developing online curriculum to assist area businesses during this time. Corrections is working toward alternative methods to deliver courses. GED teachers are working to move content online.
HR sent a survey to supervisors to collect information on technology and printing needs while working remotely. Remember that HR is on the chat on the college’s home page if you need to connect with an HR staff member.
Data points from March 16-22 are:
Staff are working from home. Scott Rawlings found a vendor who was able to provide needed supplies to campus. He shared that information with area nursing homes and facilities who are in need of the same supplies.
All of the departments continue to update their plans on the S drive. Staff and faculty are preparing for the first day of registration on March 25.
Counseling Services has created a You Tube video (with captioning) that teaches students how to set up Laker Mail, opt in for texting, register for classes using student planning (and other features on the Hub).
Students can find this resource on their Laker Hub home page under “announcements”. It is titled: Learn Laker Hub! Email, Text Messaging and Registering for Classes.
The You Tube link is also found here: https://youtu.be/1EVeUByi9OQ
That is our update for now. For additional information, please visit the Pandemic Planning 2020 subfolder on the shared drive.
As we operate in a Level 3 Restricted Access phase, we would like to share additional information regarding employee and guest visits to campus. By tracking individuals who visit campus we are taking precautionary steps in preventing the spread of the virus.
The form requires visitors to answer a series of questions regarding their health. If the person answers “yes” to any of the questions, he or she will not be approved to visit campus.
Should a COVID-19 case be identified in an employee, student or visitor, these logs will provide detailed information that will assist us in knowing individuals the person may have been in contact with while here, as well as buildings that need to immediately be sanitized and deep cleaned.
ALL campus visitors are expected to follow social distancing protocols and sanitize any work stations and access points such as door handles before and after use.
It is imperative that you follow this protocol:
Authorized Personnel
College Personnel
Curbside Pickup from the Laker Food Pantry
Students or Employees Accessing the WiFi Hotspots
Visitors
You can access the Campus Visitor Approval fillable PDF form in the following locations:
I truly appreciate your work in rapidly transitioning Lake Land College to our new virtual environment, and sincerely hope the first few days of working remotely have gone well for you.
Stay healthy and safe!
Thank you for all the work you have done to launch our Virtual College tomorrow morning. We should all be proud of our collective ability to come together and accomplish all that we have in such a short window of time. I appreciate everyone’s kindness and patience as we move forward during this challenging time.
As we prepare for serving students and working in a virtual environment, we have gathered a host of helpful tips and updates.
GOVERNOR’S STAY AT HOME ORDER:
PHONE TIPS:
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
ADDITIONAL REMINDERS:
NON-TRAVEL EXPENSES:
For the latest updates, please visit our COVID-19 webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend! We wish you well as we venture into our new virtual college.
Warmest regards,
Earlier today, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the entire state of Illinois is under a Stay at Home order effective Saturday, March 21 at 5 p.m. to April 8. This announcement does not affect our plans to resume instruction on March 23 in an online environment as the Governor’s order specifies colleges and universities are considered to be providing essential services for the purposes of facilitating distance learning. And, as planned, as of 5 p.m. today we moved to a Level 3 Restricted Campus Access status. This means the College’s campus grounds and buildings will be restricted except in rare cases when access is required to maintain essential operations. The Cabinet has identified a very limited number of authorized staff who may access buildings to ensure continuity of essential functions.
Any employee or visitor, including authorized staff, who requires access to a building for essential purposes will need to complete the Campus Visit Approval Form found on the COVID-19 page. Completed forms must be approved by the appropriate vice president or president. The Campus Police Officer on duty will be notified and will confirm the person’s ID and escort the person to the appropriate building to complete the task. A full-time police officer will be on duty patrolling campus 24/7.
Students will still be able to access external WiFi hotspots for distance learning purposes while parked in their cars on campus outside the Luther Student Center and at the Kluthe Center. And we will also still be able to provide food from the Laker Food Pantry through a curbside pickup service.
Plase note we are finalizing plans to handle mail delivery while in Level 3 status. We will issue more details as soon as possible. Additionally, plans to sanitize all of the campus buildings will be postponed until the Governor’s Stay at Home order is lifted.
Our Emergency Operations Center Team and our Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Team are continuously monitoring and responding to this fluid situation. For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
I realize the Governor’s executive order brings forth a variety of new questions in which we may not have the answers. Please know that the health and safety of you and our students are our top priority, and we will communicate additional details as soon as they are available.
We are resilient and strong, and I know we will continue to work together as a college community to support each other, and our students, during this historic time. My thoughts are with you and your families. Please stay safe and healthy. We will be in touch again soon!
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force met March 18, 2020. Notes from the meeting and additional information follow:
Dr. Bullock reported that the Cabinet is meeting/conferencing daily to continue planning for the COVID-19 impact. Plans are underway to transition to Level 3 Restricted Campus access effective Friday, March 20 at 5 p.m.
On March 9, 2020, Governor Pritzker issued an Executive Order suspending the “physical presence” requirements under the Open Meetings Act (OMA). This is meant to limit the size of all public and private gatherings in Illinois. With this order, we do not need to have a minimum of four trustees physically present in order to establish a quorum. The College will utilize a phone bridge to conduct its board meetings and the general public may participate via teleconference as well.
The Lake Land College Foundation has an Emergency Assistance Fund that can be used to help students during this time. If you are talking with a student who is facing challenges due to the online environment, please encourage the student to contact the Foundation at foundation@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5363. Applications can also be located at S:\Campus Forms\Advancement.
Academic Continuity Action Team
Academic Services is progressing in the migration of courses to an online format, including lab courses, and is on target to go live with virtual delivery as of March 23. Academic Services is also working with ISS to provide the best possible service and virtual learning solutions to students.
Business Continuation Action Team
Business Services is working on a plan for incoming and outgoing mail and the Print Shop. Business Services has shared communication on tracking COVID-19 related employee time and expenses. Please refer to emails issued by HR and the Vice President for Business Services.
Communications Action Team
Daily updates are ongoing to both students and staff. People are asked to submit suggestions or updates for FAQ page for students. The COVID-19 webpage is updated daily as well.
Community Health Coordination Action Team
Members continue to be in daily contact with local health department officials. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center now has a 24/7 COVID-19 Hotline: 217-258-7474.
Extension Centers and DOC Action Team
DOC facilities remain on lock down and Lake Land College instructors are not able to report to the centers. Adult Education has been suspended by the state until further notice.
Human Resources Action Team
HR staff are coordinating with unit leaders to identify authorized staff to perform essential duties not able to be done remotely. Only authorized staff will be allowed building access when we move to level 3 restricted access.
Information Technology Action Team
Students who need a laptop or assistance with identifying Internet access should call the ISS Help Desk at 217-234-5261 for possible solutions.
Instructions on the VM installation are on the COVID- FAQ page.
Instructions on how to forward your phone are on the COVID-FAQ page.
Physical Plant Action Team
Staff continue sanitizing and cleaning intensely all campus buildings. Employees are reminded to wipe down their own keyboards and personal desk space areas using College supplied cleaning and disinfecting items.
Service Continuity Action Team
Each Student Services department is working toward transitioning to virtual services and ensuring operational continuity as much as possible. These actions for each Student Services department may be viewed from the S drive in the Pandemic Planning folder.
Thank you for all of your work in moving Lake Land College forward during this time!
In accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health, Lake Land College will be taking additional steps to practice social distancing and protect your health and safety during this COVID-19 pandemic.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF ALL OF THE CRITICAL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.
Level 3 Restricted Access:
Virtual College:
Staff Work Day:
Commencement:
Confidentiality:
FERPA – Confidentiality of Student Records:
Confidential and Sensitive Information (CSI):
Communication and Your Safety:
THANK YOU for all the work you are each doing to continue delivering the high quality services and instruction our students expect as we move into this virtual environment.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force met Monday, March 15. Here is a summary of information that was reported at the meeting.
Dr. Bullock reported that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is meeting daily to continue planning for the COVID-19 impact. He has been in communication with the Illinois Community College Board regarding continuity of operations issues. Additionally, he attended a meeting with the Coles County Health Department and community leaders on Monday to discuss needed community wide actions.
Faculty are in the process of converting every course possible into an online format, including lab courses. Academic Services is working with ISS to provide the best possible service to students.
We created a FAQ page for student questions. If you have an idea, please let Kelly Allee or Michelle Zumbahlen know.
Restricted Access signs have been placed all around campus and sent to the extension centers.
Karla Hardiek, Jasmine Ballard, Sharon Uphoff and Jeff Branson attended a meeting with the Coles County Health Department. Sharon said she will be getting ThermoScan thermometers from the Allied Health Division for use with employees.
The Communications Team will add the Illinois Department of Public Health hotline to the College’s COVID-19 website– 1-800-889-3931.
People who have scheduled events are asked to access Colleague to cancel the event so that it does not appear on the Laker Calendar.
Supervisors have been asked to track expenses and time as it relates to our coronavirus response as follows:
DOC facilities are on lockdown and Lake Land College instructors are not able to report to the centers.
The Kluthe Center is still open for faculty to come in and work per the Level 2 Restricted Access policy. Staff can call the office to have someone let them into the building.
If you have a need for assistance with your department’s work, please let HR know. The HR team is working to compile a list of available part-time workers who can be reassigned to assist in other areas.
The federal government has rolled out an allowance to provide payment to work study students. They need to complete a timesheet. Financial Aid will be rolling out communication and information to all work study students.
Each department is taking steps/working toward steps to ensure operational continuity as much as possible. These actions may be viewed from the S drive in the Pandemic Planning folder.
NJCAA has cancelled all athletic events for the remainder of the year, including the Women’s Basketball National Tournament.
The Student Fitness Center is closed until further notice.
Staff is sanitizing and cleaning intensely on campus. If you are aware of specific areas needing additional attention please contact Scott Rawlings.
I am writing to provide an update on the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team’s planning efforts in response to COVID-19.
As we shared on March 12, spring break for students will be extended through March 22. The College and all of its offices will remain open during this period and moving forward. All faculty and staff will continue with their regular work schedule.
Additional guidelines follow:
The Emergency Operations Center is continuously monitoring and responding to this fluid situation. For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
For more information on the Coronavirus and steps to prevent illness, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health. We are in unprecedented times and the entire College community appreciates your patience as we navigate these uncharted waters.
I am writing to provide an update on Lake Land’s response to the growing concern surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The College has activated the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) and formed a Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force to implement the College’s Pandemic Illness Response Plan. The Task Force has been further broken down into nine Action Teams focused on key areas of continuity, including: Information Technology, Physical Plant, Community Health Coordination, Human Resources, Communications, Academic Continuity, Service Continuity, Business Continuation and Extension Centers and DOC Sites Service Continuity.
Although there are currently no reported cases of COVID-19 on our campus or within the district, confirmed cases are increasing within Illinois and it is only a matter of time before cases are reported within our district. Lake Land’s Pandemic Planning and Response Task Force has been working around the clock to develop actions that balance the safety, health, and well-being of our college community while minimizing disruption of our students’ academic experience. With that said, we are taking the following steps to help protect all members of our campus community.
These actions will undoubtedly raise numerous questions for those impacted by today’s decisions and for which we do not yet have the answers. I realize it is impossible to address every “what if” question at this time. Additionally, this information may change or be updated at any time. For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
4.2.20
Dear Students,
I don’t know about you, but the pandemic has caused me to pause and take a look at my life and consider how grateful I am for my family and friends, as well as a career I truly enjoy. I am fortunate to work at Lake Land College and get to know so many of you.
As a Laker, you are fortunate to have a network of faculty and staff who are here to help you through this time. Student Life clubs and organizations are another resource to help you stay connected.
I have been amazed by the way in which our student leaders have banded together to create a community in our virtual environment. If you have been as impressed as I have, or would like to have a more active role in next year’s Student Life, I encourage you to consider applying for the open seat on the Student Government Association. Check out the group’s Facebook page to find out more about SGA.
If you’re interested or would like to learn more, all you have to do is express your interest in an email to ebriseno@lakelandcollege.edu by 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 5. The only requirement is that you will be returning to Lake Land College in the fall as a sophomore. An SGA member will be in touch to set up a Zoom interview for the sophomore delegate opening.
Keep up the good work! Together, we are Laker Strong!
Dr. Josh Bullock
President
I am excited to share with you our latest way to stay in touch–a TikTok competition among your fellow Lakers.
The contest starts April 3 and closes April 17. All you have to do is post a video of yourself wearing your Lake Land College gear with the hashtag #LakerNationTikTokTakeover and tag the Lake Land College TikTok page @LakeLandCollegeIL.
My only request is that you follow the Student Code of Conduct and avoid inappropriate language and conduct.
The winners will be announced on TikTok on April 20 and each will receive a $20 dollar Amazon gift card.
Please be sure to take advantage of the many activities Student Life has planned for you each week.
Keep up the good work and get ready to let your Laker Spirit shine!
Take care!
I hope your week is off to a great start. Since we are all learning and working remotely, it is important for us to stay connected.
We often ask you to check your Laker Mail and Canvas for important messages. Today I am sharing information that I hope will make things easier for you to stay informed and communicate with faculty and staff.
Your Laker Hub ID and password can be used to log in to the Laker Hub, Canvas, and the Laker Mail accounts. Please note the
following:
. Laker Mail can be accessed via the web. The tutorial, How to
Access Your Laker Mail at https://lakeland.instructure.com/courses/1455362/pages/how-to-access-your-lake-land-college-email can help you learn more about your Laker email account.
. Laker Mail can be connected to your Laker Hub account. The
following tutorial can help you make the connection in the Laker Hub: Connecting Laker Mail to the Laker Hub at https://lakeland.instructure.com/courses/1455362/pages/creating-t
he-connection-to-laker-mail-in-the-hub.
. Canvas has a messaging system called Inbox (Conversations) that routes messages created in the Canvas Inbox through the Laker Mail account. You can respond to a Canvas message via Laker Mail; however messages created from Laker Mail are not fed into the Canvas messaging system.
If you have any questions, please call the ISS Help Desk at 217-234-5261.
I hope this information will simplify your daily tasks and help us stay connected! Continue your good work and keep up your Laker Spirit!
Sincerely,
WOW! You made it through your first week in our virtual campus. CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you so much for adapting to our new online environment and working with faculty and staff during this time of transition.
As we wrap up the week, we would like to share a few items with you.
Library Resources
Technology Assistance
Thanks again for adapting to a new learning environment. I hope you have a safe and relaxing weekend and I look forward to connecting with you again next week.
As we near the end of the first week in our virtual campus, I want to tell you that your resiliency and determination during this unexpected transition are remarkable! While I’m sure this change has been bumpy for many of you, I have no doubt your hard work will continue to shine through.
Most importantly, on behalf of all of the Lake Land College faculty and staff, I just want to say WE MISS SEEING YOU and WE THANK YOU! Check out my personal message of thanks in today’s “Bullock Broadcast” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ_RIcHb_vo&feature=youtu.be.
Again, please continue to reach out to your instructors or our staff if we can help you in any way!
We’re three days in to our virtual campus–how is it going? As faculty and staff we are adjusting to working from home and staying connected in the same ways you are−email, live chats and phone and video meetings. It is definitely an adjustment, but as you know, our faculty and staff have a great outlook and are doing all they can to help you succeed.
Another option to stay connected with the college and your fellow students is to join in the Laker Online Takeover hosted by Student Life.
Check out the various Facebook pages for these 2020 spring events:
MARCH 24-28, 2020
STUDENT ACTIVITY BOARD FB PAGE
Join us as we take virtual tours of museums around the world!
CAREER AND FINANCE WEEK
MARCH 30-APRIL 3
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION FB PAGE
Learn about finance, resume building and leadership. Stay tuned for our virtual fashion show!
EARTH AND SUSTAINABILITY WEEK
APRIL 20-APRIL 24
NAVIGATOR NEWS FB PAGE
Let’s talk sustainability with Student Care and Advocacy! Learn how your footprint affects the Earth.
STUDENT CLUB/ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHTS
APRIL 27-MAY 1
Each day we will highlight a Lake Land College club or organization!
Kudos to all of our student leaders who have worked together during the past week and a half to organize these events!
Everyone at Lake Land College hopes your transition to a virtual campus is going well. Please reach out to your instructors or our staff if we can help you in any way!
In today’s email, we are excited to share with you a video to help you navigate the Laker Hub, a reminder about registration and some helpful tips for taking online classes.
Laker Hub Video Tutorial
Counseling Services has created a YouTube video, with captioning, that teaches you how to take advantage of the Laker Hub. You can find the resource in the Laker Hub home page under “announcements.” It is titled: Learn Laker Hub! Email, Text Messaging and Registering for Classes.
You can also find this resource in Canvas under tutorials at
https://lakeland.instructure.com/courses/1455362/pages/how-to-use-the-laker-hub
and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/1EVeUByi9OQ.
Summer and Fall Registration Opens Tomorrow
I hope you have contacted your advisor and are ready to register tomorrow, March 25. All students who have received clearance can register on the first day of registration. If you are not cleared to register, please visit your Advisement Information page in the Laker Hub to connect with your adviso
Helpful Tips
Phi Theta Kappa shared this information from Quizlet and I thought you would find it helpful in transitioning to an all online environment!
Do your class work at the same time and the same place every day. If you attended your lectures MWF, then watch/listen to those lectures MWF at the same time every day. Get up and go to your desk, or make your bed, something this simple will help you transition from “home mode” to “school mode.”
Set goals for yourself with rewards to follow. Things such as “I will eat lunch when I finish…”, or “I can get back on Social Media when I finish…” Time your rewards too. Set lunch to be for an hour, and then go back to work after your hour is up.
Break up your big assignments into smaller goals and work a little bit every day. Set due dates for yourself for a “chunk” of your assignment, and stick to them. You can add to your Canvas calendar by just clicking on a day and adding a “to do” so all your due dates stay in the same place. If you decide to do everything at once the day it’s due, you’re going to get burnt out quickly!
Find an area in your house that you can feel focused. Do whatever will work best for you to stay focused. Something as simple as using headphones for online lectures to block out outside noises can help. Do not try to watch TV while you’re learning, but try listening to instrumental music!
Each day, find the hardest or most time-consuming thing, and make it your Most Important Thing (M.I.T.). Do your M.I.T. in the same timeframe every day. If you do this first, the rest of your day should be a piece of cake.
Check your Laker Mail every day. Know when/how you can contact your instructors, and write it down on its own sheet of paper, so you do not have to go looking through all of Canvas when you need it. Do not be afraid to contact your instructors! They are here for you, and they will still be there for when you need questions or guidance for their class.
The tutoring center is out for now, but everyone now has access to online tutoring through Smarthinking! There should be a link for everyone to click called “Smarthinking Online Tutoring” on the left hand side of any of your Canvas courses. This resource is free for you to use, and you can schedule online tutoring sessions, or drop in with a few questions.
Take advantage of things like Quizlet, Khan Academy, YouTube, etc. as well. “Crash Course” on YouTube is a great channel that has helped me grasp concepts, and the videos are made very well. They cover nearly any concept in any class.
Like always, do not be afraid to reach out to Counseling Services for help. Use this link to see more information https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/counseling-services/.
We wish you the best and hope that these resources and tips help you transition to online classes.
We hope you have been successful in your online classes today! As we move forward, please know college faculty and staff are here to help you. We have a host of resources available to support you.
We also want to remind you that Summer and Fall registration is just around the corner. Please review your Advising Information page in the Laker Hub and be sure to contact your advisor to receive clearance. Registration opens for everyone on Wednesday, March 25.
Here are some helpful tips:
For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
We wish you all the best in your studies!
We look forward to connecting with you in our Virtual College tomorrow morning. We know this will be a new environment for many of you. Please know that we are here to help you through this transition. All faculty and staff are working remotely and are available to connect through the online chat, email and Canvas. There are also several helpful resources on our website.
Enjoy the remainder of your weekend! We hope you and your family stay healthy and safe!
Earlier today, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that the entire state of Illinois is under a Stay at Home order effective Saturday, March 21 to April 8. This announcement does not impact our plans to resume instruction on March 23 in an online environment, as the Governor’s order specifies colleges and universities are considered as providing essential services for the purposes of facilitating distance learning.
We hope you have tested your ability to access your classes online and have logged into your Canvas account and Laker Mail.
Instructors will communicate with you through these platforms.
You can access external WiFi hotspots on campus outside the Luther Student Center and at the Kluthe Center. Please refer to additional internet access options from our Internet providers that are posted on our FAQ page at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/. This page also includes information on how to log into your virtual machine desktop.
We will also be able to provide food from the Laker Food Pantry through a curbside pickup service.
We look forward to resuming class instruction on March 23 and connecting with you in our new virtual environment. Please take advantage of the online chat service and resources on the college’s website.
I wish you and your family a healthy and safe weekend!
We have some new helpful information to assist you as we move to a virtual college. Be sure to check Canvas and your Laker Mail for important information from instructors.
Please note the following:
Counseling Services is in the process of emailing all current and future students who have upcoming appointments to either reschedule or conduct the meeting on the phone.
ISS is offering Extended Help Desk Hours and a new Help Desk Website at http://Lakelandcollege.edu/iss, o Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 the ISS help desk will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Starting Monday, March 23, the ISS help desk will be available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Lake Land College Foundation has an Emergency Assistance Fund that can be used to help students during this time. Please contact the Foundation at foundation@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5363.
If you are experiencing challenges with internet connectivity or technology, contact the ISS help desk at 217-234-5261 for assistance in finding solutions. Additionally, several area internet and cell phone providers are working with students.
Please view our FAQ page and look for Technology Needs at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/.
ISS has identified external WiFi hotspots on campus and at the Kluthe Center. Although the college is on a Level 3 Restricted Access, students can drive onto campus and the Kluthe Center to access the hotspots from their vehicle. Use Entrance 1 on campus and drive to Parking Lot E in front of the new entrance of the Luther Student Center. At the Kluthe Center park nearest the first row all around the building and second row in the back of the building.
We look forward to reconnecting soon!
Please know that we are committed to providing the high quality of instruction and service you have come to expect as a Lake Land College student. The following steps will be implemented this week:
All face-to-face courses are suspended for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester and all courses and services will be delivered in a virtual or online format.
Please visit the College’s COVID-FAQ page at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/ for resources regarding technology support.
You should have already received a notice that we regrettably will have to cancel Commencement and related celebrations. We are exploring options for recognizing your accomplishments.
As of Friday, March 20, 2020 at 5 p.m., College locations will be placed on Level 3 restricted access.
During this time, all college buildings will be deep cleaned and sanitized, and the buildings will be closed to students and unauthorized staff.
During a Level 3 restriction, anyone can access campus and college grounds, just not college buildings.
The Level 3 Restricted Access applies to all College locations including campus, the Workforce Development Center in Mattoon, the Kluthe Center in Effingham, the Eastern Region Center in Marshall and the Western Region Center in Pana.
For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/ and the FAQ page at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/.
For more information on the Coronavirus and steps to prevent illness, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
THANK YOU for adapting to a virtual college. Please know we are all committed to helping you succeed and will do all we can to support you!
Dear Lake Land Students,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Lake Land College Commencement ceremony in accordance with guidelines from the CDC to limit gatherings during this coronavirus pandemic. The Lake Land College Board of Trustees, faculty and staff congratulate all of you who will be celebrating the completion of a degree or certificate this spring. We are exploring other opportunities to honor you and recognize your accomplishments.
Lake Land College’s Commencement, John Deere Tech honorary luncheon, nursing and dental hygiene pinning ceremonies and graduations for GED and Pathways students would exceed the guidelines established by the CDC and Illinois Governor to limit gatherings to fewer than 50 people in the next eight weeks.
Although we are cancelling these celebratory events, it does not minimize your academic achievement. Admissions & Records will continue to process Intents to Graduate for the Spring 2020 Semester.
We thank you and your families for understanding this difficult decision. We know that all of you share in our goal of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 disease, but we understand the impact of this decision on you and your family.
Please watch your Laker Email, COVID-FAQ page at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/ and the Commencement website at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/admissions/graduation/ for our plans to celebrate your accomplishments!
During this extended spring break, I would like to share with you a few resources to help you stay connected.
We hope you enjoy the rest of your spring break and look forward to providing your classes, and needed services, virtually next week.
Dr. Josh BullockPresident
We know you have many questions regarding the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our college community. Please know that we are planning around the clock to develop resources and answers to your questions during this time of uncertainty. Faculty and staff are diligently working to migrate all of our courses and services to an online format.
We launched a new live chat feature on our website to assist you in communicating with college offices. The chat feature will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please submit any questions you have after hours and we will get back to you the next business day.
We also have created a new COVID-19 FAQ page to share information. Visit both https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/ and https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19faq/ for up to date information.
Be sure to check your Laker Mail and Canvas for messages from your instructors. Faculty are in the process of migrating your courses to an online or alternate delivery format and will be sharing information with you as soon as possible.
Please know that we are committed to the continuity of your education. Your success is extremely important to us and we will do all we can to help you reach your goals.
Hey Lakers – In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Lake Land College will be restricting access to campus and off-campus locations as of Tuesday, March 17, 2020. If you need to visit a Lake Land College location, please do so on Monday.
As of Tuesday, only employees will be allowed in campus buildings. A Lake Land College Police Officer will be stationed in the main entrance of the Luther Student Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to address student or guest requests for access.
Thank you Laker Nation for your patience as we work through this time. For the latest updates, please visit our webpage at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/covid-19/.
By now you are aware of Lake Land’s response to the increased nationwide concerns related to COVID-19. On behalf of administration, I want to thank the members of the LLCFA Executive Team for their support and guidance in helping us to choose the path we have now undertaken. Monday, and all of next week, will present some unique, and at times, daunting challenges for which there will be no perfect solutions. The College is working to prepare for Monday by assembling resources that will assist you in this endeavor.
Below are some initial points I would like to highlight:
The migration being planned will require thoughtful reflection followed by swift action. I have the utmost confidence in the talent and resourcefulness of our faculty. Thank you all for your efforts to meet the needs of our students and complete the spring semester on time.
This email is to all Dual Credit Program Coordinators and Principals. As you are well aware Governor Pritzker recently decided to close all public schools in Illinois from March 17th – 30th. Similarly, Lake Land College’s main priority is the health and safety of our students and employees. Thus, Lake Land College will follow the high school’s schedule for all dual credit and dual enrollment courses. The College will continually monitor the situation. We will continue to communicate any changes in the day-to-day operation of the College as quickly as possible. We thank you for your continued partnership and flexibility in this quickly evolving situation.