The Emergency Operations Center Team has developed the Lake Land College Return to Campus plan to provide guidance on the college’s operations during Phases 1-4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, meet the educational needs of our students, and protect the health and safety of our Laker community.
Lake Land College Return To Campus Plan
Fall 2020 semester courses will be offered in a variety of formats including online, virtual face-to-face, on-campus and a blend of the formats. The college will be updating the class schedule to reflect the new formats in the next few weeks and will communicate to current and prospective students when completed.
Here are some important points of the plan:
As a public higher education institution in Illinois, Lake Land College is required to follow directives established by the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the state of Illinois.
Before returning to work, all Lake Land employees will complete a brief online training on the safety precautions and procedures that will be followed throughout the college community.
New students are welcome to get started or take a virtual tour of campus and connect with an Admissions Representative on our visit page.
Please visit the COVID-19 FAQ page for additional information.
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to provide some updates for this summer.
NEW CAMPUS VISITOR APPROVAL PROCESS
We have a new online form and process for visiting campus:
SUMMER WORK PLANS
CELEBRATE WITH OUR GRADUATES THURSDAY
Thank you for all you did this spring to assist our graduates! The virtual ceremony will be a great opportunity to celebrate our students’ accomplishments as well as reflect on the role you played in guiding them to success.
Josh
I would like to share an update on the College’s plans for returning to campus given the Governor’s announcement that our region is now in Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois plan.
As previously shared, the College will remain on a Level 3 Restricted Access status throughout the month of June. Beginning today, maintenance and custodial staff will return to campus to deep clean and prepare college facilities. In June, we will provide limited instruction on campus for those students who were unable to complete critical labs in the Spring 2020 semester. Additional information will be provided as soon as it is available.
Based on current requirements of Restore Illinois and guidance from ICCB and the CDC, we no longer plan to bring all staff back to campus on July 6 on a regular schedule. Instead, we will be asking unit leaders to determine specific job functions that need to be performed on campus and identify a campus schedule for appropriate staff members to perform those functions while maintaining social distancing and minimizing contact with others. This could mean some staff will work a staggered schedule on campus, while others could be asked to continue working remotely.
Many uncertainties remain regarding fall semester. I want to assure you that we will follow the requirements of the Restore Illinois plan and guidance from the CDC, IDPH, IBHE and ICCB to make the best decision we can. I appreciate the input that many across the college have provided. We plan to announce the plan for fall semester no later than July 1.
I believe we all share the same goals of providing an outstanding educational experience for our students while safeguarding the health and safety of everyone in our college community. Thank you for your perseverance during this trying time.
Thank you for all that you have done to support a successful ending to a challenging Spring semester and all you continue to do to help students enroll in upcoming summer and fall classes.
As you talk with students, please let them know that all summer classes will be offered remotely with some offered in a hybrid mode, meaning faculty and students will meet in a virtual classroom on a regular schedule in addition to independent online learning.
At this time, the summer schedule only includes classes that can be completed 100 percent remotely, as we have yet to receive permission from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to provide any type of face-to-face instruction to students on campus.
Within the next 10 days, we anticipate knowing if our region will progress into Phase 3 of the Governor’s Restore Illinois plan. Once that information is available, we will communicate to everyone what that will mean for campus access and class scheduling going forward.
The Emergency Operations Center team continues to work and meet to develop College plans for the summer and fall that align with the five phases of the Restore Illinois plan.
We are also in the process of analyzing results of the recent faculty and student online transition surveys completed by 578 students and 96 full-time or adjunct faculty. Thank you to all who took the survey or encouraged students to do so. The data will inform many of our decisions moving forward and provide a framework for the College to utilize institutional CARES Act funding for enhancing the learning process for the duration of the pandemic.
As a public higher education institution in Illinois, we are required to follow directives established by the Illinois Community College Board and the State of Illinois. Considering all of these factors along with input from Lake Land College leaders, faculty and staff groups, and results from the recent student and faculty online transition surveys, we plan to announce in the near future how we will offer courses and services for the fall semester.
Like me, I am sure many of you are experiencing numerous challenges as we approach our work in new and different ways, perhaps longing for a sense of normalcy in these unprecedented times. It may be a while before we return to “normal”, but please know that our leadership team and Emergency Operations Team are focused on developing a plan to meet the educational needs of our students, while protecting the health and safety of our Laker community.
I hope you enjoy the upcoming long holiday weekend!
As the spring semester comes to a close we find ourselves in a situation where local government entities are developing individual responses to the Governor’s stay-at-home order and Restore Illinois Plan. As such, it is important to clarify expectations and remind the College community of our plan.
As an Illinois public entity, the College is required to comply with guidelines established by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Governor’s stay-at-home executive order and the Restore Illinois Plan.
We are currently in phase two of the Restore Illinois plan and are hopeful to transition to phase three in the summer months. As is noted in the plan, remote learning is required for educational institutions, including P-12 and higher education, in both phase two and phase three.
As a reminder, under the direction of the Illinois Community College Board, remote learning prohibits Lake Land College employees from organizing any size of gathering of Lake Land students either on campus or off campus at any location.
We continue to encourage you to utilize Zoom or any other College resources to host a virtual event or celebration, but you cannot meet in person.
Employees who need to visit campus or another college facility for any reason, including meeting one-on-one with a student to provide a resource such as a Chromebook, are required to submit a Campus Visitor Approval form to your unit vice president and Chief Branson no more than 24 hours before your visit. If you are meeting with a student, the student must also submit a Campus Visitor Approval form. Everyone must wear a face covering while on campus and practice social distancing.
The Cabinet has approved a minimal number of unique supervised occurrences when students are allowed on campus: retrieval of personal tools or belongings, Laker Food Pantry curb-side pick-up and Spring 2020 book return. Students are also allowed on college grounds to use the College Wi-Fi hotspots from their vehicles. In each of these instances, social distancing protocols are followed and students and employees adhere to strict personal safety measures, such as wearing face coverings.
I realize that these are unprecedented times and that some would prefer to meet in person with the students we have educated over the years. Please remember that the restrictions in our plan are in place to protect the safety and well-being of you, our students and our communities.
If you have any questions or would like clarification on these guidelines, please reach out to me or your unit vice president.
We will be in touch with additional information throughout the summer weeks.
Have a nice weekend, and please stay healthy and safe!
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, May 7. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
President’s Office
Dr. Bullock reported the Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) will begin meeting weekly to develop an operational plan in alignment with Governor Pritzker’s Restore Illinois, a five-phased, region-based plan for reopening our state. He said the EOC will begin working on guidelines for the College as a whole when campus reopens to provide general protocols for campus access, social distancing and safety measures needed across all areas of the College. He encouraged each supervisor to work with his or her staff and unit leader to identify questions and resource requests surrounding our return to campus.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force will begin meeting every other week instead of weekly from this point forward unless something dramatically changes.
Academic Continuity Team
Jon Althaus reported the spring semester will be coming to a close and grades are due May 18. Academic Services has been collapsing summer sections to maximize enrollment in sections.
He reported there are many questions coming forward about the status of the fall semester. The College is working with academic leaders on a plan, while considering guidance provided in the Restore Illinois Plan.
To date, the College has not received permission from ICCB to bring students to campus for one-on-one or small group instruction to complete labs when required for course completion and related accreditation issues, but we are hopeful to receive ICCB guidance on this issue in the near future.
Business Continuity Team
Greg Nuxoll asked staff to document extra expenses that have been incurred, or will be incurred, in opening campus or continuing in an online environment, as some of these expenses could be submitted for institutional CARES Act emergency funding reimbursement. ICCB has requested community colleges be more expansive in reporting expenses and revenue losses due to the pandemic. Greg will be reviewing ICCB’s guidelines for additional ways to report this information to them.
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 and the expense sheets to Madge Shoot via email by 5 p.m. each Wednesday.
Communications Team
Communication regarding an additional month of reimbursement for technology costs for qualifying staff will be sent to supervisors to share with appropriate staff. A communication was recently issued to part-time staff and their supervisors regarding the College resuming normal pay procedures effective May 18, 2020, for regular part-time staff to receive pay based upon hours worked.
The team continues to work on communication for the virtual environment and virtual commencement.
Please continue to send in suggestions for staff or student communication topics to Jean Anne Grunloh or Kelly Allee.
Community Health Coordination Team
The Coles County Public Health Department reported on Wednesday, May 6, that there had not been any new cases reported in Coles County for the past 14 days.
Extension Centers and DOC Service Continuity Team
Jennifer Billingsley reported that outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease have subsided among the inmate population and that a majority of those who were diagnosed have recovered.
Chris Strohl thanked Andrea Daily, for creating an online application for new GED students for summer and fall, and Jon VanDyke, for helping with incomplete grades. Laura Deters continues to look for clinical site opportunities for BNA students.
Human Resources
Human Resources recently sent out additional training opportunities in cyber security. The trainings are optional and will each take 15 minutes or less to complete.
Information Technology Team
For the week April 27-May 3, there were 26,791 visitors to the website, 171 chats, 23 offline or after hours assistance and just 9 missed opportunities.
Those students who borrowed a Chromebook from the College who are continuing enrollment in Intersession or Summer Session may keep their Chromebooks until they complete their courses. They do not need to return them and then check them out again. Those students who borrowed a Chromebook who are not enrolling in summer should return their Chromebooks when they return their textbooks.
Because there are spring classes that will not be completed by May 18, ISS will not be clearing student U drives at the end of the spring semester. That process has been postponed until the end of summer term.
ISS is working on new reporting requirements due to COVID-19 and supporting Academic Services in looking at fall course offerings.
Physical Plant Team
The team did not have any new information to report. Dr. Bullock thanked Scott Rawlings, Art Turner and Kimberly Wellbaum for their continued work on remediating Neal Hall.
Service Continuity Team
Dr. Tina Stovall reported summer term orientation and registration will begin next week and fall semester orientation and registration will take place in late May.
There are 1,600 students who have a completed FAFSA on file and are eligible for a CARES Act grant.
The team is working on the completion of the spring semester processes such as incomplete grades and the new pass/withdraw option.
Thank you for all you are doing during this challenging time!
Dear Colleagues:
Governor Pritzker recently released Restore Illinois, a five-phased, region-based plan for reopening our state. The five phases are defined by health metrics, with distinct business, education, and recreation activities characterizing each phase.
Upon initial review, we believe our campus access plans and online-only instruction for the summer months align with the Restore Illinois plan. College leaders will be reviewing details of the Restore Illinois plan in assessing and finalizing plans for opening campus. Additionally, we maintain in close contact with the Illinois Community College Board regarding issues specific to community colleges.
We will closely monitor future communication from the Governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health to move the state, or our region, to a new phase and will align our plans accordingly. We will share new information with you as it becomes available.
Illinois Governor Pritzker announced this afternoon that he will be issuing a new Executive Order next week extending Illinois’ stay-at-home order through May 30. The current order ends on April 30. The new Executive Order will be issued next week and the official language is not yet public. We will issuing more details on the College’s resulting plans once we have had an opportunity to review the new executive order.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, April 23. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
The Cabinet has been discussing high-level plans for reopening phases of the campus once the Governor’s executive stay-at-home orders expire. The Cabinet is also discussing appropriate protocols for students and staff when that occurs.
Jon Althaus reported the transition of courses to a virtual environment has gone smoothly overall to date. He said that with the upcoming May 18 grade due date, Academic Services recently conducted an audit of all sections of classes that might not be able to complete by this date. The Academic Continuity Team has posted spreadsheets in the pandemic planning subfolder of the shared drive which shows approximately 20 sections that will likely not be able to complete by May 18. There is an identified completion plan for each area to implement once students are allowed to come back to campus for some of the face-to-face requirements of these courses. For sections that will not be able to complete, students will likely receive an incomplete grade and be notified of plans for completion at a later time.
The Academic Continuity Team is also finalizing plans for summer course offerings. Details will be released to staff and students in the near future.
Greg Nuxoll reported on the guidelines recently issued by the federal government regarding how we may utilize CARES Act funds allocated to the College. He said the requirements are very restrictive in how the College may use the funds. Improving technology access for students is one area in which the College is allowed to use these funds.
ICCB has requested community colleges to be more expansive in reporting expenses and revenue losses due to the pandemic. Greg will be reviewing for additional ways to report this information to ICCB.
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 7 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.
Jean Anne Grunloh said the team is coordinating with other teams for upcoming communications to students and staff once decisions/processes are finalized, including information related to the following:
Sharon Uphoff reported locating some additional face masks for college personnel use. She also gave an update on the number of students requesting assistance from the food pantry.
Jasmine Ballard said the Print Shop has completed approximately two-thirds of the total 500 face shields they are making for donation to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System. Print Shop staff are also sanitizing each mask and placing them in individual bags. MPR staff will assist in delivery next week.
Chris Strohl said she is working with staff in Allied Health to assist with onboarding of BNA students at the Marshall Extension Center.
Bonnie Moore gave an update on the newly offered virtual CDL class. A final decision will be made in the near future regarding Summer College for Youth and how to proceed with traffic safety course offerings.
Brandon Young and Jennifer Billingsley reported educational services at DOC sites continue via delivered packets for students’ remote learning.
Dustha Wahls said HR will continue providing a weekly HR update, with information shared this coming week related to financial resources.
Lee Spaniol said ISS continues to trouble shoot with various students and staff regarding slow internet connection issues.
Scott Rawlings gave an update on mowing which occurred on campus this past week and the progress made to date to restore Neal Hall following the fire last week. Kimberly Wellbaum thanked staff in ISS for assisting in checking for potential technology damage due to the fire and to Jasmine Ballard for checking on potential damage to the dummies utilized in Allied Health.
Dr. Tina Stovall gave an update plans underway to deliver CARES Act emergency grant funds to students who qualify. Based upon guidance recently announced by the Department of education, this assistance will be limited to students who had completed a financial aid application and qualified for financial aid in the Spring 2020 semester. Details of the process for Lake Land students to apply and be awarded grant funds will be issued in the near future.
Starting next week, Student Services staff will begin the orientation/registration process for students that had to be rescheduled from earlier this spring. Staff in Academic Counseling and Admissions have been working together to provide a process where this will all be done online.
Dr. Stovall highlighted a new Pass/Withdrawal option that will be available to students for the Spring 2020 semester.
Dr. Stovall also highlighted plans to contract with an outside vendor to provide a virtual commencement ceremony, with video speeches integrated into the event. They are finalizing the contract and determining an appropriate date in June. She thanked the College’s Foundation for its support to help provide graduating students with a “Celebratory Laker Gear” packet that will be mailed to them. She has met with SGA to review the proposed virtual ceremony format and she said no set up in the Field House will be required to conduct the virtual ceremony. More details will be shared once plans are finalized.
Dr. Stovall thanked ISS staff for their assistance to support the virtual technology needs with all of these plans and/or initiatives.
Please continue to practice safe social distancing, stay safe and stay healthy!
In recent weeks, numerous colleges and universities have adopted various Pass/Fail grading options for their students. In response, the Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education and Illinois Articulation Initiative issued guidance for all postsecondary institutions expecting them to apply the same policies to transfer students as they do for native students and to deem transferable courses completed with a Pass grade during the Spring 2020 semester.
In response to this guidance, Lake Land College is providing a Pass/Withdrawal option to students for the Spring 2020 semester courses. This option will assist students who may have been negatively impacted by the challenges and unexpected move to a virtual environment and has been reviewed by the Lake Land College Academic Council, the Academic Standards Committee and the Academic Services and Student Services leadership teams. We also discussed the new option with the Student Government Association.
With the Pass/Withdrawal option, instructors will assign grades to students in the same manner that they do in other semesters. Students may then request a grade change to Pass (P) or Withdrawal (W) for Spring 2020 course(s) in which they were enrolled at midterm that are ending after March 13. Grade change requests will be accepted after Spring 2020 grades are posted May 18 and must be submitted no later than June 30, 2020.
Based on the College’s existing academic calendar, the last day to withdraw from a Spring class is this Monday, May 4. I ask that you PLEASE encourage your students to continue to work toward a successful completion to their courses, knowing they will have this additional Pass/Withdrawal option available when the semester concludes.
We will be sharing the Pass/Withdrawal option with students via email tomorrow. Information will be posted on the College’s home page with a link to the Academic Standards page for details.
A request form will be added to the website and a Laker Mail announcement will be sent to all students when the request form is available. Students will have the following option:
Some courses may not be eligible for a grade change to Pass due to accreditation requirements. Those courses begin with ADN, DHY, MAP, MAS, PNC and PTA.
While many colleges are offering similar opportunities for students for Spring 2020, students should be aware that some colleges may have specific requirements that would not allow transfer of a P grade.
Prior to requesting to have a grade changed to P or W, students will be encouraged to check with their intended transfer institution regarding transferability of P grades and/or consult with a Lake Land College academic counselor or academic advisor.
Students who must meet specific credit hour or GPA requirements for scholarships or other special programs will also be advised to check with those program administrators prior to requesting a grade change to P or W.
Thank you for all you have done to help our students through this transition to a virtual environment. We hope this Pass/Withdrawal option will alleviate some of our students’ worries and assist them in continuing in their classes through the end of the term.
Sincerely,
As we are aware, the pandemic has created some unique personal challenges for many in our college community. Today, I would like to take a few minutes to share with you two valuable resources.
You will find a comprehensive list of community resources organized by county on our shared drive at: S:\Human Resources\Community Resources.
The Counseling Services website also lists a host of resources in our area. These lists are available by topic and may be easily shared with students via a website URL.
I hope these resources are helpful to you or someone you know. Take care and have a great week.
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, April 16. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
Dr. Lynn Breer reported that the Institutional Research and Reporting office, in conjunction with the College’s Research Review Board, distributed brief surveys to instructional faculty and students via Canvas. The surveys seek feedback on a variety of issues related to the adjustment to the online learning format, including technology use and access during the pandemic. The survey response period will be from April 16-29, 2020.
Jon Althaus reported the college has received guidance from the Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois Articulation Initiative on Pass-Fail grades. Resources are available on the ICCB’s COVID-19 page. He and Dr. Tina Stovall have been collaborating on the College’s plan to adopt this guidance, and they will present their plan to the Academic Council tomorrow and the Academic Standards Committee next week. Additional details will be shared following the review.
Faculty are creating a list of courses that cannot be completed unless the college is able to return to campus for face-to-face learning. Jon said this will be a small percentage of all courses offered this spring and that they will communicate that information with Student Services personnel to be able to assist students in creating plans for the future.
Madge Shoot reported the non-travel reimbursements for eligible employees will be posted to employees on Friday. Those who are interested can donate their non-travel reimbursement stipend to the Foundation to support the Laker Food Pantry. To donate, please follow this link to the reimbursement form: https://form.jotform.com/200926168547158.
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 6 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.
Please continue to send in suggestions for staff or student topics to Jean Anne Grunloh or Kelly Allee. If you are interested in making a face mask, this video shows you how to create one without sewing. All you need is a bandana and two hair ties.
Jasmine Ballard reported the Print Shop staff have been using supplies donated by the Print Shop and Pilson Auto to create face shields. She will be coordinating a delivery to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center.
Bonnie Moore reported CDL has received approval to offer the first week of classes in an online format. They are in the process of creating this course content for CDL students.
HR has posted a comprehensive list of resources by county in the shared drive at S:\Human Resources\Community Resources. Resources are listed by categories such as addiction, child services, food, mental health, shelter and transportation. Dustha Wahls thanked Mariah White Landrus for creating the list for the college.
In addition to their ongoing support of the College’s virtual campus, ISS staff are resuming work on previously requested projects.
There are grounds crews on campus mowing and maintaining the grounds. Kimberly Wellbaum and Scott Rawlings are focusing on cleanup and next steps to restore Neal Hall following the roof fire earlier this week. Kimberly said they are aligning all on campus work with COVID-19 health and safety precautions and Level 3 Restricted Campus Access.
Dr. Stovall reported a college-wide team has been meeting to create a plan for delivering CARES Act emergency funds to students and should have an announcement in the next few weeks.
She also reported that the college’s placement service contractor, Examity, is now running in a virtual environment and is offering online solutions to the college for Accuplacer – placement testing. This is good news as it is an essential component for the college to be able to enroll new students for summer and fall.
Finally, I would like to share the spring edition of the Lake Land Magazine is now available in an online format! Click here to view it on the brand new virtual magazine website!
Stay safe and healthy!
Today, as we begin our fourth week in a virtual environment, I would like to focus on your personal well-being.
Let’s begin with the fact that, for many of us, our idea of working from home was much more glamorous than reality. From experiencing technology glitches to feeling overwhelmed in trying to learn new online technologies, it seems I face daily twists and challenges in my remote world.
Please know that I empathize with all of you and am so appreciative of how you have worked together to rapidly transition our entire College operation to a virtual world. While some of the original challenges are becoming easier, others are just beginning.
One of the most difficult challenges we are all facing is the inability to communicate in person with our coworkers. Like me, I imagine you are realizing how much you depended on being able to step around the corner and ask a colleague to clarify an email or ask for help on resolving a roadblock.
It is not only the professional interaction we miss, it’s the smiling faces and personal conversations we miss. Our colleagues are second families for most of us.
As we begin this week together in a virtual environment, let’s take time to focus on the relationships that make working at Lake Land College so valuable. Reach out to a colleague or peer via Zoom or a phone call. When you connect for a business meeting, take a few minutes to catch up on personal matters. Take advantage of the technology and resources we have available to express our caring to one another. If you have a standing lunch meeting with peers, why not schedule a Zoom meeting? If you normally met someone on a daily walk, take a few minutes each day to reach out to the person via phone or Zoom.
Please know that your well-being is extremely important to me. We are certainly facing some challenging times and I encourage you to take advantage of the numerous services we have available through Human Resources to maintain your physical and mental well-being, such as Aetna Teladoc and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If you have additional needs, please reach out to your supervisor or HR at humanresources@lakelandcollege.edu and be sure to leave your phone number.
We will get through this pandemic together and emerge a stronger college in the end. I thank each one of you for all that you have done, and will do in the future, to continue our strong Lake Land College tradition. Remember, together we are Laker Strong!
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force held its weekly meeting on Thursday, April 9. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
We encourage everyone to follow the CDC guidelines for protecting yourself and others when visiting campus.
If you have access to WCIA TV, Lake Land College will be featured on today’s CI Living show at 4 p.m. Dr. Bullock and Student Trustee Shelbie Kile participated in a Zoom interview to share our accomplishments in moving forward as a virtual campus.
New photos of the Foundation and Alumni Center as well as aerial photos of campus are available at S:\Pandemic Planning 2020\Photos of Campus.
Josh is in regular communication with the Illinois Community College Board regarding continuity of operations issues, the state budget and adaptation of federal legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most courses are on track to be completed by the end of the semester, with a grade assigned by the May 18 due date. There are a few exceptions in courses that rely heavily on hands-on learning skills. Faculty members are reaching out to the few students who may not be fully engaging in the new learning environment.
A decision on the 2020 Summer Term will be made soon regarding the format for course offerings. Jon Althaus reported that, on average, about 53% of the summer course offerings were online in recent years. Should the college decide to move all courses online, he predicted it would be a relatively smooth transition.
Greg Nuxoll reminded everyone to submit the weekly COVID-19 tracking forms for Week 5 to Madge Shoot via email by 5 p.m. Wednesday. He will issue an email with the week-specific forms in the near future.
Greg said he continues to monitor the state budget situation, but he has not received specific communication for the current fiscal year or projections for fiscal year 2021.
He congratulated Sarah Cole and Madge Shoot for processing the first payroll in a remote environment.
The Campus Visitor Approval form has been updated to remove the screening question regarding travel. This aligns with how area hospitals are screening visitors as well. If you are an employee who is authorized to visit campus, please access the updated form on the college’s COVID-19 Update site and follow the CDC’s guidelines for how to protect yourself and others.
The Bullock Broadcast videos continue to reach a wide audience, with the four editions reaching 6,700 people via YouTube and Facebook. Thank you to everyone for engaging in the process and sharing the information with students and the community.
Jasmine Ballard reported the College will be creating face shields. Pilson Auto and the Lake Land College Print Shop have donated the materials needed to cut and assemble the masks. Watch for an email from Human Resources on opportunities to assemble the shields.
DOC instructors are conducting remote learning through paper packets that are dropped off at site entrances.
CBI staff is looking into opportunities to offer free, non-credit courses to the community. Some of the Summer College for Youth courses may also move to an online format.
Human Resources will be sending an email regarding opportunities to work on campus and in alignment with the Level 3 Restricted Campus status, visitor screening form approval process and appropriate social distancing guidelines.
Additional resources will continue to be shared in the Laker Low Down each week.
Zoom is now available in Outlook.
Here is a summary of data from our virtual environment from March 23- April 6, 2020.
Student Specific
Student-Staff
Kimberly Wellbaum delivered the College’s supply of alcohol-based hand sanitizer to Sarah Bush Lincoln.
The team reported that work has begun on the ground where the new Workforce and Community Education Center will be built.
Dr. Tina Stovall reported that registration numbers for fall are lower than usual because the registration appointments for all senior Dual Credit students that would have taken place in April have been rescheduled for May. It is likely that those appointments will be conducted in a virtual environment.
A group will be meeting next week to discuss options to hold a virtual commencement celebration for students.
Enjoy the long holiday weekend, and please stay safe.
Good morning, Colleagues,
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend and a productive Monday!
I have some great news to share from the Financial Aid Office. Last week, the team was able to award nearly $100,000 in financial assistance to approximately 200 students! This is wonderful news for our students. Kudos to our Financial Aid staff for processing these requests.
The Financial Aid team has also been busy analyzing how funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act can help even more students. While the CARES Act provides resources and funding to assist higher education and community colleges, specifically, it is taking some time to determine the impact on Lake Land College and our students. The American Association of Community Colleges has created a presentation that highlights the pertinent information for higher education.
As I am sure you have expected, Lake Land will continue to operate under a Level 3 Restricted Access campus in accordance with the Governor’s most recent executive order 2020-18 that extends through April 30.
I hope you have a great week. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I admire everyone’s resiliency and creativity during this time of our college’s history. Together, we are Laker Strong!
The Pandemic Illness Planning and Response Task Force conferenced Thursday, April 2. Here is a summary of information that was reported.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HR encourages everyone to take advantage of the resources offered by Aetna.
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.
Outdoor construction projects and mowing of campus and Kluthe Center grounds continues to progress.
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!
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/.
Dear Students:
Today, I would like to take a moment to talk about your well-being outside of the virtual learning environment.
As you know, the pandemic has created some unique personal challenges for many of us. If you find yourself needing help, please know we can help connect you to various supportive services.
We have several area resources listed on the college’s Counseling Services page at https://www.lakelandcollege.edu/counseling-services/crisis-and-community-resources/.
On this page, you will find services for physical health, mental health, community action agencies such as the Salvation Army, sexual assault and domestic violence, crisis pregnancy and family assistance, child services, food assistance, employment, addiction and many more.
If you find yourself in need of a face mask but you’re like me and don’t have any sewing skills, check out this DIY no-sew face mask video which may be viewed at https://youtu.be/oPYp-kjiqtw. All you need is a bandana and two hair ties.
Please take advantage of the resources we have shared with you today and the many faculty and staff who are here to help you through this semester.
Take care Lakers! Remember, together we are Laker Strong!
Dr. Josh Bullock
President
Dear Students,
What is going well for you in the new virtual environment? What has been challenging? We want to know!
Please take a minute out of your busy day to take this short student survey on the challenges and strengths of transitioning to all online courses, including the features you find valuable and most useful.
In return for sharing your experiences with us, we’ll enter you into a drawing for a chance to win one of two $50 Visa gift cards.
Look for the survey link in Canvas or visit this URL:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/studtransition. Please complete the survey by April 29.
Thank you in advance for your assistance. This data will help us serve you better now and in the future.
Take care!
As we begin our fourth week of a virtual environment, I wish to highlight tutoring, one of several resources, available to help you with your classes.
You may also take advantage of remote tutoring with our current tutors in a variety of ways:
We ask that you allow extra time to connect with a tutor. To schedule an appointment, please contact Karla Miller, director of Tutoring and Testing, at kmiller2@lakelandcollege.edu or 217-234-5287.
Please also feel free to reach out via email with specific class-related questions or requests for resources.
I hope you take advantage of these free tutoring resources. Remember, we are here to help you and, together, we are Laker Strong!
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend!
As we begin our third week in the virtual environment, we continue to investigate how we can take advantage of initiatives, such as the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to further assist you. We hope to report more details to you soon on various components of this Act that was just signed into law on March 27, 2020. Please remember the Laker Food Pantry is available to provide curbside assistance on Wednesdays. To take advantage of this, email College Nurse Sharon Uphoff at suphoff@lakelandcollege.edu by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
I encourage you to take advantage of the virtual resources on our website, reach out to your classmates who are in the same situation you are, or reach out to faculty and staff who can assist you.
We will be continuing as a Level 3 Restricted Access campus through April 30 in accordance with the Governor’s most recent executive order 2020-18 at https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/Executive-Orders/ExecutiveOrder2020-18.aspx.
We’ll get through this together, Lakers! Keep up the good work and please let us know how we can help. Together, we are Laker Strong!
4.2.20
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!
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!
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!
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.